You could without difficulty be attracted by using the astounding quantity of chances created (392) or shots (521) that both lead the league, but what makes this New York squad higher than in recent years is its improved defensive resolve. It’s most effective halfway to its 2018 total of 64 goals conceded with just six games final.
1. Indy Eleven
That’s the wide variety of dreams conceded by Indy at Lucas Oil Stadium this season, with no more than one coming in an unmarried game. That protective balance at home has helped the Eleven collect an 11-zero-4 record on its turf and is tied with the 2015 Rochester Rhinos for the fewest domestic goals allowed in a regular season in league history.
2. Tampa Bay Rowdies
One of the important thing elements in Tampa Bay’s resurgence this season has been its constant play far away from Al Lang Stadium, where it has scored 25 goals and conceded 12 for a +thirteen aim differential on the street that ranks as the excellent in the East and just in the back of Phoenix Rising FC (+17) universal.
3. Nashville SC
Where would Nashville be without 17 desires from Daniel Rios? The league’s second-leading scorer has tallied 12 more instances than any of his teammates and is 10 desires clean of NSC’s 2018 pinnacle scorers of Lebo Moloto and Tucker Hume (seven each).
4. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
We had questions about the Hounds’ protection early this season when it conceded the desire to establish 3 video games. Still, Pittsburgh has held combatants to a league-low eighty-two shots on the right track this season, or just over 3 in line with game. That ought to make Bob Lilley smile.
5. North Carolina FC
North Carolina’s +18 aim differential, currently coming in on hand to keep Louisville City out of the pinnacle six, has the whole thing to do with its domestic shape. In 14 contests at WakeMed Soccer Park this season, NCFC has scored 34 goals and conceded 14 for a +20 differential that ranks most effective behind Phoenix Rising FC and New York Red Bulls II on their domestic turf.
6. Louisville City FC
Louisville’s shot conversion rate of eleven.08 percentage is the bottom in the Eastern Conference if most effective, Cameron Lancaster or Ilija Ilic have been nonetheless round to place away more of the 362 probabilities (2nd-most in the league) the aspect has created.
7. Ottawa Fury FC
Ottawa’s goal generally won’t seem overwhelming. However, Fury FC has already scored eight more goals than it did in 2018 and has seven games to play. Nikola Popovic’s aspect ought to be used to find a few more down the stretch, though.
8. Saint Louis FC
The range of points STLFC amassed over 15 video games throughout the summer months put its playoff hopes in jeopardy. It’s also the variety of factors it collected over seven days to give up that run and begin a final push in the direction of a second consecutive postseason berth.
9. Birmingham Legion FC
If Birmingham is to reach the USL Championship Playoffs in its inaugural 12 months, it’s going to look back at its 624-minute shutout streak as the turning point. The fantastic defensive run, which helped the facet shoot up the standings, also ranks as the fourth-longest in league history.
10. Charleston Battery
The Battery hasn’t been an offensive juggernaut for a while; however, their eight.04 chances created per game this season rank 5th-worst inside the league this season and could be complex with a shot conversion rate that has dropped 4 percent from the previous season (17.15 to 13.Eleven) and protection that has already conceded more goals than it did last season.
11. Memphis 901 FC
That’s the share of video games that 901 FC didn’t discover on the back of the internet at some stage in its up-and-down inaugural season. Memphis has been rather strong at the lower back but just hasn’t located consistency up the front, irrespective of who is maining the road.
12. Bethlehem Steel FC
Steel FC is currently outdoor of the playoff places due to an offense that has created the fewest possibilities within the league with 178. It also ranks last in photographs with 266, but barely makes up for that with a pinnacle-ten shot conversion charge (18.36 percent).
13. Charlotte Independence
The tale of Charlotte’s season will be one of what might have been because the Independence have dropped a league-high 26 points from prevailing positions over the marketing campaign. Earning just half of these could have the side currently within the playoff locations.
14. Loudoun United FC
That’s the number of instances that Loudoun has been able to put together returned-to-returned victories in what has been an inconsistent inaugural season.
15. Atlanta United 2
That’s the number of dreams ATL UTD 2 has conceded at Fifth Third Bank Stadium to this point this season via 14 games. Currently, the maximum home dreams conceded by way of a group in the Championship this marketing campaign it’s a massive reason why the facet isn’t in competition to make the playoffs.
16. Hartford Athletic
Hartford’s protection has been the largest trouble of its inaugural season, conceding a league-excessive 69 goals, five of which were given decisive contact from its players. Those 5 own dreams are also the most inside the league and the wide variety of goals from its 3 leading scorers, Sebastian Dalgaard, Alex Dixon, and Wojciech Wojcik.
