MLS Major League Soccer

Clubs Keep Eye on the Red Line - This Week in MLS

Published on September 2, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


The Philadelphia Union will take on fourth-place Toronto FC twice this week as the Union continue their late season playoff push. Currently sitting in seventh place and three points out of a playoff spot, coach Jim Curtin's team will be looking to get all six points in the week ahead. The Union have amassed eight points their last five games - winning two, drawing two and losing one. Toronto FC come in on the heels of a rough three game stretch having garnered only one point from a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire. Toronto will be looking to get back in the win column and solidify a spot in the playoffs as they go into their first game with new coach Greg Vanney.

The matchup between New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City not only pits Budweiser Golden Boot frontrunners, Dom Dwyer and Bradley Wright-Phillips, against one another, but two Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls too. Two points out of a playoff position, the Red Bulls will be looking to score a win against second-place Sporting Kansas City. In the teams' first game, they played to a 1-1 draws with goals from Antonio Dovale and Bradley Wright-Phillips. The two will square off on Saturday September 6 at Red Bull Arena at 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN).

In the Western Conference, the LA Galaxy will look to extend their four game win streak as they play host to the Colorado Rapids on Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, TSN2). In the month of August, the Galaxy have been on a tear, winning five of their seven games. These teams recently met in a thrilling seven goal encounter that saw the Galaxy leave Dick's Sporting Goods Park with a win. After being down 3-1 heading into the second half, Bruce Arena's men scored three unanswered goals with the winner coming in the 80th from Landon Donovan.

INTERNATIONAL CALLUPS Several MLS players will trade their club jerseys for their country colors as they take the field in international play this week. The contingent of players called up include:

CHV: Erick Torres (Mexico, 9/6 v CHI; 9/9 v BOL)

COL: Deshorn Brown (Jamaica, 9/9 v CAN)

CLB: Romain Gall (U.S. U-20)

DAL: Blas Perez (Panama, Copa Centam)

DC: Michael Seaton, (Jamaica, 9/9 v CAN); Nana Attakora (Canada, 9/9 v JAM)

KC: Erik Palmer-Brown (U.S. U-20)

LA: Jaime Penedo (Panama, Copa Centam); Robbie Keane (Ireland, 9/3 v Oman; 9/7 v Georgia); Bradford Jamieson IV (U.S. U-20)

MTL: Karl W. Ouimette, Issey Nakajima-Farran, Patrice Bernier (all Canada, 9/9 v JAM)

NY: Tim Cahill (Australia; 9/4 v BEL, 9/8 v KSA); Ambroise Oyongo (Cameroon; 9/6 v. Dem. Rep. Congo; 9/10 vs. Ivory Coast); Santiago Castaño, Matt Miazga (U.S. U-20)

PHI: Brian Brown, Andre Blake (Jamaica, 9/9 v CAN); Michael Lahoud (Sierra Leone; 9/6 v CIV; 9/10 v CGO); Rais Mbolhi (Algeria; 9/6 v ETH; 9/10 v MLI); Carlos Valdes (Colombia, 9/5 v BRA), Zach Pfeffer (U.S. U-20)

POR: Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica, Copa Centam)

RSL: Nick Rimando (USA, 9/3 v CZE); Joao Plata (Ecuador, 9/5 v BOL; 9/9 v BRA); Carlos Salcedo (Mexico U-21)

SJ: Atiba Harris (St. Kitts and Nevis; Caribbean Cup)

SEA: Marco Pappa (Guatemala, Copa Centam)

TOR: Quillan Roberts, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan, Kyle Bekker, Dwayne De Rosario (all Canada, 9/9 v JAM)

VAN: Johnny Leveron (Honduras, Copa Centam); Darren Mattocks (Jamaica, 9/9 v CAN)

National MLS Broadcasts

Wednesday, September 3 Philadelphia Union vs. Toronto FC, 7:00 p.m. ET (TSN2, RDS2) New England Revolution vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. ET (UDN)

Friday, September 5 LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, TSN2)

Saturday, September 6 Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 2:00 p.m. ET (UDN, TSN2) New York Red Bulls vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN) Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. D.C. United, 10:00 p.m. ET (TSN)

Sunday, September 7 Columbus Crew vs. Chivas USA, 3:00 p.m. ET (UniMas) Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Sweet Tweets

@amobisays - August 30 - Amobi Okugo, Philadelphia Union This is soccer!!!! Meanwhile some people watching college football

@bobbyboswell - August 31 - Bobby Boswell, D.C. United

I think the real takeaway from LD retiring is to make sure u announce it while still playing in order to get free gifts from other teams.

@MikeeySeaton - September 1 - Michael Seaton, D.C. United

When you give gum to a friend pic.twitter.com/RpxQxSyUxp"

@SoonySaad - September 1 - Soony Saad, Sporting Kansas City

@Ddwyer14 you have been replaced #DeadlineDay @BigAfrika88 pic.twitter.com/PSElOhsJx4

@tallyhallGK - September 1 - Tally Hall, Houston Dynamo

Because I'm a super important celebrity- I'm glad my phone wasn't hacked cause pics like this might have been leaked pic.twitter.com/JAqRrxMlSA

@JebBrovsky - September 2 - Jeb Brovsky, NYC FC

Note to self: Read ALL about the parking laws of a country before living there. #GoodbyePaycheck

@brad_evans3 - September 2 - Brad Evans, Seattle Sounders FC

Thank u baby yeezus 4 the start of school tomorrow. The one time I'm glad I'm old. Can get back to my afternoon naps in PEACE.

Quotables

"Early this year - in the first two, three weeks of preseason - if you'd told me that he'd be on 20 goals with 10 games left, I would've laughed at you. We laugh about it now. Even in preseason in shooting practice, Bradley couldn't score. It got worse and worse for him. But he's worked incredibly hard, he's a phenomenal person. I'm extremely happy to have him on my team. He's willing to learn and he wants to learn and he does anything I've asked of him. The thing that goes unnoticed about Bradley are the little things: his positioning, the way he moves, him cleaning up his first touch, which seven, eight months ago, it was lacking. If anybody's going to beat the record, Bradley certainly deserves to. Juan Pablo's a legend for this club, and hopefully we have Bradley around for as long as we had Juan Pablo."

New York Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke on Bradley Wright-Phillips' goal scoring outburst

"It does help. It's precious, because we all know, as we watched the game yesterday, that Seattle won and we have to keep winning. We had a little help from Real Salt Lake, so it allows us to separate a little bit. Kansas City losing helps us a little bit. We are keeping an eye on everything that we can control and try to control them."

LA Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan on the effect of competition has on the team's motivation

"I think he played well. Ultimately, as a striker you're judged on scoring goals. So if he continues to get himself in the right position, certainly myself and Landon, and the lads up there can certainly get him goals. Seeing the last goal, the combination between myself and Landon, Gyasi at the top end... so he keeps himself in good positions. Chandler as well. When Chandler came on he had a few chances, I told him just to keep going. I keep trying to find him, I think everyone is desperate for him to get that first goal, and he certainly was unlucky tonight. The good thing about Chandler is he keeps getting in good positions. As a striker if you get into positions, it's great. The worry is when you're not getting them in."

LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane on the recent performances of Gyasi Zardes

"It's been a challenge all season, but not a problem for us. It's a great opportunity. For me, I was delighted to see the young players on the field. I can't be happier to see this club getting younger and getting minutes in games. The future looks bright for us for sure."

FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja on having a youthful lineup

"He is deserving of every present, every accolade, every honor that anyone is going to give him the rest of the year. We are all better off in this sport because of him. He has pushed the sport to a different level in this country."

D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen on Landon Donovan's farewell tour

"We've always said we would sign a DP but it would have to be somebody who would move the needle both on and off the field. We think the best player for the United States in the World Cup and somebody who's played in the Bundesliga at the highest level in the world achieves that. So, to us, it fits with what we've talked about. And, on top of that, being a good guy. He's a solid, solid guy."

New England Revolution owner Jonathan Kraft on signing Jermaine Jones

"I'm happy to be here. It was a long holiday for me, but I'm really happy that I can start to go back on the pitch. I'm happy that all of the people sitting here with me and the Kraft family were able to make it happen, that I can come back on the pitch here for their team. I'm ready to go. I hope the coach will push me and push me and that I will be ready for the game against Toronto."

New England Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones on joining the team and getting match fit

"He's a player that I hope one day is going to be a captain of this club. He just turned 19 - but he doesn't have the build and the demeanor of a 19-year-old. He's a big boy and he's strong."

New York Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke on young defender Matt Miazga

"When we first started the academy, he was in our first U-11 group when he first came in. He was like 9 or 10 years old. He's that real first kid that has been through the full academy with us, so it's great to see him get on the field and play at that level."

Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes on the growth of academy product Kevin Palmer-Brown

Week 26 Game Previews

Wednesday, Sept. 3

Philadelphia Union vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.

- The teams are meeting in the front end of a home-and-home series during the week. Union have never lost to TFC at PPL Park, with three wins and two draws in five meetings all-time, last a 1-0 victory last Oct. 5 in the final meeting between the teams a year ago.

- The game will be the first in charge for new Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney, after Ryan Nelsen was relieved of his duties following TFC's 3-0 loss to New England on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field.

- Sebastien Le Toux scored a goal and set all three others as Union rolled to a 4-2 win against the San Jose Earthquakes in their last match on Aug. 24. Since Le Toux was installed into the Union starting lineup by interim manager Jim Curtin on June 28, he has scored seven goals and added three assists.

New England Revolution vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m.

- As Jermaine Jones made his MLS and New England debut, the Revolution claimed their second successive victory - both by shutout - in a 3-0 defeat of Toronto FC at BMO Field. Lee Nguyen scored for a second consecutive game and added an assist, moving his single-season career-high to 10 goals.

- Sporting KC have lost back-to-back league games for just the second time this season, allowing three goals for a second consecutive match in their 3-1 home to the Houston Dynamo last Friday evening.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Teal Bunbury and Lee Nguyen each scored in second-half stoppage time as the Revolution took a 2-0 victory, April 26 at Gillette Stadium.

- The Revolution victory ended a six-game Sporting undefeated streak in league play, and the goals were the first in 592 minutes against SKC, their first scored in the series since July 30, 2011.

- New England haven't won in Kansas City since 2008, a 3-1 win April 9. Sporting have six wins in eight home matches in all competitions since, with two draws.

Chivas USA vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m.

- Chivas USA saw their scoreless and winless streaks extended in their 3-0 SuperClásico loss to the LA Galaxy on Sunday. Chivas have now gone 546 minutes without scoring, the longest streak in MLS this season and the fourth-longest in MLS history; the loss extended their run to seven games without a win.

- Clint Dempsey scored for a second consecutive match, his third goal since returning from the World Cup, as Sounders FC won a second consecutive match with a 1-0 home win vs. Colorado on Saturday. Dempsey now has 11 goals this season, tied for sixth in the MLS Golden Boot standings.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Obafemi Martins' goal in the 81st minute snapped a deadlock as Sounders FC took a 2-1 victory April 19 at StubHub Center.

- Sounders FC are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings with Chivas USA, with wins in their last six encounters, since Chivas won the first two meetings ever between the clubs in 2009. Seattle has won eight times with four draws.

- Sounders FC are unbeaten all-time vs. Chivas USA at home, with 4 wins and 2 draws in six meetings in Seattle.

Friday, Sept. 5

LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m.

- Gyasi Zardes scored two goals in a game for the second time this season as the Galaxy strolled to a 3-0 win against Chivas USA in the SuperClásico on Sunday, their fourth win in a row. Zardes has 11 of his 12 goals this season over the last 14 games.

- Landon Donovan recorded a pair of assists in the Chivas victory, and now has 12 for the season, tied for the MLS lead with teammate Robbie Keane. Donovan has 129 career league assists, now six away from the all-time record held by Steve Ralston.

- The Rapids lost their sixth consecutive game in the 1-0 defeat at Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday evening. It matches the club record set twice previously, in 1997 and 2012.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Second-half goals from Alan Gordon, Omar Gonzalez and Landon Donovan brought the Galaxy back from a two-goal deficit for a 4-3 victory Aug. 20 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Vicente Sánchez scored the game's lone goal in the Rapids' victory May 3 in Commerce City.

- The Galaxy win in the last meeting ended a three-game Rapids winning streak in the series, which had put an end to a six-game winless streak over the previous two-plus seasons.

Saturday, Sept. 6

Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 2 p.m.

- The only road victory in the all-time series came at BMO Field on May 28, 2011, when Union claimed their biggest-ever victory, a 6-2 defeat of TFC. The last two meetings in Toronto have ended in 1-1 draws.

- Andrew Wenger scored two goals in a game for the first time in his MLS career Aug. 24 when Union defeated San Jose 4-2. Wenger has five goals this season, four since coming to Union in a trade with the Montréal Impact; the five goals are a single-season career-high for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 SuperDraft.

- Toronto FC saw their home winless streak extended to four games in their 3-0 loss to New England at BMO Field last weekend. It matches the club's longest home winless run since going a record nine games without a home victory a season ago.

New York Red Bulls vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Antonio Dovale scored early in the first half to put SKC ahead, but Bradley Wright-Phillips equalized early in the second half to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw, May 27 at Sporting Park.

- Sporting have come away with points on their last three visits to Red Bull Arena, including a 1-0 victory last April 17. The Red Bulls have come away with points on their last three visits to Sporting Park.

- The Red Bulls saw their league road winless streak extended to five games with a 2-0 defeat at D.C. United on Sunday afternoon, their second consecutive shutout away from Red Bull Arena. The visit by Sporting begins a run of six of the Red Bulls' next eight games to be played in Harrison.

Houston Dynamo vs. Montreal Impact, 8:30 p.m.

- The Dynamo put an end to their club-record seven-game road losing streak in emphatic fashion, defeating Sporting KC 3-1 on Friday evening. Will Bruin scored his 10th goal of the season, the second time in his four MLS seasons he's hit for double-digits in goals.

- Ignacio Piatti scored a pair of goals, his first two in MLS in his third game following his arrival from San Lorenzo in Argentina, as the Impact won for a second time in three league matches in their 2-0 defeat of Columbus on Saturday.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Jack McInerney scored twice and Marco Di Vaio added a late goal as the Impact took a 3-0 win June 29 at Stade Saputo. Will Bruin scored the game's only goal to lead the Dynamo to victory March 15 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

- The Dynamo have not lost in all five lifetime meetings in all competitions at BBVA Compass Stadium, winning the last three, including the meeting in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs last season. The Impact have won all four meetings lifetime in Montréal, outscoring the Dynamo 10-0 over the last three meetings.

Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas, 10 p.m.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Je-Vaughn Watson and Fabian Castillo scored second-half goals to lead a 10-man FC Dallas to a 2-1 win Aug. 22 at Toyota Stadium. They played to a scoreless draw May 24 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

- FC Dallas has come away with points on each of their last three games vs. Real at Rio Tinto Stadium, with draws in the last two meetings in Sandy. RSL is now 1-10-2 at FC Dallas all-time in league games between the clubs.

- FC Dallas suffered their first loss since May 31, their 10-game undefeated run coming to an end in a 1-0 loss at the Chicago Fire over the weekend. The streak without defeat was the second-longest in club history.

- Javier Morales scored his seventh goal of the season, his third from the penalty spot, as Real completed their two-game road swing that started at FC Dallas with a 1-1 draw at the San Jose Earthquakes.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. D.C. United, 10 p.m.

- Whitecaps FC were shut out for a third consecutive game and lost for a second match in a row in their 3-0 defeat by the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening at BC Place. The 321 minutes without a goal is the second-longest streak in the club's MLS history; they went 332 minutes without scoring in their inaugural season of 2011.

- D.C. United won their fourth consecutive game at RFK Stadium, extending their lead atop the Eastern Conference with a 2-0 victory against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday afternoon.

- Luis Silva scored his eighth goal of the season in the United win against New York. All eight of Silva's goals have come since June 11, over a 12-game span.

- When Whitecaps FC won 1-0 at RFK Stadium in the only meeting between the teams a year ago, it was the first road victory in four meetings all-time in the series. Whitecaps FC have won two of the last three meetings, with one draw, following a United 4-0 win in the first encounter ever in 2011.

Sunday, Sept. 7

Columbus Crew vs. Chivas USA, 3 p.m.

- The Crew have won the last two meetings between the teams, over the last two years, and have a four-game undefeated streak alive vs. Chivas USA. The Crew took a 3-0 win last March 2 in the only meeting between the clubs, their first defeat of Chivas in Carson since the first meeting ever between the clubs, a 3-0 win Sept. 3, 2005.

- Chivas USA have not won in Columbus since their first visit in their inaugural season of 2005. The Crew won 1-0 in 2012 in the last meeting at Crew Stadium that extended their undefeated streak there vs. Chivas USA to seven years.

- The Crew had their two-game winning streak put to an end in their last match, a 2-0 defeat at the Montréal Impact on Saturday evening. The Crew haven't won three games in a row since winning the opening three games of the season March 8-29.

Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 5 p.m.

- This is the first of three meetings between the teams over a 31-day period. The teams will meet in a home-and-home series Oct. 4-8.

- The teams are undefeated at home in the all-time league series. When the Quakes won 2-1 last July 27 at home, it was the first San Jose victory at Buck Shaw Stadium; the first three encounters all ended in draws The Timbers have won two of four matches in Portland, with two draws.

- The Timbers return home following their 3-0 win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday evening, having never lost to their Cascadia rivals at BC Place since the clubs came into MLS together in 2011.

- Sam Cronin scored in back-to-back games for the first time in his MLS career as the Earthquakes saw their winless streak extended to five games in a 1-1 home draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Cronin has two goals this season, matching his single-season career-high set last year.

New England Revolution vs. Chicago Fire, 7 p.m.

- Robert Earnshaw scored his second goal in as many matches in his return to MLS, leading the Fire to a second successive win at Toyota Park in their 1-0 victory against FC Dallas on Saturday evening.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Quincy Amarikwa scored the game's only goal to lead the Fire to a 1-0 win July 12 at Gillette Stadium; Amarikwa and the Revolution's Lee Nguyen scored first-half goals to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw on April 19 at Toyota Park.

- The Fire victory in the last meeting was their first in Foxborough since 2010; the Revolution had won the last three meetings between the teams at Gillette Stadium.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 2, 2014


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