Cincinnati Looking to Reach Cloud Nine
The magical 2023 campaign for FC Cincinnati only continues to get better after a 3-1 victory at New York City FC on Matchday 16. Not only was it the club’s first-ever regular season win against NYCFC, but it moved them to an MLS-best 36 points on the season. Cincinnati’s 36 points are tied for the most through the first 15 games of a season in MLS history, excluding the shootout era.
Cincinnati’s incredible start has resulted in eight consecutive victories at TQL stadium to begin the season and with a win against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, they would become the third team in league history to win each of their first nine home games of a season. Additionally, with a victory, the Blue and Orange would tie for the fourth-longest home winning streak in league history, regardless of when the streak started.
The longest home winning streaks to begin a season in MLS history:
Carlos Coronel Needs Another One to Get Under 1
New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has been sensational since interim head coach Troy Lesene took over, producing three clean sheets in his last five MLS starts. On Matchday 16, Coronel tied Tony Meola (25) for the second-most clean sheets in Red Bulls history after going on the road and holding Inter Miami scoreless in a 1-0 victory.
The Brazilian has impressed since joining the Red Bulls and, in his MLS career, he has allowed only 87 goals in 7,789 minutes across 87 appearances. If Coronel is able to add another shutout to his résumé on Saturday against Orlando City SC (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), his career goals against average would dip below 1.00. Coronel would join former Sporting Kansas City legend Jimmy Nielsen (0.99) as the only goalkeeper in league history to have a goals against average below 1.00 (minimum 4,500 minutes played).
The best goals against averages in MLS history:
Raúl Ruidíaz Aiming to Reverse Seattle’s Fortunes vs. Portland
The fierce rivalry between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC begins another chapter on Matchday 17 at Lumen Field (4:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FOX). In the regular season, the series between the clubs is currently deadlocked at 14-14-7 with 56 goals scored by Seattle and 55 by Portland. Coming into the matchup, the Timbers have won four straight matches against Seattle, becoming the only team to do so in series history.
For Seattle to turn around their fortunes, they will rely on Raúl Ruidíaz, who recently returned from injury. Ruidíaz has scored eight times against Portland in his career and is one goal behind Clint Dempsey (nine) for the most in the rivalry’s history. However, of the Peruvian’s eight goals, seven of those have come on the road in the matchup with his lone goal at home coming on July 21, 2019.
The most regular season goals in Portland vs. Seattle history:
Vancouver’s BC Place Becoming Home Fortress
Since Vancouver Whitecaps FC returned to BC Place on August 21, 2021, no team in MLS has recorded more points (72) at home than the Whitecaps. The club’s 22 wins are also tied for the most in MLS at their home stadium since that mark, along with 2022 MLS Cup finalists LAFC and the Philadelphia Union.
The Whitecaps are coming off a historic night at BC Place on Matchday 16 as they scored a club-record six goals in their 6-2 victory over Houston Dynamo FC. Vancouver scored within the first 30 seconds of each half, becoming the first club to accomplish this in league history. In order to extend their dominant home stretch, the Whitecaps will look to take down a streaking Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
The most home wins in MLS since August 21, 2021:
