| Come-From-Behind Wins in MLS (Last 5 Years) | ||||
| Year | Games | Comeback Wins | % | |
| 2008 | 210 | 22 | 10.5% | |
| 2009 | 225 | 23 | 10.2% | |
| 2010 | 240 | 22 | 9.2% | |
| 2011 | 306 | 28 | 9.2% | |
| 2012 | 55 | 10 | 18.2% | |
If the 2012 MLS season feels like it's been a little more dramatic, there's a statistical reason behind it.
On Thursday's edition of ExtraTime Radio, MLS EVP of competition and game operations Nelson Rodriguez pointed out the increase in come-from-behind wins this year.
"The fact that clubs have been able to come form behind is a new kind of phenomenon," Rodriguez said. "What we hope that that portends is that teams are a little more committed to going forward and to search out a goal … Often times when you go from behind and you just draw level, teams would sit at that point and we don't think we're seeing that as much any more."
When Rodriguez uses the word "phenomenon," it's no hyperbole.
The official statistician of MLS, the Elias Sports Bureau, dug through the numbers and found that 18.2 percent of matches thus far in 2012 have seen a come-from-behind win (total of 55 matches). That compares with a rate that hovered between 9.2 percent and 10.5 percent over the last five seasons.
The last time the come-from-behind wins reached these levels was a decade ago in 2002.
The sample size is small and there's still a long way to go in 2012, but the trend is encouraging. That is, if you're not weak of heart.
COME-FROM-BEHIND WINS IN 2012:
March 10: LA Galaxy 1, Real Salt Lake 3
March 12: Portland Timbers 3, Philadelphia Union 1
March 25: Sporting Kansas City 2, FC Dallas 1
March 31: NY Red Bulls 5, Montreal Impact 2
March 31: Portland Timbers 2, Real Salt Lake 3
April 7: San Jose 3, Vancouver 1
April 7: Portland 1, Chivas USA 2
April 14: New England 1, D.C. United 2
April 14: FC Dallas 2, Montreal Impact 1
April 14: LA Galaxy 3, Portland Timbers 1
