Lewis Morgan arrived at Inter Miami in January 2020 with something to prove. The Scottish winger joined from the prestigious Celtic FC in the Scottish Premier League where he spent two seasons but came in search of a new opportunity.
Morgan got off to a quick start with his new team, registering an assist on Inter Miami’s first-ever goal back in March. Since then, he has blossomed into one of the focal points of Inter Miami’s attack and a leading figure in the 2020 MLS regular season, resulting in five Team of the Week nominations as well as nominations for MLS MVP and Newcomer of the Year.
Goals: 5 - Team-High
The numbers back that up as Morgan appeared at the top of a number of lists, including Inter Miami’s goal scoring and assist charts. In Inter Miami’s inaugural regular season, the Scotsman led the team in goals with five, including this finish which earned him an AT&T Goal of the Week nomination.
Assists: 8 - Team-High, Fifth in MLS
Morgan also led the team with eight assists in 2020. It wasn’t only among Inter Miami players that Morgan stood out, as the winger finished the season tied for fifth in assists among all players in MLS.
Expected Goals + Expected Assists: 0.51 per 90 - Second on Team
The underlying numbers, the kind that don’t always make the headlines, also reflected Morgan’s standout season. He led Inter Miami in expected assists per 90 minutes (xA per 90) with 0.33 per match. Morgan also finished second on the team in expected goals plus expected assists per 90 minutes (xG + xA per 90) among current players, finishing the campaign averaging 0.51 per 90, just below Gonzalo Higuaín’s team-leading average of 0.58 per 90.
Expected Assists: 7.93 - Team-High, Second in MLS
Morgan’s xA total for the season was also elite by MLS standards, as his 7.93 expected assists in 2020 were second in the league behind only Portland’s Diego Valeri at 8.25.
Chances Created: 65 - Team-High, Second in MLS
Morgan’s playmaking abilities lent themselves to other stellar stats as well. Notably, he finished second in MLS in chances created – which MLS defines as the final pass or pass before a shot leading to the recipient of the ball having an attempt at goal without scoring – with 65, only behind Toronto FC’s Alejandro Pozuelo’s 70.
Big Chances Created: 14 - Team-High, First in MLS
Lastly, the winger topped MLS in big chances created – defined as creating a situation in which a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a 1-on-1 scenario or from very close range – with 14. His total was only matched by Seattle’s Nicolás Lodeiro.
Morgan’s first season in MLS was marked by his creative ability and attacking output. Whether he was lining up to take set-pieces with either foot or bursting down the flank of the pitch to whip in a cross, he was always finding ways to make his effort felt. His crowning achievement, however, was serving as one of the engines that helped make Inter Miami just the seventh MLS franchise to qualify for the playoffs in its inaugural season, as he started all 23 matches for the Club. Morgan’s effort never waned, either, as he provided the assist on the team’s playoff-clinching goal on Decision Day presented by AT&T. With the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs quickly approaching, the winger will be hoping to replicate his regular season success.
