LAFC on a Historic Winning Run Led by Defense
In their climb to second place in the Western Conference, LAFC (30 points, 9-4-3) has won five consecutive matches in MLS play and has prevented their opponents from scoring in each of those victories. Led by World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the club has the chance to make MLS history with another clean sheet victory on Saturday night.
With a shutout win at Orlando City SC on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), LAFC would become the first team in league annals to win six consecutive matches without allowing a goal. The club is currently tied for the MLS record with Atlanta United, who recorded five consecutive clean sheet victories from April 27 to May 15, 2019.
The most consecutive shutout victories in MLS history:
Real Salt Lake Looks to Keep Streaking
The hottest team in Major League Soccer resides in Salt Lake City, as Western Conference leader Real Salt Lake (33 points, 9-2-6) is unbeaten across their last 13 matches spanning back to March 23. Powering their unbeaten run has been Landon Donovan MLS MVP frontrunner Chicho Arango (16 goals, nine assists) and 21-year-old standout Andrés Gómez (eight goals, six assists), who have spearheaded one of the league’s most potent offensive attacks.
With a result against CF Montréal on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Real Salt Lake would match their club-record single-season unbeaten run of 14 matches which was set during the 2010 season (July 24 – Oct. 23). RSL finished second in the Supporters’ Shield standings in 2010, their best finish in MLS regular-season play.
The longest single-season unbeaten streaks in Real Salt Lake history:
Chicho Eyes Salt Lake Scoring Record
The leader in the race for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi is Real Salt Lake’s Chicho Arango, whose 16 goals are three more than the next-closest player in league play (Christian Benteke, 13 goals). On pace to become only the fourth player in MLS history to eclipse 30 goals in a single season, Arango sits on the verge of club history at the season’s midpoint.
With a goal against CF Montréal on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Arango would tie Álvaro Saborío (17 goals in 2012) for the most goals in a single season in club history. The Colombian striker aims to become only the second player in club history to lead the league in goals – joining Jeff Cunningham, who scored 16 times in 2006.
The most single-season goals by a player in Real Salt Lake history:
FC Cincinnati Finding Success Away from Home
The defending Supporters’ Shield winner FC Cincinnati find themselves back in the thick of the race for the league’s top club in 2024. Winners of seven of their last eight matches, Cincinnati currently sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with 33 points (10-3-3) and is averaging a league-high 2.06 points per game through 16 matches.
The club has found success away from TQL Stadium, recording a 6-1-1 record in eight road matches this season, including four consecutive wins. With a road victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), FC Cincinnati would become the seventh team in MLS history to win at least five consecutive road matches in a single season (excluding the shootout era) and the first to accomplish the feat since 2022 CF Montréal, who won an MLS record seven consecutive road games from July 23 to Oct. 9.
The most consecutive road wins in a single season in MLS history (excluding the shootout era):
Hany Aims for a Hundo
One of the most prolific attacking players in MLS since 2021, Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar has once again found his form, recording four goal contributions (two goals, two assists) in his last four matches. The 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP has 10 goal contributions (four goals, six assists) this season as he aims to become the first player in league history to record at least 10 goals and 10 assists in four consecutive seasons.
With a pair of goal contributions against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV), Mukhtar (98 goal contributions since 2021) would join elite company as the sixth different player in league history to record at least 100 goal contributions over a four-year span. Four of the previous five players to accomplish this feat have taken home the MLS Most Valuable Player award, including Sebastian Giovinco, Robbie Keane (accomplished the feat twice), David Villa, and Preki.
The players to record at least 100 goal contributions over a four-year span in MLS history:
