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 closing year’s is its improved protective resolve. It’s most effective halfway to its 2018 total of 64 desires conceded with simply six games final.
4. Indy Eleven
Indy Eleven
5
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 personal turf and is tied with the 2015 Rochester Rhinos for the fewest domestic desires allowed in a regular season in league history.
3. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Tampa Bay Rowdies
+13
One of the important thing elements in Tampa Bay’s resurgence this season has been its constant play faraway 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.
2. Nashville SC

Nashville SC
17
Where would Nashville be with out 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).
5. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
eighty-two
We had questions about the Hounds’ protection early this season when it conceded desires in every of its establishing 3 video games, but Pittsburgh has held combatants to a league-low eighty-two shots on the right track this season or just over 3 in line with the game. That ought to make Bob Lilley smile.
Five. North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC
+20
North Carolina’s +18 aim differential, that’s 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.
7. Louisville City FC
Louisville City FC
11.08
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.
8. Ottawa Fury FC
Ottawa Fury FC
39
Ottawa’s goal general won’t seem overwhelming, however, Fury FC has already scored eight greater desires than it did in 2018 and nonetheless has seven games to play. Nikola Popovic’s aspect ought to use to find a few more down the stretch, though.
Eleven. Saint Louis FC
Saint Louis FC
9
The range of points STLFC amassed over 15 video games throughout the summer season months to position its playoff hopes in jeopardy. It’s additionally the variety of factors it collected over the span of seven days to give up that run and begin a final push in the direction of a second consecutive postseason berth.
Nine. Birmingham Legion FC
Birmingham Legion FC
624
If Birmingham is to reach the USL Championship Playoffs in its inaugural 12 months, it’s going to look lower 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 because the fourth-longest in league history.
10. Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
eight.04
The Battery haven’t been an offensive juggernaut for a while however their eight.04 chances created per game this season ranks 5th-worst inside the league this season and could be complex with a shot conversion rate that has dropped 4 percentage from ultimate season (17.15 to 13.Eleven) and a protection that has already conceded extra goals than it did ultimate season.
15. Memphis 901 FC
Memphis 901 FC
44.4
That’s the share of video games that 901 FC has didn’t discover the lower 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 main the road.
Thirteen. Bethlehem Steel FC
Bethlehem Steel FC
178
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 percentage).
12. Charlotte Independence
Charlotte Independence
26
The tale of Charlotte’s season will be one in every 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
Loudoun United FC
0
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.
Atlanta United 2
Atlanta United 2
32
That’s the quantity 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 purpose why the facet isn’t in competition to make the playoffs.
17. Hartford Athletic
Hartford Athletic
5
Hartford’s protection has been the largest trouble of its inaugural season, conceding a league-excessive 69 dreams, five of which were given the decisive contact from its personal gamers. Those 5 own dreams also are the most inside the league and same the wide variety of goals from its 3 leading scorers, Sebastian Dalgaard, Alex Dixon and Wojciech Wojcik.