MLS: 5 teams who exceeded expectations in 2019

By Matt Coles | Oct 11, 2019

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 – OCTOBER 6: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his first goal of the match during Los Angeles FC’s MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at the Banc of California Stadium on October 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 3-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles FC

An MLS single-season points record. The MLS single-season record goalscorer. The most team goals in a season, and the greatest-ever goal differential. It can only be the new Supporters’ Shield holders, Los Angeles FC.

In 2018, LAFC were the fifth best team in the league, racking up 57 points. They were knocked out of the playoffs in the knockout round by Real Salt Lake. This year, they were expected to challenge for glory again. But no-one could have even fathomed what they did during the 2019 campaign. This was historically great.

They scored 85 goals in the regular season, tying the record for goals in a season, with playmaker Carlos Vela bagging 34 of those, as he broke Josef Martinez’s single-season goalscoring record from a season previous. They took control of the league from the very start and had the Supporters’ Shield wrapped up with several games left to play. The 2019 season saw LAFC finish with a goal difference of more than +1.4 per game. That is quite astonishing.

MLS: 5 teams who fell short of expectations in 2019. dark. Next

The Black and Gold will go into the playoffs as the overwhelming favourites, and with all the star performers they have, could they go on to win an MLS Cup title in just their second season in the league?

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