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Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 18

May 31, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Andrés Gómez: A Breakout Star for Real Salt Lake

Sitting atop the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake boasts the longest active unbeaten streak in MLS at 12 consecutive games and helping power that undefeated run has been 21-year-old breakout star Andrés Gómez. Gómez, who scored the game-tying goal in the 99th minute on Wednesday evening to preserve the club's current streak, has notched a goal contribution in five consecutive matches and has eight goals and five assists through 15 games this season.

With a goal contribution against Austin FC on Saturday night (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), the Colombian midfielder would be the third player in MLS history to record a goal contribution streak of at least six games at the age of 21 or younger. Gómez would join the Columbus Crew's Andy Williams (seven games, July 29 to Sept. 6, 1998) and Chivas USA's Erick Torres (six games, June 8 to July 20, 2014).

The Legend of Lloris Grows

Los Angeles Football Club goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had a storied career long before arriving in the City of Angels, and the 37-year-old Frenchman is now making his mark in Major League Soccer. The reigning Western Conference champions are riding a four-game winning streak and Lloris has not allowed a goal in each of those four victories.

In his club career, Lloris has recorded two shutout streaks of five consecutive league matches, first with Lyon in 2010 (Feb. 7 to March 6) and later with Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 (April 1-30). With a clean sheet against FC Dallas on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), the Frenchman would register his third career shutout streak of at least five games.

New York City FC Streaking Entering June

One of the hottest teams in MLS throughout the month of May, New York City FC enters June in the midst of a four-game winning streak and as winners of seven of their last eight matches overall. Behind the strong play of goalkeeper Matt Freese, New York City FC has allowed just seven goals across their last eight games and climbed to third place in the Eastern Conference with 26 points (8-5-2).

With a victory over the San Jose Earthquakes tonight (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), the club would record the second five-game winning streak in club history, matching the previous record set between Aug. 17 and Sept. 7, 2019. New York City finished atop the Eastern Conference and second in the Supporters' Shield standings in 2019 with 64 points (18-6-10).

Munthali Leads Turnaround in Nashville

After taking the interim head coaching reigns on May 18, Nashville SC's Rumba Munthali earned his first-career coaching victory on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over defending Supporters' Shield champions FC Cincinnati. The victory elevated Nashville into a playoff position in the Eastern Conference as the club looks to overcome a challenging start to the 2024 season.

With a result against the New England Revolution on Saturday night (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Munthali would become the sixth head coach in the last decade (2015-24) to go unbeaten through their first four games at the helm and the first since both LAFC's Steve Cherundolo (3-0-1) and the Chicago Fire's Ezra Hendrickson (2-0-2) in 2022. A win or a draw would also extend Nashville's unbeaten run to five consecutive games as they look to continue their climb up the conference standings.

Rodríguez Delivering in Debut Season for Timbers

Since signing with Portland as a Designated Player on March 20, Timbers forward Jonathan Rodríguez has been an instant offensive threat, scoring six goals and providing three assists across his first 1,000 minutes with the club. Rodríguez, who has recorded at least one goal or assist in five consecutive games, and fellow DP Evander have combined for 22 goal contributions through the club's first 16 games of the season.

With a goal contribution against Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Rodríguez would own the second-longest goal contribution streak in team history (six matches), trailing only Diego Valeri, who recorded a nine-game contribution streak in 2017 (July 29 to Sept. 24).

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