Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi are both exceptional.
That shouldn't be a news flash to anyone that's watched them play this season. Five games into the season, the duo has amassed eight goals and six assists, and one or the other has been directly involved in every LAFC goal to this point of the season, aside from the own goal scored against the Galaxy.
Like I said, very good. And not news to anyone.
But how about some perspective on just how good LAFC’s two Designated Players have been? Especially when you consider that before the start of the 2018 season, neither had featured in an MLS match. Oh, and by the way, Rossi just turned 20.
So let’s start with their numbers to start the season. Rossi and Vela each lead LAFC with four goals apiece, good enough for third in the MLS scoring charts. Vela has two assists. Rossi is second in the League with four assists.
As previously mentioned, each player is new to MLS. The last three players to win Newcomer of the Year in MLS are Sebastian Giovinco (2015), Nicolás Lodeiro (2016), and Miguel Almirón (2017).
Through five matches to start their MLS careers, none of previous three Newcomer of the Year winners matched Rossi’s combined total of four goals and four assists (Giovinco: 3G, 2A, Almirón: 2G, 3A). And only Lodeiro, with two goals and four assists, matches Vela’s combined output to start his career.
But the extent of Vela and Rossi’s hot start doesn’t end with just player comparisons.
Before the start of play this week in MLS, Vela and Rossi’s combined eight goals is better than that of eight teams (Montreal, Philadelphia, DC United, Chicago, Toronto, FC Dallas, RSL, and Seattle). And three of those teams, DC United, FC Dallas, and Seattle, all have less as a team than either Vela or Rossi individually.
The duo is off to a flying start has LAFC exceeding many expectations with nine points from their current five-match road swing. One road match remains this Saturday in Montreal (April 21, 10am PST | YouTube TV, UniMás 46). If Vela and Rossi can continue this run of form, don't be surprised if LAFC return to kick off at Banc of California Stadium on April 29 riding high with a unprecedented road start for an MLS expansion side.
