Only one player in Major League Soccer has scored or assisted in all five regular season matches this season.
That tag belongs to 29-year-old Mexican striker Alan Pulido, who joined Sporting Kansas City last December on a club-record transfer fee from Chivas de Guadalajara.
If recent performances are any indication, the significant investment in Pulido will bear significant rewards.
Pulido has three goals and four assists in his first five regular season appearances, not to mention a goal in Sporting's quarterfinal loss to the Philadelphia Union in the MLS is Back Tournament last month in Walt Disney World. His seven combined goals and assists are the second-most in MLS, behind Diego Rossi's eight, and while his nine chances created from open play rank sixth on the league charts.
MOST COMBINED GOALS & ASSISTS IN 2020
(MLS REGULAR SEASON)
<strong>Total</strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Assists</strong> |
<strong>Minutes</strong> |
8 |
Diego Rossi |
LAFC |
6 |
2 |
360 |
7 |
Alan Pulido |
Sporting Kansas City |
3 |
4 |
442 |
6 |
Alejandro Pozuelo |
Toronto FC |
1 |
5 |
423 |
5 |
Ayo Akinola |
Toronto FC |
5 |
0 |
266 |
5 |
Lucas Zelarayan |
Columbus Crew SC |
3 |
2 |
324 |
5 |
Jordan Morris |
Seattle Sounders FC |
3 |
2 |
336 |
Expectations were understandably high for Pulido heading into 2020, as the versatile forward had bagged over 100 goals for club and country while collecting an impressive share of trophies. The reigning Liga MX scoring champion won three major titles with Chivas, including the 2018 Concacaf Champions League, two championships with Tigres and one with Greek powerhouse Olympiacos.
Any lingering questions about whether Pulido would need time settling in with Sporting were promptly answered 17 minutes into his MLS debut on Feb. 29, when his pinpoint header spurred a season-opening 3-1 win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Seven days later, he endeared himself to the Children's Mercy Park faithful with a goal and an assist in a 4-0 demolition of the Houston Dynamo.
Following a four-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pulido picked up where he left of by landing a nomination for the MLS is Back Tournament Best XI. He tallied two goals and three assists in the historic competition as Sporting finished atop Group D and kept hold of first place in the Western Conference with 12 points and a 4-1-0 record.
Pulido and Sporting appear to have struck a fine romance thus far, and supporters will hope the harmony carries into the late summer and fall with games coming thick and fast. Manager Peter Vermes' side will play 18 more league fixtures between now and Nov. 8 to round out the 23-game regular season. The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will then follow from Nov. 20 to Dec. 12, culminating with the 25th MLS Cup.
Sporting will return to the pitch next Friday, Aug. 21, visiting second-place Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT with three hours of live coverage on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus beginning at 6 p.m. CT.
