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Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 15

May 25, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Starter or Substitute, Giorgos Giakoumakis Scores

In the first 10 games of Giorgos Giakoumakis' MLS career, he has been nearly unstoppable for Atlanta United, scoring eight times across seven different matches. After a brace against Chicago on Matchday 14, he became just the seventh player in league annals to score in seven of his first 10 career appearances.

The Greek forward can make even more history on Saturday when the Five Stripes travel to face rival Orlando City SC (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). Only two players in league history - Adama Diomande and former Atlanta forward Josef Martínez - have scored nine times within the first 600 minutes of their MLS careers. Giakoumakis can join that duo or become the first to reach 10 goals in that span on Saturday night.

Cincinnati Closing in on Historic Pace

After a Hell is Real derby victory, FC Cincinnati sit atop the Supporters' Shield standings and have no intention of slowing down anytime soon. The club has won nine of their first 13 games and are a perfect 8-0-0 at TQL Stadium to begin 2023. Led by reigning MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire Luciano Acosta (five goals, three assists), Cincinnati can stamp their claim to one of the best starts to a season in MLS history.

Only four teams have reached 33 points in 14 or fewer games in league history, and Cincinnati could become the fifth to do so as they travel to Colorado on Saturday (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). This will mark the furthest West that Cincinnati has played in 2023 with history in their sights.

The Race to 25 Points - Can St. Louis Win It?

St. Louis CITY SC started MLS life in historic fashion and after a brief lull, they are back to winning ways and looking to continue their record-break inaugural season. After handling new rivals Sporting Kansas City 4-0 on Matchday 14, St. Louis became the third team since 2019 to score at least three goals in four of their first six home games to begin a season.

On Saturday, they are once again at CITYPARK and will host Vancouver Whitecaps FC (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) as they aim to reach 25 points. If they record a victory against Vancouver, they will become the first expansion team to total 25 points within their first 13 MLS matches. Only three other clubs have done so in 16 games or less, including the 1998 Chicago Fire, who did so in the shootout era.

Nashville Going for GEODIS Park Record

In their return to the Eastern Conference, Nashville SC is rocketing up the standings and currently sit in second place in the East with 25 points (7-3-4) heading into Matchday 15. Nashville has been excellent at home in 2023, producing a 5-1-2 record with wins in each of their last three matches, and they look to continue their form on Sunday against the Columbus Crew (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FS1).

At GEODIS Park, Nashville has won each of their last three home matches, outscoring opponents 8-2 in those games. The club has never won four straight games at home in club history and can do so against Columbus this weekend. Additionally, Sunday will mark the first-ever meeting between Nashville and Columbus at GEODIS Park.

What's the Craic? Connor Ronan the Talk of Colorado

Among the top assisters in MLS, only one first-year player ranks in the top-five - Colorado Rapids midfielder Connor Ronan. The Irishman sits in a tie for third with six assists in 2023 and has been the main man pulling the strings for the Rapids. In his past four games, he has heated up with a three-assist performance at the LA Galaxy (May 6), a goal versus Philadelphia (May 13), and two assists in the Rocky Mountain Cup versus Real Salt Lake (May 20).

On Saturday against FC Cincinnati (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), Ronan can join Adrián Paz as the only players in Colorado history to total at least seven assists in his first 15 games with the club. The Irishman is also four assists shy of joining Jack Price (2019 and 2021) as the only Rapids since 2010 to produce double-digit assists in a single season.

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