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MLS: 5 teams who exceeded expectations in 2019

By Matt Coles

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC’s MLS match against Los Angeles Galaxy at the Banc of California Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

The 2019 MLS regular season is now in the books with the playoffs spots secured. But which teams exceeded their expectations in 2019? Here are five.

The 2019 Major League Soccer regular season has come to an end. The playoffs may still await, but the bulk of the season is now finished.

In the West, it was Los Angeles FC who were utterly dominant. They won the Supporters’ Shield and put together the greatest season in MLS history. Meanwhile, in the East, NYCFC came from behind both Atlanta and Philadelphia to take the top spot, ending the regular season six points clear of last year’s MLS Cup Champions.

light. Related Story. MLS: Top 3 boom or bust playoff winners

There have been some surprises in the league this season, including LAFC’s record points haul. Elsewhere, Minnesota made the playoffs for the first time in their short history, while Toronto finally made it back into the postseason after winning the MLS Cup back in 2017.

But who are the teams who truly excelled expectations this season? Well, here are five.

FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 29: New York City FC forward Heber Araujo dos Santos (9) keeps his eye on a corner during a match between the New England Revolution and New York City FC on September 29, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 29: New York City FC forward Heber Araujo dos Santos (9) keeps his eye on a corner during a match between the New England Revolution and New York City FC on September 29, 2019, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

New York City FC

While LAFC were running rampant in the Western Conference, New York City FC carefully plotted their way through the Eastern, and ended the season with their first Conference title. They finished the campaign six points clear in the East, having come through the field with a very strong second half of the season, winning eight of their last 11 matches, losing just once, and that came after they had already sealed top spot in the Conference. Those victories include wins over the Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United, who were both challenging for the top spot in the East with NYCFC.

But the real reason this season will class as the Sky Blues excelling is because it is their first in the league without their first-ever Designated Player, David Villa. The Spaniard moved to Japan ahead of the 2019 campaign. His absence seemed like a big gap to fill, but the likes of Heber and Alexandru Mitrita have done exactly that.

New York City actually scored more goals this season than in any of their previous four, all of which where they had the veteran Spaniard at their disposal. 15 from Heber and 12 from Mitrita, as well as contributions from Maxi Moralez, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Valentin Castellanos have pushed NYCFC to another level. Could this be their year?

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