Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 4
Published on March 7, 2024 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
All-Time Assisters Carles Gil & Thiago Almada Go Head-to-head
A clash of Eastern Conference contenders takes place on Saturday as Thiago Almada and Atlanta United welcome Carles Gil and the New England Revolution at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
The 2021 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, Gil, who signed a long-term contract extension with the Revolution this morning, has been among the league's top offensive threats since arriving in MLS in 2019, recording a league-high 63 over the span. The New England captain has averaged 0.47 assists per game during his career (63 assists in 135 games), the fourth-highest average in MLS history (min. 30 career assists).
Only one active player sits above Gil in the all-time assists-per-game rankings: Atlanta's Thiago Almada. The 22-year-old Argentine was last year's MLS assist leader with 19 and has totaled at least 12 assists in each of the last two seasons. Over 61 career games, Almada has recorded 0.51 assists per game (31 assists in 61 games), the third-highest total in league annals, trailing only former MLS MVPs Carlos Valderrama (0.65 per game) and Marco Etcheverry (0.53 per game).
Miami's Julian Gressel Gels with New Squad
After arriving in south Florida as a free agent signee during the offseason, Inter Miami CF midfielder Julian Gressel has immediately endeared himself to his new teammates, picking up three assists while helping the club to a hot 2-0-1 start to the campaign.
In his eighth MLS season, Gressel has totaled 69 career assists, tied for the fifth-most among active MLS players. With a helper against CF Montréal on Sunday (5 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Gressel would become the fifth active player to reach 70 career assists, joining Orlando City SC's Nico Lodeiro (80), FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta (79), LA Galaxy's Diego Fagúndez (72), and Atlanta United's Dax McCarty (71).
Sean Johnson Looks to Extend Clean-Sheet Streak
Looking to turn the page after a trying 2023 campaign, Toronto FC has jumped out to a strong start in 2024 and is unbeaten through two games (1-0-1), including a 1-0 victory on Matchday 3. Helping power this strong start is former MLS Cup MVP and stalwart goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who has recorded clean sheets in each of the club's first two matches.
Johnson, who has 98 career regular-season shutouts, can tie an MLS record with his third consecutive clean sheet against Charlotte FC on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). Only seven 'keepers in MLS history have opened a season with clean sheets in each of their team's first three games of a season, most recently accomplished by Nashville SC's Joe Willis in 2023.
Columbus' Cucho Stays Scorching Hot
After taking home 2023 MLS Cup MVP honors in the Crew's 2-1 victory over LAFC, Columbus striker Cucho Hernández has kept his hot scoring form to start the 2024 regular season. Since the start of September 2023, Hernández has scored 17 goals in 16 matches, including the postseason, with goals in each of his last four regular-season matches. He has also registered at least one goal or assist in each of his last 10 matches (incl. playoffs).
Hernández is one of only three players in MLS this season to have scored in each of his club's first two games, joining Dejan Joveljić of the LA Galaxy and Sam Adeniran of St. Louis CITY SC. With a goal against Chicago Fire FC (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), the 24-year-old Colombian can join an elite crew, becoming the fourth player in club history to score in each of its first three games of a season. The others to accomplish the feat include Brian McBride (five consecutive matches, 1998), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (three, 2010), and Lucas Zelarayán (three, 2022).
Montréal Travels to Miami Looking to Continue Strong Start
After opening the season with a scoreless draw vs. Orlando City SC and a 2-1 win vs. FC Dallas, CF Montréal prepares for a showdown with Inter Miami CF at Chase Stadium (5 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) as they look to prolong one of the strongest starts in the club's MLS history.
Montréal, which has four points in two matches, can make a statement on Sunday and with a victory, the club would secure its second-best three-game start in team history, trailing only the 2013 season (nine points, 3-0-0). To do so, the club will look to MLS legend Josef Martínez and 2023 MLS All-Star Mathieu Choinière to keep things trending in a positive direction under first-year head coach Laurent Courtois.
Major League Soccer Stories from March 7, 2024
- Nashville SC Earns 2-2 Draw Against Inter Miami CF in First Leg of Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 - Nashville SC
- FC Cincinnati Downed by CF Monterrey - FC Cincinnati
- FC Cincinnati Fall to CF Monterrey in Opening Leg, Head to Mexico with Work to Do - FC Cincinnati
- Nashville SC Extends Contract of 2022 MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar - Nashville SC
- What Former Coaches Ange Postecoglu & Brendan Rogers Have to Say About Liel Abada - Charlotte FC
- Liel Abada: a Goal-Hungry Winger - Charlotte FC
- Charlotte FC Acquires Forward Liel Abada from Celtic FC as Young Designated Player - Charlotte FC
- Real Salt Lake Midfielder Pablo Ruiz to Undergo Knee Surgery - Real Salt Lake
- Minnesota United Academy to Compete at 2024 Generation adidas Cup - Minnesota United FC
- City in the Community's Night Leagues Is Giving Dozens of Flushing High School Students the Chance to Shine at Soccer - New York City FC
- Expected Goals: Upcoming Milestones for Matchday 4 - MLS
- Revolution Captain Carles Gil Re-Signed to Long-Term Contract Extension - New England Revolution
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