Top Things to Watch in MLS this Week
Record Watch: League History is Imminent in MLS’ 27th Season
The 2022 MLS regular season has featured historic goals, victories, and record-breaking performances by both clubs and players through the first 27 weeks. With seven weeks remaining, several teams and individuals have their sights set on making even more history.
Below are significant records that are in peril of being broken, as MLS approaches the final stretch of league play.
- Single-Season Points Record: The Los Angeles Football Club (57 points, 18-6-3) can reclaim the single-season points record from the New England Revolution, who set the current league high in 2021 (73) after surpassing LAFC’s previous record set in 2019 (72). With seven games left and 21 points available for the taking, LAFC needs to come away with at least 17 points to set a new record.
- Single-Season Goal Differential: A stellar defense and emerging offense have propelled the Philadelphia Union to a plus-37 goal differential (57 goals scored, 20 goals allowed). If they can improve by at least 12 more goals than their opponents (+49 goal differential), Philadelphia will achieve the greatest single-season goal differential in MLS annals. Additionally, with six games left, the Union sit on 0.71 goals-allowed-per-game average in their quest to take down Real Salt Lake’s incredible 2010 defensive record of fewest goals allowed per game (0.67) in league history.
- Most Shutouts: The stellar goalkeeping of New York City FC’s Sean Johnson (13 clean sheets) has the U.S. Men’s National Team player just three clean sheets away from tying Tony Meola (16 in 2000) for the most clean sheets in a single MLS season.
- Greatest Points Improvement from Year 1 to Year 2: Sitting at 51 points (15-6-6) and in second place in the Western Conference standings, Austin FC’s sensational second-year leap leaves the club just one win shy of producing the greatest points improvement from an expansion club’s inaugural season to its second season. Nashville SC currently holds the record with a 22-point improvement from 2020-2021.
- 20-Assist Season: FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta leads the league with 15 assists on the season and has a chance to become the fourth player in MLS history to produce 20 assists in a single season. Ironically, Acosta may have an opportunity to achieve the milestone on MLS Decision Day 2022, when he faces D.C. United – his former club.
The Six-Point Standings Swings to Watch for This Week
As teams jostle for position heading into MLS Decision Day 2022, matches take on even more importance. With both midweek and weekend games this week, many clubs will have the opportunity to pick up two wins that could result in a possible six-point swing and a quick move up the standings in a single week. These six-point opportunities can help to separate the pack or allow teams to regain important ground in the push to the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Below are key midweek matchups to watch.
- Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami CF (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+): Occupying the last two spots above the playoff line, these two Eastern Conference clubs square off at Lower.com Field in a game of mass importance. Both teams have vaulted up the standings, as Columbus is unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 games and Miami has just one loss in their previous six outings. Superstar strikers Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernández (four goals in last four games) and Gonzalo Higuaín (goal or assist in last four matches) will provide the attacking firepower in this important matchup.
- New England Revolution vs. Chicago Fire FC (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+): There are no elimination games this weekend, but the matchup between the Revolution and Fire might be the closest thing to one. Chicago will head to Gillette Stadium hungry for a win, knowing that anything short of a victory would put their postseason aspirations in real danger. For New England, forward Gustavo Bou’s return from injury should see a big boost as they had been making strides in the standings prior to his absence.
- Nashville SC vs. Colorado Rapids (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+): If Colorado wants to make consecutive postseason appearances, a win at GEODIS Park will be critical to achieve that. With a victory, the Rapids could potentially find themselves just two points out of a playoff position and only four points behind Nashville. However, Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Hany Mukhtar – who has been the hottest player in the league over the last two months – will be tough to stop. In his last 11 games, the German midfielder has 10 goals and five assists, and he looks to add to that tally in this huge contest.
Atlanta United Eying Audacious Jump to Make the Postseason
Three points is the value given to one win, and that’s all that separates seven teams from fifth place through 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Among those tight-raced contenders, the spotlight will fall on 11th-placed Atlanta United and their ability to ride momentum from a come-from-behind victory over D.C. last week, as this week, they face the Portland Timbers and Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Union for a shot at a six-point swing of their own to move above the playoff line.
The Five Stripes will first face Philadelphia on Wednesday night (7 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes), with the Union’s breakout scorer Dániel Gazdag (16 goals) sitting just three goals off the lead for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi in a three-way tie. The Union have outscored opponents 12-0 in their last two games and are protected in net by Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate goalkeeper Andre Blake, which will make scoring no easy task for Atlanta.
After a shot at in-conference opposition, Sunday’s trip to Portland in the West will be a battle of Argentine playmakers, featuring Atlanta’s Thiago Almada and his compatriot Sebastián Blanco of the Timbers (5:30 p.m. ET, FOX / FOX Deportes). Almada has built a strong case for Newcomer of the Year with the second-highest goal contributions among first-year players in 2022 (14), behind only Chicago Fire FC’s Xherdan Shaqiri (15). With Atlanta’s playoff hopes on the line, the 23-year-old midfielder must continue his current production to outshine the veteran Blanco in a high-stakes match.
With a tall mountain to climb out of second-to-last place, Atlanta could send shockwaves across the Eastern Conference if they secure the six-point swing that’s in front of them this week. Will the Five Stripes seize the opportunity to shake-up the standings?
Ferreira & Reynoso Hit MVP Strides in Their Push for Home Playoff Positions
As focus turns towards the race to the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, home-field advantage is still in on the line around the league. For Minnesota United FC and FC Dallas, their mettle to maintain their home playoff positions will be tested when Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidates from both sides meet this Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, Univision / TUDN / Twitter) at Allianz Field.
Powering the Loons to a 7-1-2 record over their last 10 games has been their playmaking midfielder, Emanuel Reynoso. The potential MVP candidate has produced five goals and six assists over that stretch with his most recent assist leading to a game-winning goal over the Houston Dynamo FC last week. Reynoso’s 19 combined goals and assists on the season are already a career-high for the Argentine during a career-year that has shaped Minnesota into a Western Conference title contender.
For FC Dallas, Homegrown hero and potential World Cup-bound USMNT forward Jesús Ferreira has continued his own MVP campaign with a career-high 15 goals this season, which ties for the fifth-most scores in the league. He is closing in on Dallas’s single-season goal-scoring record of 18 goals held by Kenny Cooper and Jason Kreis, and the 21-year-old striker could also help Dallas finish among the top three in the Western Conference for the first time since 2016 when they won the Supporters’ Shield.
With just a handful of matches remaining in the regular season, Saturday’s game marks a pivotal moment that could determine the final positioning of Minnesota and Dallas in the Western Conference.
Columbus Crew 2 Becomes Second Team to Clinch Division Title in MLS NEXT Pro
With their 2-0 home win over Philadelphia Union II on Saturday, Columbus Crew 2 clinched the Central Division, becoming the second team in MLS NEXT Pro to secure a division title this season. Tacoma Defiance clinched the Pacific Division the week prior, which leaves the Northeast and Frontier Divisions still up for grabs.
Columbus, Tacoma, and St Louis CITY2 are the only teams to have clinched playoff spots through Week 23 of the 26-week MLS NEXT Pro regular season. With three weeks remaining, there are still three playoff spots open in the Eastern Conference and two in the Western Conference. With five teams already eliminated from playoff contention in the West, only four teams are fighting for the last two spots. The East, on the other hand, is wide open, with just one club having clinched and one having been eliminated from contention.
The push to the first-ever MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs continues this weekend with 10 matches on the docket. All games can be viewed on mlsnextpro.com, including the Game of the Week on Friday, featuring an enhanced broadcast of New England Revolution II hosting Orlando City B at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Roster Freeze is This Friday
On Friday, MLS rosters will freeze until the end of the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, meaning clubs will look to add the finishing touches to their squads as they aim to reach their MLS Cup aspirations. In 2022, MLS saw a record amount spent and received for incoming and outgoing players. The league has brought in some of the most talented young players in the world – Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernández (Columbus Crew), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy), Alan Velasco (FC Dallas), and many more. Additionally, MLS has received record fees for outgoing players such as Adam Buksa (RC Lens), Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar), Gabriel Slonina (Chelsea FC), and Matt Turner (Arsenal).
Blockbuster trades have become more common within the league and FC Dallas has been one of the teams that benefited from them. The acquisition of Paul Arriola has proved essential to kick-starting their offense by reuniting him and his U.S. teammate Jesús Ferreira, as both are in the midst of career seasons. Dallas also added Sebastian Lletget via trade with the New England Revolution and the veteran has impressed in his first four starts for the club. Finally, other players who were traded will play a role in shaping the final month of the season and playoff picture, including, Mark Anthony-Kaye (Toronto FC), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), and Alejandro Pozuelo (Inter Miami CF).
Overall, the next few days will result in clubs aiming to find the one or two players that could push them over the line in their quest for the 2022 MLS Cup.
