MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 21 NEWS & NOTES
News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer
SPORTING KC’S GRAHAM ZUSI BECOMES LEADER OF THE ONE-CLUB WONDERS
Last Wednesday evening at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Graham Zusi of Sporting KC celebrated his 35th birthday with an MLS record achievement.
Zusi made appearance No. 307 for his MLS league career – now the most while spending his entire career with a single club in league history. Zusi surpassed the total of Cobi Jones, who played 306 games over his 12-year career with the LA Galaxy.
In the match, two other players made a move up the all-time MLS leaderboard for games played in a single-club career. Diego Chará of the Portland Timbers was on the opposition – and appeared in his 296th league match, now tied for third-most, with C.J. Brown. Roger Espinoza is now sixth all-time with 274 MLS appearances, all for Sporting KC.
Zusi has also matched the record set by C.J. Brown for most seasons in the league spent with a single club, now in his 13th campaign, equaling the mark Brown achieved from 1998-2010 with the Chicago Fire. Espinoza is now tied for third, in his 12th MLS season, also joined by Bill Hamid (D.C. United) among players who are in a 12th campaign with a single club.
RUIDÍAZ GOAL AMONG FASTEST EVER SEEN AFTER MAKING SUBSTITUTE APPEARANCE
On Wednesday night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, Raúl Ruidíaz of Seattle Sounders FC came on as a 63rd minute substitute. Just 25 seconds after coming into the field, Ruidíaz collected a blocked shot and curled a second attempt off the underside of the crossbar and just over the line – the only goal of the game in Sounders FC’s win against FC Dallas.
The 25-second gap between entrance as a substitute and scoring a goal is the sixth-fastest in MLS history, since since the exact timing has been available (the 2011 season).
The MLS record was set Sept. 5, 2014, when Real Salt Lake’s Álvaro Saborío came on the field as a substitute and scored just 18 seconds later. Two players in the last two seasons have done it in 19 seconds – Santiago Patiño of Orlando City SC (July 7, 2019 vs. Philadelphia), and Ariel Lassiter of Houston Dynamo FC (Oct. 28, 2020 at Los Angeles Football Club).
MLS WEEK 21 – LOOK AHEAD
LA GALAXY vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Friday, August 20, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #268)
Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Chantal Boudreau; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 159 games; FC/gm: 22.7; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 28; pens: 35
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Galaxy 34 wins (4 shootout), 118 goals … Earthquakes 26 wins (1 shootout), 109 goals … Ties 16
AT LA: Galaxy 22 wins (2 shootout), 65 goals … Earthquakes 8 wins (0 shootout), 48 goals … Ties 6
· The Galaxy saw their four-game undefeated streak come to an end, falling 2-1 to the Colorado Rapids at Dignity Health Sports Park on Tuesday evening. Rayan Raveloson scored his fifth goal of the season – all coming in the last nine games, since July 7 – for the Galaxy goal.
· The Quakes stretched their undefeated run to nine matches, gaining a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United FC at PayPal Park on Tuesday evening.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and the Galaxy have won both. Jonathan Bond made 12 saves – the second-most ever by a Galaxy goalkeeper in a single game – and the Galaxy netted the game’s only goal from an own goal for the win May 29 at Dignity Health Sports Park. It was the first time in Galaxy club history they won by the only goal through an own goal, in their 795th league game. Then on June 26, Javier Hernández scored a pair of goals as the Galaxy took a 3-1 win at PayPal Park.
· The Earthquakes have won each of the last two seasons in Carson, just their second and third victories there since 2012. The Galaxy have won just twice in the last 20 regular season games in northern California, across four stadiums.
· Known as the California Clásico, the Galaxy and Earthquakes have met 92 times in all competitions. In regular season play, the Galaxy have won 34 times and the Quakes 26, with 16 draws, since their first meeting April 28, 1996.
GALAXY: Derrick Williams recorded his third assist of the season, his second over the last seven games.
QUAKES: The nine-game undefeated run for the Quakes equals the third-longest the club’s history, matching the longest since the club-record 14 games without loss from July 20-Oct. 15, 2005.
MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #269)
Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minn.
2:30 p.m. CT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Marcos de Oliveira. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Jeff; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Philippe Briere
MLS Career: 53 games; FC/gm: 25.2; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 4; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: MNUFC 3 wins, 10 goals … Sporting 6 wins, 17 goals … Ties 2
AT MINNESOTA: MNUFC 2 wins, 7 goals … Sporting 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 2
· Minnesota United FC bounced back from a first loss in six games, gaining a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Tuesday evening. Wil Trapp scored his first goal since coming to Minnesota, his first goal in an MLS league since July 21, 2018, when he found the back of the net for the Columbus Crew vs. Orlando City.
· Sporting stretched their undefeated run to four games with a second draw in that time, reaching a 1-1 result with the Portland Timbers at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday evening. Daniel Sallói scored his 12th goal of the season, the equalizer in second-half stoppage time, in a tie for second place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
· The teams met three times last season, and Sporting won twice. In the last matchup, Johnny Russell netted the game’s only goal in the 80th minute for the SKC win at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 13. Each team scored through an own goal and Gadi Kinda also hit the back of the net as Sporting took a 2-1 win Aug. 21 at Allianz Field. The teams also met in group play during the MLS is Back Tournament, as Kevin Molino scored the game-winner seven minutes deep into second-half stoppage time to give Minnesota United FC a 2-1 win on July 12.
· The teams also met in the Western Conference Semifinal at Children’s Mercy Park last year, Minnesota United FC taking a 3-0 win. Kevin Molino scored a pair of goals while Emanuel Reynoso collected assists on all three MNUFC goals, a second consecutive game in the MLS Cup Playoffs with three assists – the first player to record three assists or more in multiple games in MLS postseason history.
· SKC has won all five matchups at home in league play. Sporting’s win at Allianz Field last year was their first in six visits to Minnesota all-time in all competitions.
MNUFC: Adrien Hunou recorded his first assist in MLS, making his 12th appearance. … Ethan Finlay collected his first assist of the season, his first since the opening game of the 2020 season, March 1 vs. Portland, when he recorded both of his assists on the campaign.
SPORTING: Daniel Sallói scored for a third consecutive game, a sixth consecutive game with a goal and/or an assist, with five goals and three assists in that span. … Alan Pulido collected his third assist of the season, a second consecutive game with an assist; he has three goals and two assists over his last five games.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #270)
Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
5:30 p.m. ET (FOX / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Peter Balciunas; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 56 games; FC/gm: 27.3; Y/gm: 4.1; R: 11; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Crew 4 wins, 17 goals … Sounders FC 6 wins, 22 goals … Ties 5
AT COLUMBUS: Crew 2 wins, 8 goals … Sounders FC 4 wins, 11 goals … Ties 1
· The Crew fell to a fifth consecutive defeat, dropping a decision by the game’s only goal to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday evening.
· Sounders FC won a second game on the trot, defeating FC Dallas by the game’s only goal at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday evening. Raúl Ruidíaz scored the goal in the 63rd minute – just 25 seconds after coming onto the field as a substitute; he now leads the MLS Golden Boot standings by two goals with his 14th of the season.
· The game in a rematch of the 2020 MLS Cup, won by the Crew 3-0 at their Crew Stadium home in Columbus. Lucas Zelarayán was named MLS Cup MVP after scoring two goals and adding one assist, involved in all three Crew SC goals, just the second player in MLS Cup history to be involved in three goals in a single final.
· The teams also met once during the 2020 regular season, reaching a 1-1 draw on March 7 in Seattle. Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, but Raúl Ruidíaz converted a penalty kick in the 79th minute for the equalizer. Sounders FC are undefeated in the last three games in the league series, with a win and two draws. The teams last met in a regular-season game in Columbus in 2019, Sounders FC taking a 2-1 win July 6.
CREW: Bradley Wright-Phillips appeared at Red Bull Arena for the first time since his No. 99 was retired by the Red Bulls. He has one of four numbers currently retired by MLS clubs.
SOUNDERS FC: Spencer Richey was credited with two saves in recording his second shutout of the season in his second league start – both coming in 1-0 scorelines (also: July 22 at Austin FC). … The 25 seconds elapsed after coming into the game for Raúl Ruidíaz marked the sixth-fastest goal for a player after coming onto the field as a substitute (since 2011, when records are available).
INTER MIAMI CF vs. TORONTO FC
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #271)
DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
8 p.m. ET (TSN; MyTV33 / UniMás 69)
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Adam Wienckowski; AR2 (opposite): Jeffrey Greeson; 4th: Elton Garcia; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Jose da Silva
MLS Career: 279 games; FC/gm: 22.9; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 44; pens: 87
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Inter Miami 0 wins, 1 goal … Toronto FC 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0
AT INTER MIAMI: First meeting.
· Inter Miami won for the third time in five games, getting a late winner for a 3-2 win against Chicago Fire FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday evening. Rodolfo Pizarro netted the game-winner in second-half stoppage time, his first MLS goal in 2021 (he had four in 2020).
· Toronto FC dropped a second consecutive match, falling by the game’s only goal to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday evening.
· The teams met once in Inter Miami’s inaugural season. Ayo Akinola and Alejandro Pozuelo netted second-half goals as Toronto FC came back for a 2-1 win Nov. 1 at Rentschler Field at Pratt and Whitney Stadium in E. Hartford, Conn.
IMCF: Gonzalo Higuaín collected a pair of assists, now with four for the season, the first two-assist game of his MLS career (in 25 appearances). … Indiana Vassilev scored a second goal, both coming in the last three games, making his first MLS start in seven appearances. … Robbie Robinson scored his third goal of the season, his second in the last six matches. … Victor Ulloa collected his second assist of the season, both coming in the last four games.
TFC: Quentin Westberg returned between the posts for the first time since June 23. … Patrick Mullins made his first start since June 26, while Noble Okello was in the first XI for the first time since April 24.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. FC CINCINNATI
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #272)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
8 p.m. ET (WBZ-TV / MyRITV; WSTR – Star 64)
REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): Eric Weisbrod; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Luis Arroyo; VAR: Carol Anne Chenard; AVAR: Ian McKay
MLS Career:
104 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 40; pens: 23
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 2 wins, 3 goals … FCC 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0
AT GILLETTE STADIUM: Revolution 0 wins, 0 goals … FCC 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0
· The Revolution won for a third consecutive game and a seventh time in their active eight-game undefeated streak, defeating D.C. United 3-2 at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday evening. Tajon Buchanan scored his fifth goal of the season, his second in as many games, while Tommy McNamara and DeJuan Jones each added their second.
· FC Cincinnati gained a fourth consecutive draw, playing to a goalless result with CF Montréal at TQL Stadium on Wednesday evening.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Adam Buksa netted the game’s only goal on 70 minutes, giving the Revolution the win May 29 at TQL Stadium.
· The teams had last met in 2019 in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season, each winning on the other’s home ground. Kekuta Manneh and Kenny Saief scored on either side of halftime as FC Cincinnati claimed a 2-0 win on March 24 at Gillette Stadium, the first away win in FCC’s MLS history, then on July 21 at Nippert Stadium, Carles Gil and Antonio Mlinar netted goals in a 2-0 Revolution victory.
REVOLUTION: Arnor Traustaton collected his fifth assist of the season; he has two goals and three assists over the last seven games. He will miss the FCC game through suspension. … A.J. DeLaGarza recorded his first assist since coming to New England, his first in an MLS game since June 1, 2019 while with Houston Dynamo FC.
FCC: Przemyslaw Tyton was not called upon to make a save in recording his first shutout of the season in his fourth appearance, his last in an MLS game coming Sept. 2, 2020 vs. Chicago.
NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #273)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
8 p.m. ET (FOX / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Kyle Atkins; 4th: Robert Sibiga; VAR: Jon Freemon; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 168 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 46; pens: 52
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Red Bulls 8 wins, 32 goals … NYCFC 6 wins, 21 goals … Ties 2
RED BULLS HOME GAME: Red Bulls 6 wins, 16 goals … NYCFC 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 1
· The Red Bulls put an end to a seven-game winless run, defeating the Columbus Crew by the game’s only goal at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday evening. John Tolkin scored his first career MLS goal, making his 15th appearance of the season.
· NYCFC saw their six-game undefeated run come to an end, falling by the game’s only goal to the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Wednesday evening.
· The teams met twice a season ago, each winning their home match. Kyle Duncan scored the game’s only goal to give the Red Bulls the win Aug. 20 at Red Bull Arena; Valentin Castellanos netted a hat trick as NYCFC took a 5-2 win Nov. 1 at Yankee Stadium, their largest victory in the all-time series.
· The Red Bulls have won eight of the 16 meetings all-time in league play, with a 32-21 goal differential. Included in that was a 7-0 Red Bulls win on May 21, 2016, at Yankee Stadium, the victory matching the largest margin of victory in MLS history (and the seven goals by the Red Bulls their club record). In all competitions, the Red Bulls have won 10 of 18 matches, with two draws, with a 37-21 goal differential. NYCFC have won five of the last 10 league meetings, with one draw, over the last four years.
RED BULLS: Fabio collected his seventh assist of the season, his last coming on July 3, tied for fourth place in the MLS assist standings. … Andrew Gutman recorded his first assist of the season, his first since coming to the Red Bulls; it was his first in an MLS game since Aug. 17, 2019 while with FC Cincinnati, his second league appearance. … Carlos Coronel was credited with three saves in recording his sixth shutout of the season, tied for fourth-most in MLS this season.
NYCFC: After going 25 consecutive league games with a goal, which was tied for the fourth-longest such streak in MLS history, NYCFC was held without a marker for a second time in four matches.
PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. CF MONTRÉAL
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #274)
Subaru Park, Chester, Pa.
8 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; PHL17)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): C.J. Morgante; AR2 (opposite): Mike Rottersman; 4th: Katja Koroleva; VAR: Alan Kelly; AVAR: Kathryn Nesbitt
MLS Career: 178 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 53; pens: 71
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Union 7 wins, 31 goals … CFMTL 9 wins, 40 goals … Ties 6
AT UNION: Union 4 wins, 17 goals … CFMTL 2 wins, 17 goals … Ties 5
· The Union won for a second time in three games, defeating New York City FC by the game’s only goal at Subaru Park on Wednesday evening. Alejandro Bedoya scored his first league goal of the season, his first in an MLS game since last Oct. 7.
· CF Montréal gained a second successive result, reaching a goalless draw with FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Wednesday evening.
· The teams met twice a season ago, and the Union won both. Kacper Przybylko netted a pair of goals as the Union cruised to a 4-1 win Sept. 20 at Red Bull Arena in an Montréal home game; Jamiro Monteiro and Sergio Santos each scored on either side of halftime as the Union took a 2-1 win Oct. 11 at Subaru Park.
· Montréal won the last meeting at Stade Saputo, a 4-0 win July 27, 2019. The Union have won the last two meetings in Chester.
UNION: Andre Blake was credited with two saves in recording his eighth shutout of the season, his second in the last three games, tied for the MLS league lead with Joe Willis (NSH) and William Yarbrough (COL). … Kai Wagner recorded his fourth assist of the season, his first since gaining two on May 30 in a 3-0 win vs. Portland.
CFMTL: Sebastian Breza was credited with three saves in recording his first career shutout in MLS, making his third appearance.
D.C. UNITED vs. ATLANTA UNITED
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #275)
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
8 p.m. ET (NBCS-Wash / TeleXitos; Bally Sports South/SE)
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): Michael Barwegen; AR2 (opposite): Jason White; 4th: Jonathan Bilinski; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 77 games; FC/gm: 26.3; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 9; pens: 24
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 6 wins, 15 goals … ATLUTD 4 wins, 16 goals … Ties 0
AT D.C.: D.C. United 4 wins, 8 goals … ATLUTD 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 0
· D.C. United suffered a second reversal in a row, dropping a 3-2 decision to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday evening. Paul Arriola scored his third goal of the season, his last coming July 3; he has a goal and an assist in the last two games.
· ATLUTD won a third consecutive game, defeating Toronto FC by the game’s only goal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday evening. Ezequiel Barco scored his fourth goal of the season, his third in the last three games; he has a goal or an assist now in four games in a row.
· The teams met twice a season ago, each winning on the other’s home ground. Jon Gallagher scored a pair of goals and Brooks Lennon hit for another and added two assists as Atlanta United rolled to a 4-0 win Oct. 3 at Audi Field; Russell Canouse and Gelmin Rivas scored in the final quarter-hour as D.C. took a 2-1 win Oct. 24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
· Home form had ruled in the previous two seasons, each winning 2-0 on their home ground in 2019, and winning by 3-1 scorelines on their own ground in 2018 in three meetings overall (two in Atlanta). D.C. United took all three meetings in ATLUTD’s expansion season, winning 3-1 at Bobby Dodd Stadium on April 30 before taking the next two at RFK Stadium.
UNITED: Ramón Ábila scored in his D.C. United debut, his third goal in MLS this season. … Ola Kamara recorded his third assist of the season; he has four goals and an assist over the last four games.
ATLUTD: Brad Guzan was credited with three saves in recording a fifth shutout of the season, his second consecutive shutout, now with five for the season, tied for sixth in MLS in shutouts. … Brooks Lennon collected his fourth assist of the season, his third over the last seven games.
ORLANDO CITY SC vs. CHICAGO FIRE FC
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #276)
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
8 p.m. ET (FOX35 Plus / LionNation TV; WGN-TV)
REFEREE: Timothy Ford. AR1 (bench): Matthew Nelson; AR2 (opposite): Ryan Graves; 4th: JC Griggs; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Kyle Longville
MLS Career: 32 games; FC/gm: 20.9; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 6; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Orlando City 3 wins, 17 goals … Fire 5 wins, 26 goals … Ties 5
AT ORLANDO: Orlando City 1 win, 9 goals … Fire 2 wins, 10 goals … Ties 3
· Orlando City extended their undefeated run to four games with a third consecutive draw, playing to a 1-1 result with Nashville SC at Nissan Stadium on Wednesday evening. Antonio Carlos scored his second goal of the season, both coming in the last three games.
· The Fire had their two-game winning streak put to an end, falling 3-2 to Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday evening. Luka Stojanovic scored his seventh goal of the season, his fourth goal in the last three games.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Álvaro Medran set up a pair of goals as the Fire took a 3-1 win July 7 at Soldier Field.
· The teams met once a season ago. Four different players scored as Orlando City SC took a 4-1 win Sept. 19 at Exploria Stadium, the result snapping an eight-game Fire undefeated streak in the series, over four seasons. Orlando City’s last previous win vs. Chicago had come Sept. 19, 2015, a 1-0 win at Bridgeview, Ill.; the Fire then won four meetings, with four draws.
OCSC: Mauricio Pereyra recorded his eighth assist of the season, tied for second-most in MLS (with João Paulo of SEA), his fourth assist in the last six games.
FIRE: Luka Stojanovic also recorded his second assist of the season; he has been involved in each of the last five Fire goals, over the last three games. … Francisco Calvo scored his first goal of the season, his first since last Oct. 3. … Stanislav Ivanov collected his first career assist in MLS, making his fourth appearance.
HOUSTON DYNAMO FC vs. FC DALLAS
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #277)
BBVA Stadium, Houston, Texas
7:30 p.m. CT (QuestTexas 55 / Telexitos 47.2; FCDallas.com / KCPN-TV / KMYL-TV / Estrella KMPX-29)
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Logan Brown; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Rosendo Mendoza; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 187 games; FC/gm: 22.2; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 46; pens: 81
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo 12 wins, 55 goals … FC Dallas 13 wins, 62 goals … Ties 15
AT DYNAMO: Dynamo 9 wins, 32 goals … FC Dallas 4 wins, 27 goals … Ties 7
· Dynamo FC saw their winless slide continued, falling 2-1 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday evening. Fafa Picault scored his fifth goal of the season, a second consecutive game with a goal; he has scored each of the Dynamo’s last three goals.
· FC Dallas dropped a second game on the trot, falling by the game’s only goal to Seattle Sounders FC at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday evening.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. FCD’s Fafa Picault converted a penalty kick, then Dynamo FC’s Jader Obrian hit for the leveler, as the teams reached a 1-1 draw May 8 at Toyota Stadium.
· The Dynamo have won in the series each of the last two seasons. Since the start of 2013, FC Dallas are 10-3-8 in league play against Houston, and have won the three meetings between the teams in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
· FC Dallas has won five of the 13 matches (with four draws) between the teams over all competitions at BBVA Stadium. The Dynamo haven’t won in Frisco since 2011, FCD winning the last four there.
· The clubs play for “El Capitán,” the 19th-century Mountain Howitzer cannon to be awarded to the winner of the season series by supporters’ groups for both clubs.
DYNAMO FC: Darwín Ceren collected his second assist of the season, his first coming May 29.
FCD: FC Dallas saw their undefeated streak at Toyota Stadium put to an end after 18 games, a first home defeat since last Aug. 16, equaling the 11th-longest such run in MLS history. … Kalil ElMedkhar made his first appearance since June 19, coming on for his third substitute appearance of the year.
AUSTIN FC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #278)
Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
8 p.m. CT (KNVA [CW Austin] / UniMas Austin; KPDX)
REFEREE: Guido Gonzales Jr. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Diego Blas; 4th: Brandon Stevis; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 27 games; FC/gm: 26.6; Y/gm: 4.4; R: 8; pens: 7
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATXFC 1 win, 4 goals … Timbers 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0
AT PORTLAND: First meeting.
· Austin FC suffered a third reversal on the run, falling 2-1 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Q2 Stadium on Wednesday evening. Alexander Ring scored his second goal with Austin FC, the first coming July 1 vs. Portland.
· The Timbers started their road swing with a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Wednesday evening. Felipe Mora scored his seventh goal of the season, his fifth over the last seven games; he now has a goal or an assist in four consecutive games, with three goals and an assist in that time.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season and in their histories. Cecilio Dominguez set up a pair of goals as Austin FC rolled to a 4-1 win in the first meeting, July 1 at Q2 Stadium.
ATXFC: Sebastian Driussi recorded his first career assist in MLS, making his third appearance (a second start).
TIMBERS: Marvín Loria recorded his fifth assist of the season, his fourth over the last nine games, since July 1 (vs. Austin FC).
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #279)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
7 p.m. MT (Altitude; KMYU-12)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): TJ Zablocki; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Ismir Pekmic; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 144 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 20; pens: 43
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 14 wins, 48 goals … Real 24 wins, 74 goals … Ties 11
AT COLORADO: Rapids 10 wins, 28 goals … Real 8 wins, 31 goals … Ties 5
· The Rapids won a second consecutive game and for a third time in a four-game undefeated run, defeating the LA Galaxy 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Tuesday evening. Andre Shinyashiki scored his fourth goal of the season for the game-winner, a second in the last four games.
· Real won a second consecutive game, defeating Houston Dynamo FC 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday evening. Anderson Julio scored his fourth goal for the game-winner, his first since July 7.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season, Real taking a 3-0 win July 24 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
· In the final meeting a season ago, Sept. 12 at Rio Tinto Stadium, the Rapids took a 5-0 victory, the largest margin of victory in the club’s 25 seasons and their first win in the series since 2017.
· The Rapids victory in the final meeting also ended a 17-game home undefeated streak for Real vs. Colorado. The last previous win for the Rapids in Utah was a 2-0 triumph April 30, 2007 at Rice-Eccles Stadium; RSL won 13 of the next 17 home meetings, with four draws. RSL has won the last three meetings in Commerce City; they have come away with points on eight of their past 11 trips there (six wins, two draws, dating back to 2013).
· The rivals play for the Rocky Mountain Cup, a trophy awarded by the supporters’ groups of both teams.
RAPIDS: Jonathan Lewis converted a penalty kick for his second goal of the season, his first coming June 19.
REAL: Justin Meram scored his first goal of the season, his last in MLS coming Sept, 20, 2020. … Rubio Rubin collected his fourth assist of the season, his last coming on July 21.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB
Saturday, August 21, 2021 (Week 21, MLS Game #280)
BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.
7 p.m. PT (TSN; My13 / KCOP, Estrella TV)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Stefan Tanaka-Freundt; 4th: Silviu Petrescu; VAR: Kevin Stott; AVAR: Rene Parra
MLS Career: 52 games; FC/gm: 23.8; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 6; pens: 15
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 8 goals … LAFC 3 wins, 19 goals … Ties 2
VANCOUVER HOME GAME: Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 3 goals … LAFC 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0
· Whitecaps FC stretched their undefeated run to seven games with a second victory in that span, defeating Austin FC 2-1 at Q2 Stadium on Wednesday evening. Brian White scored his second goal of the season, his first coming in his debut with the ‘Caps on June 18 after arriving via trade from New York Red Bulls.
· LAFC saw their winless slide extended in their last match, falling to Atlanta United by the game’s only goal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. They reached a 2-2 draw July 24 at Banc of California Stadium.
· The teams have evenly split their five meetings, each winning twice. LAFC has scored six goals in each of the two meetings in downtown Los Angeles, a 6-0 win Sept. 23, 2020, and a 6-1 win July 6, 2019.
WHITECAPS FC: Jake Nerwinski scored his first goal of the season, his last coming last Sept. 5. … Ryan Gauld collected his first career assist in MLS. … Deiber Caicedo recorded his fourth assist of the season, his second in the last three games.
LAFC: LAFC saw their streak of 13 consecutive games with a goal come to an end.
