Vela Going for Top Scorer in El Tráfico
LAFC will be searching for their first-ever regular-season win at Dignity Health Sports Park when they travel to face the LA Galaxy this Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass / FOX). Dénis Bouanga has been in sensational form for the Black and Gold, but in El Tráfico history, Carlos Vela has been legendary with eight goals in nine meetings.
Vela currently sits in a tie with former Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimović for the most goals in El Tráfico history. Despite producing eight goals in the rivalry, Vela has only scored once against the Galaxy since the start of 2020. The Mexican forward will look to make history as LAFC also aim to extend their unbeaten start to the 2023 season to seven matches.
The most regular-season goals scored in El Tráfico history:
Houston’s Amine Bassi a Perfect 4-for-4 to Start MLS Career
With three wins in their last four matches, Houston Dynamo FC find themselves as one of the most in-form teams in MLS. The Dynamo have been led by newcomer Amine Bassi, who has scored in each of his first four MLS starts. With a goal on the road at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass), Bassi would join Taylor Twellman (six goals in six starts) as the only players in league history to score a goal in each of their first five MLS starts.
Of Bassi’s five goals, four have been from the penalty spot and the 25-year-old is the first player in MLS history to score a penalty kick in four consecutive matches. Bassi’s four penalty-kick goals are already the second-most in Dynamo history and only one shy of Erick Torres’ five in 2017. The most penalty-kick goals in a single season in league history is nine, which has been done on three separate occasions.
The most consecutive starts with a goal to begin an MLS career:
Stefan Frei Set to Pass Tony Meola on All-Time Saves List
One of the best goalkeepers in MLS history, Seattle’s Stefan Frei can make history on Saturday in the Sounders’ rivalry matchup against the Portland Timbers (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass). Frei sits tied with MLS legend Tony Meola in fifth place on the all-time saves leaderboard with 1,136 entering Saturday’s match. With at least one save against the Timbers, Frei would move into solo fifth in league history.
On the season, Frei will have the opportunity reach fourth on the all-time list with Jon Busch (1,151) in his sights.
The most regular-season saves in MLS history:
FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC Starting 2023 With Historic Defense
Two of the top defensive teams in MLS will face stern road tests on Saturday night as Nashville SC travels to face New York City FC and FC Cincinnati heads to CITYPARK for the first time to take on St. Louis CITY SC.
Both clubs are on record-setting clean sheet paces, as they have each produced five shutouts in their first seven matches of the 2023 season. Only six teams in MLS history have totaled six shutouts in their opening eight matches of a season, with the 2020 Columbus Crew as the last to do so.
The most clean sheets through the first eight games of a season in MLS history:
RSL’s Jefferson Savarino Closing in on 30/30 Mark
Jefferson Savarino’s Real Salt Lake career can be summed up in one word: consistent. In each of his first four seasons (2017-19; 2022) with Salt Lake, Savarino produced at least five goals and five assists. In 2023, he has already added one goal and two assists, bringing his career totals with Real Salt Lake to 29 goals and 29 assists.
With a goal and an assist at FC Dallas, Savarino would become the fifth player in club history to record at least 30 goals and 30 assists, joining Javier Morales (49 goals, 81 assists), Joao Plata (46 goals, 43 assists), Albert Rusnák (41 goals, 39 assists), and Kyle Beckerman (30 goals, 39 assists). Savarino would be the second-fastest player in club history to hit that mark (107 games), behind only Plata, who did so in 104 matches.
Players with at least 30 goals and 30 assists in Real Salt Lake history:
