Lucho Leaping Up Assist Leaderboard
Winners of 12 of their last 14 matches, FC Cincinnati has taken the lead in the Supporters’ Shield standings ahead of Matchday 26. After a dominant MVP season in 2023, club captain and 2024 MLS All-Star Luciano Acosta has carried his spectacular form into this year. Acosta showed off on Matchday 25 with a goal and two assists in Cincinnati’s 6-1 rout of then-Supporters’ Shield leaders Inter Miami CF.
With those two assists, Acosta leads MLS with 17 assists in 2024 and has 50 over the past three seasons with Cincinnati, sitting just one behind Sacha Kljestan (51 from 2015-17) for the second-most in a three-year span in league history. Ultimately, Acosta looks on track to break the three-year assist record, which was set by Carlos Valderrama (53 from 1998-00), and he will try to expedite that record on Saturday vs. Charlotte FC (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
The most assists in a three-year span in MLS history:
Pec Peaking for Galaxy
The LA Galaxy’s club-record signing Gabriel Pec is currently in his best form since coming to MLS, which included a two-goal performance on Matchday 25 against Minnesota United FC. Pec’s second goal came as the game winner in the dying moments of the match, sending Dignity Health Sports Park into pandemonium. Pec is on a six-match goal contribution streak after his brace, which is the longest streak by a Galaxy player this season.
The Brazilian winger is up to nine goals and eight assists in 2024 during his debut season for the club. Despite the many stars to have played for the Galaxy, only three have had at least 10 goals and 10 assists in their debut season with the team – Zlatan Ibrahimović (2018), Romain Alessandrini (2017), and Landon Donovan (2005). Given his hot form, Pec reaching the double-double on Saturday against FC Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET) is certainly not out of the question as he can join Galaxy royalty with a goal and two assists.
The Galaxy players with at least 10 goals and 10 assists in their first season with the club:
Led by Luna, RSL Front Three is Shining Bright
The puzzle pieces have fit together for Real Salt Lake in 2024, as a dynamic attacking trio of Chicho Arango, Diego Luna, and Andrés Gómez and a steady defense have propelled the club to the top of the Western Conference and a formidable challenger for MLS Cup presented by Audi.
Uniquely, each player has not just provided goal scoring, but also service to one another as they all sit on at least nine assists – Luna (12), Arango (11), and Gómez (9). If Gómez records an assist against the Portland Timbers this Saturday (10:00 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Salt Lake would become the first team since Houston Dynamo FC in 2018 to have three different players with at least 10 assists in the same season. The Claret and Cobalt would be only the sixth team since 2000 to do so.
Teams with three players to have at least 10 assists in the same season in the last decade:
LAFC and Columbus Set for Dramatic MLS Cup Rematch
The finalists of last year’s MLS Cup presented by Audi meet for the first time since their dramatic final when LAFC and the Columbus Crew face off on Matchday 26 at BMO Stadium this Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). After winning 2022 MLS Cup, LAFC could not replicate their success last season when Columbus emerged victorious in front of their home fans to win their second MLS Cup since 2020.
Saturday’s marquee matchup will be the fifth time since 2018 that the previous year’s MLS Cup final will be played in the following season. The notable trend during these rematches is that the road team has proven to be the most successful, winning three of the last four games, while drawing the other. For Columbus, that would mean continuing their current unbeaten stretch (four games) and snapping LAFC’s 10-game run without a defeat.
The last five MLS Cup rematches to be played in the following regular season:
Espinoza Edging Toward Contribution No. 100
After his game-winning assist on Matchday 25, Cristian Espinoza sits just one goal or assist shy of hitting 100 career regular-season goal contributions. In San Jose Earthquakes history, only club legends Chris Wondolowski (207) and Ronald Cerritos (108) have reached 100 goal contributions with the club.
Espinoza’s assist on Matchday 25 was to fellow Argentinian Hernán López, as the duo has started to form a good attacking chemistry for a ‘Quakes team that is looking to make a late postseason push. Espinoza is once again leading the team with 14 goal contributions in 2024 (three goals, 11 assists) and will push for No. 100 in his career when San Jose hosts Sporting Kansas City at PayPal Park (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
The most regular season goal contributions in San Jose Earthquakes history:
