For the second consecutive year, Sacha Kljestan is the MLS assist king.
The New York Red Bulls midfielder finished with the most assists in the league in 2017, ending the year with 17 helpers in 32 regular season games. Kljestan led MLS with 20 assists in 2016. He has 51 assists in 97 regular season appearances since returning to MLS to join the Red Bulls ahead of the 2015 season.
He is the first player in MLS history to lead the league in assists in consecutive seasons.
Toronto FC newcomer Victor Vazquez finished second to Kljestan with 16 assists. New England Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen came in third in the assist race with 15 helpers.
With the Red Bulls already locked into the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed, Kljestan was not on the gameday roster for New York’s 2-1 win at D.C. United on Sunday.
The 32-year-old playmaker and his New York teammates will begin their Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs campaign on Wednesday when they’ll take on former Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty and the third-seeded Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round.
