Photo credit: Jamie Smed/Soc Takes

With the rise of advanced analytics in soccer, expected goals (xG) has become a go-to metric for examining the quality of both clubs and individual players beyond base accumulation stats (goals, assists, etc.).

Inspired by Ben Mayhew of Experimental 3-6-1, who utilizes similar statistics for the English Football League, the below table and charts are an examination of the attacking, defensive and overall quality of MLS clubs, regularly updated throughout the 2019 season.

Entering the first international break of the MLS season, most teams have played three or four matches (except Toronto FC, which has played two), representing roughly 10 percent of each club’s MLS matches this year. While still a small sample size, some trends are beginning to form for some clubs in terms of offensive and defensive performance. These trends are still easily reversible with a change in form, but if continued, could indicate where a club ranks among its peers.

All xG totals are sourced from American Soccer Analysis’ xG Interactive Tables.

Here is a small glossary of the terms for clarity:

GP – Games Played

ShtF – Shots For

ShtA – Shots Against

GF – Goals For

GA – Goals Against

GD – Goal Differential

xGF – Expected Goals For

xGA – Expected Goals Against

xGD – Expected Goal Differential

GD-xGD – Goal Differential minus Expected Goal Differential

ShtF/g – Shots For per Game

ShtA/g – Shots Against per Game

GF/g – Goals For per Game

GA/g – Goals Against per Game

GD/g – Goal Differential per Game

xGF/g – Expected Goals For per Game

xGA/g – Expected Goals Against per Game

xGD/g – Expected Goal Differential per Game

ShtF/GF – Shots For per Goal For

ShtA/GA – Shots Against per Goal Against

Follow Colton on Twitter: @cjcoreschi.

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