Reliving the Highest Scoring Soccer Game and 3 Runner-Ups

July 7, 2023 by

Soccer has never been a sport with goals and scoring galore. While the NFL, NBA, and MLB have exceptions, these sports and leagues are built to have as much scoring as the rules allow.

With scores like 130-125 (NBA), 42-38 (NFL), or even 7-5 (MLB), fans of American sports are used to high-octane, action-packed, and non-stop scoring and action.

This isn’t to say that the MLS and NHL aren’t any of those things because they are. It’s based on the rules and how the game is structured that doesn’t allow an abundance of goals on a nightly basis.

Those two sports simply aren’t meant for shootouts, especially MLS. But, fortunately for us fans, that doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions.

That’s exactly what we’re going to be breaking down for you today: the highest-scoring MLS matches. We’ve also included a list of other cool and unique goal-related records so you can be informed the next time you sit down to watch a game with your friends.

Contents

1 The Highest Scoring MLS Games
2 Other MLS Goal Records
3 The Best Way To Buy MLS Tickets

The Highest Scoring MLS Games

There are two important distinctions here: the most goals by one team and the most goals combined by two teams in a single match.

For reference, the highest current average in terms of goals per game by a team is 2.00 (Columbus Crew), and that’s really good. Atlanta United currently averages the most combined goals per game, with 1.85 scored and 1.75 conceded for a total of 3.60 per game.

So yes, MLS (and most soccer) matches are extremely low scoring, meaning the numbers you’re about to read will certainly jump off the page.

It’s important to keep this in mind, too: although scoring has been slightly down over the past few seasons, it’s nothing compared to the low-scoring games when the league first kicked off in the 90s and early 2000s.

Scoring has continued to grow and become more prominent in the MLS, which should tell you a lot about what was going on in the 90s, considering two goals per game is elite in today’s game.

With all that context, here are the highest-scoring games in MLS history.

June 4th, 1998: LA Galaxy vs Dallas

The record for the most goals by a team in a single game belongs to the LA Galaxy during their insanely high scoring 1998 season, where they averaged 2.65 goals per game — which is unheard of during this era.

That season saw the Galaxy set the record for the most goals by a team not once but two times within a month of each other. This LA Galaxy team set the bar considering this was only the third season in MLS history.

Enough backstory: on June 4th, 1998, the LA Galaxy poured in 8 goals against the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), who only managed to get one across the line for a final score of 8-1. Talk about a Thrashing with a capital

As you’re about to read, the LA Galaxy stand alone with their 8-goal record, but plenty of other teams have made valiant efforts to break it.

May 6th, 1998: LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids

The record for the highest-scoring MLS game by a combined score also belongs to the LA Galaxy, and it also happened within a month of breaking the record for most goals by a single team.

After this shootout between the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids was over, two important records were made: first, the final score of this game was 7-4 in favor of the Galaxy, which set the record for the highest-scoring game in MLS history (11 goals).

Second, seven goals at the time set a record for the most goals scored by a single team in MLS history, which would be broken by the Galaxy again a month later on June 4th.

It’s safe to say the months of May and June 1998 were pretty good for the LA Galaxy and its fans.

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Other 10-Goal Games

While the record for most combined goals is 11, plenty of other matches have come excruciatingly close to breaking this record.

Four other matches in the history of the MLS have combined for double-digit goals, and thankfully our dear friends, the LA Galaxy, are not involved in any of them.

On May 2nd, 1996, the Kansas City Wiz (now Sporting Kansas City) defeated Columbus Crew 6-4, good enough to set the record for most combined goals (10) at that time.

The most recent double-digit game happened in 2015 when DC United chipped in 6 goals against the four scored by Real Salt Lake. This was the 5th time in MLS history that the score reached 10 or more, and it has yet to happen since.

September 10th, 2020: Seattle Sounders vs San Jose Earthquakes

No other teams besides the Galaxy have reached the 8-goal threshold, but Seattle came close back in 2020.

When the Sounders took the field against the undermanned San Jose Earthquakes in 2020, everyone knew a blowout was certainly on the table. Nobody expected a 7-1 beatdown in favor of the Sounders, as this was the closest a team has gotten to breaking the 8-goal record in years.

Scoring comes at a premium, and even against an underperforming team such as the 2020 Earthquakes, seven goals is shocking. Hats off to the Sounders for one of the most dominating performances we’ve seen in decades.

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Ties

A good number of teams have also reached the seven-goal mark, as there have been 11 matches in MLS history where at least one team reached seven goals.

If you were curious, our old friend, the Galaxy, is on this list three times, as they rocked Sporting Kansas City 7-2 back in 2019. That’s dominance.

Other MLS Goal Records

Now that we’ve relived the LA Galaxy’s glory days, let’s talk about some other fun and interesting records currently being held.

Like we keep saying, scoring is exceptionally rare for the average player, making these records more impressive.

We’re keeping this strictly goal-related because who doesn’t like a bunch of scoring? The defense may win championships, but the offense sells tickets.

Most MLS Goals by a Single Player (Game)

Finally, an accolade that doesn’t belong to an LA team.

On August 25th, 2000, Clint Mathis of the Metro Stars (now New York Red Bulls) scored five goals against the Dallas Burn (Dallas FC). This is the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single game, and Mathis stands alone.

16 players are all tied with four goals scored in a single game.

Biggest MLS Winning Margin (Game)

Five teams are tied for the record of biggest winning margin in a single game with seven.

Dallas, Kansas City, New York City, Atlanta, and Philadelphia sit tied as they have all won a game by seven goals, the highest number in MLS history. There are 20 teams who have won by six goals, and this list should only continue to grow in the coming years.

Most Goals in a MLS Season (Team)

Not one but two LA-based teams are tied for this record.

Originally thought to be unbreakable, the LA Galaxy set the record in their 1998 season when they scored 85 total goals. Funny enough, DC. United also broke the record in the same year with 74 but was quickly overshadowed.

Then, in 2019, Los Angeles FC turned it on and finished with 85 goals, one short of sitting alone in record book glory.

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Most Goals in a MLS Season (Player)

Given that LAFC scored 85 goals in 2019, it probably won’t come as a shock to learn that this record holder played for LAFC and set the record in 2019.

Carlos Vela ended with 34 goals on the year, good enough to beat the previous record of 31 set by Josef Martinez in 2017. Let’s not forget the legendary run by Zlatan Ibrahimović with the LA Galaxy that same year, as he contributed 30 goals.

Those are the only three MLS players to reach the 30-goal threshold in a season.

Most MLS Goals All-Time (Player)

Finally, American legend Chris Wondolowski holds the ultimate record of 171 career goals, good enough to stand alone and be 26 goals ahead of 2nd place.

Impressive work.

The Best Way To Buy MLS Tickets

Now that you know about the MLS and some of its biggest records, it’s time to get yourself to a game. Get fee-free MLS tickets all season from TickPick marketplace. Plus, new users can save an additional $10 off the face value of their first purchase. Just sign up here to get started.

What are you waiting for? We’ll see you on the field.

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