MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 24 NEWS & NOTES
News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer
TIMBERS’ CHARÁ, ATLANTA’S MARTÍNEZ, ON VERGE OF HISTORY-MAKING FRIDAY
A pair of South American campaigners are on the verge of creating history this Friday evening in a pair of high-profile matches.
Diego Chará of the Portland Timbers is on the verge of becoming just the eighth player in Major League Soccer to reach 300 appearances for a single club. Heading into Friday evening’s game at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10 p.m. ET; TSN), Chará has played in 299 MLS league games – all with the Timbers.
Nick Rimando, who is the league’s all-time appearance leader, also holds the record for most games with a single club, making 369 of his 514 career appearances with Real Salt Lake.
Chará will also become the third player to reach 300 games over the entirety of a career with a single club. Earlier this season, Graham Zusi became the recordholder, now with 310 career MLS league matches played, all with Sporting Kansas City. Zusi surpassed Cobi Jones, whose entire MLS career of 306 league games was with the LA Galaxy.
On the eve of his 100th career appearance in Major League Soccer, Josef Martínez has obliterated the record for the most goals in the opening century of games in the league’s history.
Martínez has scored 83 goals in his first 99 games in MLS – he could reach the century mark when Atlanta United take on Orlando City SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday evening (7 p.m. ET; FS1 / FOX Deportes).
The previous mark was held by Roy Lassiter, who scored 69 goals in his first 100 MLS league games, which came from 1996-99 with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and D.C. United.
GALAXY BOSS VANNEY, CREW HEAD MAN PORTER, ON BRINK OF A CENTURY OF WINS
A pair of head coaches in opposite conferences are in a race to see who can be first to reach 100 league wins for their MLS careers.
Greg Vanney of the LA Galaxy is sitting on 98 career MLS league victories, heading into his club’s game at the Colorado Rapids on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. ET; Univision / TUDN). Meanwhile, Caleb Porter of the Columbus Crew has 97 career league wins, going into his club’s match at Inter Miami CF on Saturday evening (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+).
Just 10 coaches in MLS history have reached the century mark in league wins. The all-time leader is Sigi Schmid, who amassed 240 regular-season victories over 19 seasons in MLS with the LA Galaxy, Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC. Current New England Revolution head man Bruce Arena is second, now just six wins behind the mark set by Schmid.
REVOLUTION’S RISE TO THE TOP COMING THROUGH RECORD 1-GOAL WINS
With just a little less than a third of the 2021 MLS regular season still to play, the New England Revolution have raced to the top of the overall standings in the chase for the Supporters’ Shield and the No. 1 overall seed in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs – mainly through the strength of a league-leading 16 victories.
But of those 16 wins, 13 have come by a single goal. That already equals the most wins by one goal in a season in MLS history, last accomplished by the Colorado Rapids in 2016.
MLS WEEK 24 – LOOK AHEAD
ATLANTA UNITED vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #301)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
7 p.m. ET (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Victor Rivas. AR1 (bench): Peter Manikowski; AR2 (opposite): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; 4th: Nima Saghafi; VAR: Jair Marrufo; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 32 games; FC/gm: 23.1; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 5; pens: 12
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 6 wins, 20 goals … Orlando City 3 wins, 17 goals … Ties 4
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 2 wins, 10 goals … Orlando City 1 win, 7 goals … Ties 3
· Atlanta United had their four-game winning run put to an end, falling 2-0 to Nashville SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in their last match on Aug. 28.
· Orlando City SC extended their undefeated streak to seven games with a third win in that time, defeating the Columbus Crew 3-2 at Exploria Stadium on Saturday evening. Daryl Dike scored his third goal of the season, then set up the game-winner from Junior Urso midway through the second half.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season, the first two coming at Exploria Stadium. Nani set up one goal then scored the 87th-minute game-winner, giving Orlando City the 3-2 win July 30; the teams also reached a goalless draw April 17.
· The teams met four times a season ago, and Orlando City came away with points from all four. Orlando City SC won for the first time in 10 meetings in all competitions between the clubs with a 3-1 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 29, then claimed a 4-1 win Oct. 28 at Exploria Stadium. In between, the teams played to a pair of draws, a 1-1 draw Sept. 5 at Exploria Stadium, and a goalless result Oct. 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
· In the first eight league meetings between the teams over three seasons, Atlanta United had not lost to their neighbor to the south, with six wins and two draws. The OCSC win in the first meeting last year snapped a five-game ATLUTD winning streak in the series.
ATLUTD: The Nashville SC was the first in charge for head coach Gonzalo Pineda.
OCSC: Silvester van der Water scored his third goal of the season; he has two goals and an assist in the last seven games. … Ruan gained his first assist of the season, his last coming last Oct. 28.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #302)
BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.
7 p.m. PT (TSN; KPDX)
REFEREE: Marcos de Oliveira. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Alain Ruch; VAR: Timothy Ford; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 54 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 5; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps FC 8 wins, 33 goals … Timbers 13 wins, 42 goals … Ties 6
VANCOUVER HOME GAME: Whitecaps FC 6 wins, 17 goals … Timbers 5 wins, 16 goals … Ties 2
· Whitecaps FC won their fourth game in a row and extended their undefeated streak to 10 games, getting goals from Anibal Godoy and Deiber Caicedo for a 2-1 win against Austin FC at BC Place on Saturday afternoon. The four-game winning streak matches the longest in Vancouver’s MLS history, also set in 2015; the 10-game undefeated run is a club record.
· The Timbers won their second game on the trot, defeating Houston Dynamo FC at BBVA Stadium on Friday evening. Felipe Mora scored his ninth goal of the season, a second consecutive game with a goal and tied for 10th in the MLS Golden Boot standings, and Yimmi Chará added his third.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Lucas Cavallini scored the game’s only goal to give Whitecaps FC the win in the season opener for both teams, April 18 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
· The Whitecaps win in the first meeting snapped a three-game Timbers winning streak in the series, which followed a three-game Whitecaps FC winning streak, after the Timbers won the prior three matchups. Whitecaps FC have won eight times in 27 all-time MLS meetings between the teams, all coming in the past 19 meetings.
· The teams first met on May 16, 1975, in the old North American Soccer League, with the Timbers winning 2-0 at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. The teams have met 97 times in all, across a number of competitions – the Whitecaps hold a 41-38-18 advantage in the all-time record between the clubs. The teams met twice in the NASL playoffs, in 1978 and 1980, with each team advancing on one occasion.
WHITECAPS FC: Cristian Dajome collected his fourth assist of the season, his second in the last three games.
TIMBERS: Steve Clark was credited with six saves in recording his third shutout of the season, his second in a row, extending his shutout streak to 241 minutes.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. LA GALAXY
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #303)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
1:30 p.m. MT (Univision / TUDN)
REFEREE: Rosendo Mendoza. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Kieso; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Allan Chapman; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 28 games; FC/gm: 24.5; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 4; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 30 wins (1 shootout), 91 goals … Galaxy 37 wins (2 shootout), 120 goals … Ties 11
AT COLORADO: Rapids 20 wins (0 shootout), 52 goals … Galaxy 13 wins (1 shootout), 46 goals … Ties 5
· The Rapids extended their undefeated streak to seven games with a fifth win in that time, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes by the game’s only goal at PayPal Park on Saturday evening. Dominique Badji scored the goal, his first since coming to the Rapids via trade from Nashville SC.
· The Galaxy put an end to a two-game losing skid in dramatic fashion, coming back for a late 3-3 draw with Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium on Aug. 28. Dejan Joveljic scored a pair of goals – his first in MLS – then Kévin Cabral hit the 85th-minute equalizer.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Jonathan Lewis scored early and Andre Shinyashiki scored late as the Rapids took a 2-1 win Aug. 17 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
· The Rapids have come away with points in the last six meetings between the teams, with five victories, including four in a row. The Rapids’ victory in the first meeting in 2018, a 2-1 win on Aug. 4 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, snapped a four-game winless streak, and two-game losing streak, in league play in the series, their first vs. the Galaxy since March 12, 2016.
· The Rapids have won the last three meetings in Carson, snapping a six-game Galaxy undefeated streak there in the series, with two wins and four draws over the span.
RAPIDS: William Yarbrough was credited with two saves in recording his ninth shutout of the season, now tied for the MLS league lead (with Joe Willis, NSH). … Jonathan Lewis recorded his first assist of the season, his first in an MLS league game since Sept. 7, 2019. … Nicolás Mezquida collected his second assist of the season, his first coming July 17.
GALAXY: Julián Araujo recorded two assists, now with six on the season, his second two-assist game this season (also: July 30 vs. Portland) and the third of his MLS career. … Sebastian Lletget collected his third assist of the season, his last coming July 7. … Efraín Álvarez gained his second assist of the season, both coming in the last five games.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #304)
Lumen Field, Seattle, Wash.
2 p.m. PT (JOEtv / Amazon Prime; Bally Sports North+ / CW)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Chris Wattam; 4th: Timothy Ford; VAR: Joseph Dickerson; AVAR: Rene Parra
MLS Career: 53 games; FC/gm: 23.8; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 6; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 6 wins, 17 goals … MNUFC 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 1
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 4 wins, 10 goals … MNUFC 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 0
· Sounders FC saw their three-game winning streak come to an end, falling 2-0 to the Portland Timbers at Lumen Field on Aug. 29.
· MNUFC extended their undefeated streak to three games following a pair of draws, defeating Houston Dynamo FC 2-1 at BBVA Stadium on Aug. 28. Adrien Hunou scored both Minnesota goals, his first two-goal game in MLS, now with four for the season.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season, each winning on their home ground. Raúl Ruidíaz scored a pair of goals and Fredy Montero scored a goal and added his assist in his return to the club, as Sounders FC took a 4-0 win in the season opener for both clubs, April 16 at Lumen Field; Robin Lod scored the game’s only goal as MNUFC took the win July 18 at Allianz Field.
· The Minnesota United win in the last meeting was their first in eight league meetings all-time with Sounders FC. Seattle won the first four meetings between the teams all-time, with an 11-3 advantage in goals, and has won all four matchups in Seattle.
· The teams also faced off last year in a dramatic Western Conference Final at Lumen Field. MNUFC held a 2-goal lead with a quarter-hour remaining, but Sounders FC stormed back with three goals, capped by a Gustav Svensson goal in stoppage time, for a 3-2 win and a place in 2020 MLS Cup.
SOUNDERS FC: Sounders FC saw their stretch without a victory at Lumen Field extended to four games – equaling the longest in the club’s MLS history, set first during the club’s inaugural campaign in 2009.
MNUFC: Ethan Finlay recorded a pair of assists, his second and third of the season, the sixth two-assist game of his MLS career. … Fanendo Adi collected an assist in his Minnesota United debut, his first in an MLS league game since March 24, 2018, for the Portland Timbers at FC Dallas.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #305)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
7 p.m. ET (WSBK-TV 38 / MyRITV; YES)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Cory Richardson; AR2 (opposite): Ian McKay; 4th: Sergii Demianchuk; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Gjovalin Bori
MLS Career: 180 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 53; pens: 71
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 8 wins, 24 goals … NYCFC 6 wins, 22 goals … Ties 4
AT NEW ENGLAND: Revolution 4 wins, 10 goals … NYCFC 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 2
· The Revolution rebounded for a ninth win in the last 11 games, defeating the Philadelphia Union by the game’s lone goal at Subaru Park on Friday evening. Matt Polster scored the New England goal, his second of the season, matching his single-season career-high in his sixth MLS campaign.
· NYCFC dropped a second decision in three games, falling 3-1 to Nashville SC at Nissan Stadium on Friday evening. Valentin Castellanos scored the NYCFC goal, his fifth in the last four games and 11th of the season, tied for fifth place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season, each winning one in NYCFC home games. Carles Gil set up a pair of goals as the Revolution took a 3-2 win at Red Bull Arena on June 19. Then on Aug. 28, Valentin Castellanos scored both NYCFC goals for a 2-0 win at Yankee Stadium.
· The teams met three times a season ago, evenly splitting their season series. NYCFC claimed a 2-0 win behind two second-half goals at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 2; then on Oct. 11, Teal Bunbury scored early and Lee Nguyen late as the Revolution took a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium. The teams also reached a goalless draw on Sept. 19 in Foxborough.
· The NYCFC win in the first meeting last year ended a four-game undefeated streak for the Revs in the series in Foxborough. NYCFC has won four of the eight meetings all-time in the Bronx.
REVOLUTION: Arnor Traustason was credited with his sixth assist in his first MLS season, his second in the last four games. He will miss the NYCFC match through suspension.
NYCFC: Alfredo Morales gained his fourth assist of the season, his second in the last seven games.
NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. D.C. UNITED
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #306)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
7 p.m. ET (MSG; NBCS-Wash / TeleXitos)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Andrew Bigelow; AR2 (opposite): Claudiu Badea; 4th: Danielle Chesky; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 134 games; FC/gm: 21.6; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 24; pens: 36
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Red Bulls 31 wins (1 shootout), 119 goals … D.C. United 36 wins (1 shootout), 138 goals … Ties 15
AT RED BULLS: Red Bulls 17 wins (1 shootout), 54 goals … D.C. United 14 wins (1 shootout), 56 goals … Ties 8
· The Red Bulls weren’t able to build upon a first victory in eight matches, dropping a decision by the game’s lone goal to Chicago Fire FC at Red Bull Arena on Aug. 28.
· D.C. United snapped a three-game losing slide in impressive fashion, rolling to a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Union on Aug. 28. Ola Kamara converted a penalty kick for his 12th goal of the season – now tied for second place in the MLS Golden Boot standings – and Yordy Reyna and Ramón Ábila also added goals.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Ola Kamara scored the game’s only goal in the 27th minute for a D.C. United win July 25 at Audi Field.
· United have won two of the last three games in the series, which came after a 10-game Red Bulls undefeated streak in the series, United’s last previous win coming on May 13, 2016 at RFK Stadium. United won the last meeting at Red Bull Arena, a 1-0 win last Sept. 2 with the goal by Erik Sorga the latest in MLS history the game’s only goal was scored, ending a 10-game Red Bulls undefeated streak in regular season matches at Red Bull Arena, their first win in Harrison since 2011. The Red Bulls have won three of the five meetings all-time at Audi Field.
· The teams have met 98 times in all competitions over the years – the most of any two clubs in MLS history. New York has won 36 and United have won 45, including a 7-4-2 record in the postseason. They play for the Atlantic Cup, awarded to the winner of the season series by supporters’ groups from both clubs.
RED BULLS: The Red Bulls had a two-game undefeated run in Harrison put to an end.
D.C. UNITED: Felipe Martins gained his second assist of the season, his first coming on May 29.
CF MONTRÉAL vs. NASHVILLE SC
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #312)
Stade Saputo, Montréal, Qué.
8 p.m. ET (TVA Sports / TSN; MyTV30)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Matthew Nelson; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: David Barrie; VAR: Carol Anne Chenard; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 178 games; FC/gm: 27.6; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 25; pens: 42
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: CFMTL 0 wins, 3 goals … Nashville SC 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 2
MONTRÉAL HOME GAME: CFMTL 0 wins, 0 goals … Nashville SC 1 win, 1 goal … Ties 0
· CF Montréal extended their undefeated streak to four games with a second win in that time, defeating Toronto FC 3-1 at Stade Saputo on Aug. 28. Samuel Piette scored his first goal of the season, and Joaquin Torres and Romell Quioto each added their third of the year.
· Nashville SC won their second game in a row and third in the last four matches, defeating New York City FC at Nissan Stadium on Friday evening. Hany Mukhtar netted a pair of goals, his third multiple-goal game this season, now with 10 goals for the season, tied for seventh place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season, reaching a pair of draws at Nissan Stadium. Mason Toye and Zachary Brault-Guillard scored in the first half for CF Montréal, but Jhonder Cadíz and Hany Muhktar hit home after the break, leaving the teams in a 2-2 draw April 24. Then on June 26, Kiki Struna gave CFMTL the lead, but Adu Danladi netted the equalizer in stoppage time, leaving the teams in a 1-1 result.
· The teams met once in Nashville SC’s inaugural season. Randall Leal scored the game’s only goal after 33 minutes to lead Nashville SC to the victory last Oct. 27 at Red Bull Arena.
CFMTL: Djordje Mihailovic recorded a pair of assists, now with eight for the season, sitting in a tie for second place in the MLS assist standings. The eight assists are a single-season career-high in his five MLS seasons; it was the third multiple-assist game of his MLS career. … Zachary Brault-Guillard collected his third assist of the season, his first two coming in the season-opening 4-2 win vs. Toronto FC on April 17. … Kamal Miller gained his second assist of the season, both coming in the last six games.
NASHVILLE SC: Dax McCarty collected his first assist of the season; he will miss out on the Montréal match after being later sent off for the first time in his MLS career, in his 402nd career league appearance (now tied for sixth-most all-time). Just one other player in MLS history has gone more than 400 games without seeing a red card – Nick Rimando, who holds the all-time MLS record with 514 career league appearances. … CJ Sapong gained his fourth assist of the season; he has four goals and an assist in his last five games.
INTER MIAMI CF vs. COLUMBUS CREW
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #307)
DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
8 p.m. ET (MyTV33 / UniMás 69; Bally Sports OH)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Matthew Corrigan; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 146 games; FC/gm: 24.2; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 18; pens: 53
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.
· Inter Miami extended their undefeated streak to four games with a third win in that time, defeating FC Cincinnati by the game’s only goal at TQL Stadium on Saturday evening. Brek Shea scored his second goal of the season in the 90th minute for the Inter Miami game-winner.
· The Crew weren’t able to make it consecutive wins, dropping a 3-2 decision to Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Saturday evening. Miguel Berry scored his fourth goal of the season, his third in the last two games.
· The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories. They are scheduled to face off Saturday, Oct. 16 at Lower.com Field.
IMCF: Nicolás Figal recorded his second assist of the season, his first coming on April 24.
CREW: Lucas Zelarayán collected his fourth assist of the season; he has a goal and an assist in the last two games, and all four assists have come over the last 12 games. … Derrick Etienne Jr. recorded his third assist this season, his first two coming in back-to-back games May 29-June 19.
FC CINCINNATI vs. TORONTO FC
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #308)
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
8 p.m. ET (TSN; WSTR – Star 64)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Kyle Atkins; AR2 (opposite): Eric Boria; 4th: Nima Saghafi; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Benjamin Hall-Volpenheim
MLS Career: 104 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 40; pens: 23
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FCC 1 win, 4 goals … Toronto FC 3 wins, 8 goals … Ties 0
AT CINCINNATI: FCC 0 wins, 1 goal … Toronto FC 2 wins, 6 goals … Ties 0
· FC Cincinnati saw their losing slide continued, dropping a decision by the game’s only goal to Inter Miami CF at TQL Stadium on Saturday evening.
· TFC saw their losing skid extended, dropping a 3-1 decision to CF Montréal at Stade Saputo on Aug. 28. Ifunanyachi Achara scored his first goal of the season, making his sixth appearance of the year.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Allan Cruz and Luciano Acosta scored goals to lead FC Cincinnati to a 2-0 win June 26 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.
· Toronto FC won the first three meetings between the teams. In FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season, TFC took a 2-1 win July 27 at BMO Field, then got goals from five different players in rolling to a 5-1 victory Sept. 7 at Nippert Stadium. A season ago. Patrick Mullins scored the game’s only goal in the 28th minute as TFC took the victory Oct. 11 at Nippert Stadium.
FCC: The game-winning for Inter Miami in the 90th minute was the latest conceded by FC Cincinnati in the club’s MLS history.
TFC: Yeferson Soteldo collected his sixth assist of the season, all of them coming over the last 11 games.
HOUSTON DYNAMO FC vs. AUSTIN FC
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #309)
BBVA Stadium, Houston, Texas
7:30 p.m. CT (QuestTexas 55 / TeleXitos 47.2; KBVO [MyNetwork] / UniMás Austin)
REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): Eric Weisbrod; 4th: Armando Villarreal; VAR: Drew Fischer; AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
MLS Career: 170 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 46; pens: 53
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo FC 0 wins, 2 goals … ATXFC 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0
AT BBVA STADIUM: First meeting.
· Dynamo FC had their record winless run extended, falling 2-0 to the Portland Timbers at BBVA Stadium on Friday evening.
· Austin FC fell for a second game in a row, dropping a 2-1 decision to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday afternoon. Sebastian Driussi scored his second goal, both coming in the last three games.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season and in their histories. Tomás Pochettino scored a pair of goals and Cecilio Dominguez added the third as ATXFC took a 3-2 win Aug. 4 at Q2 Stadium.
DYNAMO FC: The Austin FC game concludes a four-game homestand for Dynamo FC at BBVA Stadium.
ATXFC: Cecilio Dominguez collected his fourth assist of the season; he has a goal and two assists over the last three games. … Tomás Pochettino gained his second assist in MLS, his first coming July 7.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. CHICAGO FIRE FC
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #310)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
7:30 p.m. CT (Bally Sports KC+; WGN-TV)
REFEREE: Jon Freemon. AR1 (bench): Cameron Blanchard; AR2 (opposite): Brian Poeschel; 4th: Chris Ruska; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 7 games; FC/gm: 29.1; Y/gm: 4.4; R: 0; pens: 0
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sporting 18 wins (0 shootout), 70 goals … Fire 26 wins (1 shootout), 93 goals … Ties 12
AT KC: Sporting 13 wins (0 shootout), 42 goals … Fire 8 wins (1 shootout), 40 goals … Ties 9
· Sporting saw their six-game undefeated run come to an end, falling 4-0 to Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium on Friday evening.
· The Fire won a third game in their last five outings, defeating the New York Red Bulls by the game’s only goal at Red Bull Arena on Aug. 28. Robert Beric netted his third goal of the season for the Fire tally.
· The teams met twice a season ago. Winston Reid netted the game’s only goal in the 67th minute, his first in MLS, giving Sporting the win Oct. 7 at Children’s Mercy Park; the teams then reached a 2-2 draw Oct. 17 at Soldier Field, as Djordje Mihailovic hit for the equalizer deep into stoppage time for the Fire.
· The draw ended a four-game winning streak for Sporting in the series, over the last previous seasons. Sporting have won the last five meetings between the teams in KC, the Fire’s last win there coming in 2012 (seven meetings since).
· Sporting won 4-3 in 2018 in the last meeting in Bridgeview, snapping a three-game Fire home winning streak in the series.
SPORTING: Sporting saw their road undefeated streak put to an end after six games, one game short of the club record set Aug. 4, 2012-March 7, 2013.
FIRE: Bobby Shuttleworth was credited with two saves in recording his fourth shutout of the season, his first since Aug. 15. … The Fire won on the road for the first time in 20 games, snapping the sixth-longest streak in MLS history.
FC DALLAS vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #311)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
7:30 p.m. CT (FCDTV / Estrella KMPX-29; NBCS-BA)
REFEREE: Guido Gonzales Jr. AR1 (bench): Kevin Klinger; AR2 (opposite): Diego Blas; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Younes Marrakchi; AVAR: Adam Garner
MLS Career: 28 games; FC/gm: 26.0; Y/gm: 4.3; R: 8; pens: 8
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 20 wins (3 shootout), 78 goals … Earthquakes 29 wins (4 shootout), 103 goals … Ties 17
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 12 wins (1 shootout), 39 goals … Earthquakes 12 wins (0 shootout), 44 goals … Ties 8
· FC Dallas had their brief two-game undefeated run snapped, falling 3-2 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Jesús Ferreira scored his fifth goal of the season, his third in the last two games, and Franco Jara netted his fourth of the year.
· The Quakes saw their 10-game undefeated streak put to an end, a first defeat since the end of June, falling by the game’s only goal to the Colorado Rapids at PayPal Park on Saturday evening.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. The Quakes took a 3-1 win April 24 at PayPal Park, behind goals from Oswaldo Alanis, Cristian Espinoza and Cade Cowell. The teams were meeting for the first time since 2019, when they played to a pair of draws, a goalless result on April 27 at Toyota Stadium, and a 2-2 tie June 8 in San Jose.
· The Quakes now have a seven-game undefeated streak alive in the series, since 2017, with four wins and three draws over that span. They have come away with points on their last four trips to Frisco, FCD’s last home win in the series coming in 2015.
· The Quakes have gained results in their last four home meetings in the series; their 4-3 win Aug. 29, 2018 was their first at home vs. FC Dallas since 2014, and their first ever vs. FCD at PayPal Park. FCD had come away with points on their previous five trips to northern California, with two wins and three draws.
FCD: Jesús Ferreira added his fifth assist of the season, his second in the last three games. … Jader Obrian recorded his first career assist in MLS.
QUAKES: The Quakes’ 10-game undefeated run was the third-longest in the club’s history, the longest since the team record 14-game run from July 20-Oct. 15, 2005.
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 (Week 24, MLS Game #313)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (My13/KCOP, Estrella TV; KMYU-12)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Mike Rottersman; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Kevin Stott; AVAR: Apolinar Mariscal
MLS Career: 120 games; FC/gm: 23.5; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 37; pens: 58
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: LAFC 7 wins, 17 goals … Real 1 win, 7 goals … Ties 0
AT BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM: LAFC 3 wins, 6 goals … Real 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 0
· LAFC snapped an eight-game winless skein in impressive fashion, rolling to a 4-0 win against Sporting Kansas City at Banc of California Stadium on Friday evening. Mamadou Fall scored the first two goals of his MLS career, and Cristian Arango and Eduard Atuesta each added their second of the season.
· Real Salt Lake put an end to a quick two-game skid, defeating FC Dallas 3-2 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Albert Rusnák scored his sixth goal of the season, his third in the last six games, and also added his fifth assist of the year.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and LAFC have won both. José Cifuentes scored the game’s only goal July 3 at Rio Tinto Stadium; two weeks later at Banc of California Stadium, Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela each scored in a 2-1 LAFC victory.
· LAFC have won the last three meetings between the teams. A year ago, the teams split their two encounters, both played at Rio Tinto Stadium. Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram and Albert Rusnák all scored as Real took a 3-0 win on Sept. 9, their first win in five meetings in the series in league play. LAFC then took a 3-1 win on Oct. 4.
· The teams also met in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2018, with Real pulling off an upset with a 3-2 win at Banc of California Stadium. The teams met in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup in 2019, LAFC taking a 3-2 win in Sandy.
LAFC: Eduard Atuesta also added a pair of assists, the first two-assist game of his MLS career (in his 93rd appearance). It was also the first time in his MLS career he was involved in three goals in a single game. … Danny Musovski gained his second assist of the season, his first coming in the season opener April 17. … Bryce Duke recorded the first assist in his MLS career, making his 19th appearance over two seasons. … Tomás Romero was credited with four saves in recording his fourth career shutout; his first since July 7 (when he had three shutouts in his first four starts).
REAL: Jonathan Menendez scored his first career goal in MLS, and also added his fourth assist in his ninth appearance. … Aaron Herrera recorded his eighth assist of the season, his second in the last three games; he is now tied for second place in the MLS assist standings.
