📚 Unique milestones to watch out for this weekend in MLS
After the Round of 16 of the 2025 US Open Cup dominated the midweek fixture program across the United States and Canada, MLS action is set to return at the weekend for matchday 15 after an enthralling Rivalry Week.
With the race for the Supporters' Shield remaining as tight as ever while action across the East and West write their own stories, let's get into some unique milestones to watch out for this weekend.
They say home is where the heart is, but for Wilfried Nancy and the Columbus Crew, an away day has never been more enjoyable for the Eastern powerhouse than during the 2025 season.
Right in the thick of it at the top of the pile along with the Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati, the Crew are right on track to remain one of the top sides in the Conference, but a win on the road this weekend against a struggling Charlotte FC outfit could see them level an MLS-record 12 undefeated away matches.
With the Crown coming into matchday 15 as the most out-of-form side in MLS, you would bet the house that the Crew comes away with all the points in the bag.
📸 via MLS Communications
Cristian Espinoza has quietly become one of the most dangerous attacking players in MLS over the last five years in the Bay Area, and his tally of assists is proof positive that he knows how to pull a string or two.
📸 via MLS Communications
The Earthquakes, now under Bruce Arena, look like a side that is determined for a post-season birth, with Espinoza's creativity chief to those efforts, but a piece of personal glory is on the line at the weekend against the Houston Dynamo.
With just one assist, the 30-year-old Argentine would become just the third active player in MLS to hit the 80-assist mark, further cementing his place as the all-time leader for the club in the process.
After an impressive 3-0 win against in-state rivals Inter Miami last weekend, Orlando City are one of the form sides in the East coming into matchday 15, extending their unbeaten run in 2025 to 11 matches in the process.
📸 via MLS Communications
Hopeful of feeding on their recent result when they lock horns with a talented Portland Timbers side in front of home support at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night, Óscar Pareja's troops have a chance to pull level with the club's standing record of 12 matches unbeaten, while also potentially climbing into the top three in the East depending on results elsewhere.
Most football fans love a tight-knit race at the top of the table, and thankfully for those of you who watch MLS, the 2025 season has so far delivered that and then some coming into matchday 15.
📸 via MLS Communications
Coming into the pending weekend fixture list, four clubs - Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Vancouver, and Columbus - have a chance to equal or better the 30-point mark at the halfway point of the season, a feat that has never been achieved in an MLS campaign.
Here is what each of those four clubs face this weekend:
The Philadelphia Union hosts Inter Miami CF looking to remain top of the East.
FC Cincinnati travels to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face off against Atlanta United.
Western Conference leaders Vancouver take on Real Salt Lake away from home.
As previously mentioned, Columbus travels to Bank of America Stadium for a clash with Charlotte FC.
And finally, we head to Allianz Field and budding Western Conference outfit Minnesota United and their lofty perch of sitting second behind a much-talked-about Vancouver Whitecaps.
📸 via MLS Communications
Despite their ability to perform as a collective, key man and shot-stopper-in-chief Dayne St. Clair has been sublime in goal for the Loons up to this point, posting seven clean sheets in just thirteen appearances, and should he pick up his 8th of the season, he would become just the 10th goalkeeper in MLS history to achieve that feat after 15 games.
Impressively, St. Clair would pad his chances of picking up Goalkeeper of the Year honors as well, with Tony Meola (2000), Donovan Ricketts (2010), and Tim Melia (2017) being awarded the same after a similar or better run of clean sheets.
📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Darren Yamashita | 2025 May 20-Imagn Images
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