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Blazing Midfielder Ethan Finlay Helps Lead Crew SC's Playoff Push - This Week in MLS

August 31, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Blazing midfielder Ethan Finlay helps lead Crew SC's playoff push

Columbus Crew SC have been one of the teams to watch this season due to their impressive offensive totals and possession oriented soccer being implemented by coach Gregg Berhalter. They lead the Eastern Conference in scoring with 45 goals, which is only trumped by Western Conference leading LA Galaxy (49). The club currently resides in third place in the Eastern Conference standings and their quest to make a second straight MLS Cup Playoffs appearance is being pushed by 25-year-old midfielder Ethan Finlay.

Finlay, a Minnesota native, has been one of the standout players of the 2015 MLS campaign. In his fourth year with Columbus, the speedy winger has racked up eight goals, good for second on the team behind MLS leading scorer Kei Kamara (18), and has notched 13 assists, which is tied for second in MLS behind Philadelphia Union midfielder Cristian Maidana (14). Finlay has nearly doubled his career best assist total and is three goals shy of his all-time regular season goal record of 11, notched in 2014. As a result of his impressive 2015 season, Finlay earned his first MLS All-Star selection and featured in the MLS All-Stars' 2-1 victory over English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

More than ever, Finlay's breakout performance should catch the eye of U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The first-round 2012 SuperDraft pick is also eligible to play for the Canadian National Team, adding suspense to which country will come calling first. "If I had a choice, I was born in the United States, so to play for the United States is my No. 1 priority," he said to MLSsoccer.com last year. "But I think when you have an opportunity to play at an international level, if one avenue isn't open and another one came knocking, it's something that I would possibly look into."

Finlay has been an integral part of the Crew SC's exciting year thus far, and the Creighton University product will be key as the club aims for its first Eastern Conference Championship title since 2008. The club will look to get that much closer to its goal on Sunday, Sept. 6, when it hosts Western Conference foe FC Dallas at 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes).

Toronto and Seattle duel in Pacific Northwest; In-form Crew SC host FC Dallas

Michael Bradley balances Club and Country as Toronto FC, Seattle Sounders FC clash on Saturday

Having already missed seven league matches for U.S. Men's National Team duty this season, midfield general Michael Bradley will be sticking with Toronto FC (11-10-4) as it heads to Seattle for Saturday's meeting with Seattle Sounders FC (12-13-2) (10 p.m. ET, TSN2). Bradley, who wears the captain's armband for both TFC and the USMNT, is doing his best to balance club and country as the MLS playoffs and CONCACAF Cup near. He'll miss the Americans' match versus Peru on Friday, but is expected to meet up with his countrymen in Boston for next Tuesday's game versus Brazil. Bradley is intent on helping the Reds rack up points and secure its first playoff appearance, and can help extend their winning streak to three matches with a road win in Seattle. Sounders FC are hungry for points as they cling onto the sixth-seed (the final playoff spot) in the Western Conference, and that desperation makes the club a dangerous adversary going forward. Seattle will become even more dangerous if Clint Dempsey - who hasn't played since August 1 due to a lingering hamstring injury - makes his return on Saturday. With Dempsey potentially back in the fold alongside summer signings Nelson Valdez and Roman Torres, Sounders FC might be on the cusp of regaining early-season form and emerging as viable MLS Cup contenders at the perfect time.

Third-place occupiers Crew SC and FC Dallas to meet in interconference clash

Columbus Crew SC (11-8-8, East #3) welcomes FC Dallas (12-8-5, West #3) to MAPFRE Stadium on MLS Soccer Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes). Crew SC enters the match on a four-game unbeaten run (3-0-1) and will be relying more than ever on standout performer Ethan Finlay. The winger is having a breakout year thus far, compiling eight goals and a career-high 13 assists. Crew SC have been impressive at home this season, notching a record of 8-2-4 and are also undefeated in their last five matches in their friendly confines (3-0-2). FC Dallas enter the match coming off a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake last week to move into third-place in the Western Conference standings. In only his second career start, 20-year-old Homegrown goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez earned the first shutout of his MLS career. Gonzalez featured in Mexico's U-20 team in this year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand this season and looks to have an exciting career ahead. Both clubs will be primed to take away all three points to move up the standings as the playoff race heats up.

Week 27 National Television Schedule

Saturday, September 5

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Toronto FC, 10 p.m. ET (TSN2)

Sunday, September 6

Columbus Crew SC vs. FC Dallas, 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes)

More than 40 MLS Players tabbed for Italian, Brazilian, Belgian, other senior national teams

Sebastian Giovinco finally got the call he was waiting for.

The Toronto FC forward - who moonlights as a superhero - was selected to represent the Italian National Team for a pair of Euro 2016 qualifiers this week.

Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko put it best, calling Giovinco's selection a "watershed moment" for Major League Soccer.

"For the world to see that Seba is playing in Major League Soccer, with a club like Toronto FC, will help us reach the next level; a global scale," Bezbatchenko said. "For a national team like the Italian national team - multiple World Cup winners - to call him into a critical juncture, leading up to the Euros, is really a benchmark for the league."

Unfortunately, Giovinco was announced as a last-minute scratch on Monday - deemed unfit after suffering an abductor injury in Saturday's win versus Montreal. Still, the call-up should lay the groundwork for a future presence with the Azzurri and open doors for Italians in MLS. On a positive note, New York City FC's Andrea Pirlo will represent MLS in Italy and should resume his post as the team's go-to deep-lying midfielder and set piece specialist.

Beyond that, four quarterfinalists from the 2014 FIFA World Cup will have MLS representation this week. Belgium tapped Montreal Impact defender Laurent Ciman to bolster its backline, while Colombia will issue FC Dallas' budding superstar Fabián Castillo the opportunity to earn his first career cap. Columbus Crew SC's Waylon Francis, D.C. United's Alvaro Saborio and Montreal's Johan Venegas will represent Costa Rica. Orlando City SC captain Kaká returns to the Brazilian National Team for the first time since October 2014.

More than 40 MLS players will represent their respective senior national teams this week, with Canada and the U.S. leading the way with nine players named to their rosters and Columbus Crew SC garnering the most of MLS clubs with seven players called-up to senior national teams. This international window reflects some of the greatest representation Major League Soccer has ever enjoyed on the international stage. No matter which major region you turn to - UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, CAF - the League will be spoken for.

List of players called up to senior national teams by club:

Chicago Fire (4)

David Accam (Ghana)

Daneil Cyrus (Trinidad & Tobago)

Sean Johnson (USA)*

Joevin Jones (Trinidad & Tobago)

Colorado Rapids (1)

Maynor Figueroa (Honduras)

Columbus Crew SC (7)

Harrison Afful (Ghana)

Sergio Campbell (Jamaica)

Waylon Francis (Costa Rica)

Kevan George (Trinidad & Tobago)

Kei Kamara (Sierra Leone)

Cedrick Mabwati (DR Congo)

Justin Meram (Iraq)

D.C. United (2)

Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica)

Markus Halsti (Finland)

FC Dallas (5)

Tesho Akindele (Canada)

Fabian Castillo (Colombia)

Moises Hernandez (Guatemala)

Blas Perez (Panama)

Je-Vaughn Watson (Jamaica)

Houston Dynamo (2)

Boniek Garcia (Honduras)

Luis Garrido (Honduras)

LA Galaxy (4)

AJ DeLaGarza (Guam)

Omar Gonzalez (USA)

Robbie Keane (Ireland)

Gyasi Zardes (USA)

Montreal Impact (5)

Kyle Bekker (Canada)

Laurent Ciman (Belgium)

Maxime Crepeau (Canada)

Ambroise Oyongo (Cameroon)

Johan Venegas (Costa Rica)

New England Revolution (1)

Jermaine Jones (USA)

New York City FC (2)

Mix Diskerud (USA)

Andrea Pirlo (Italy)

New York Red Bulls (1)

Karl Ouimette (Canada)

Orlando City SC (3)

Darwin Ceren (El Salvador)

Kaka (Brazil)

Cyle Larin (Canada)

Philadelphia Union (1)

Andre Blake (Jamaica)

Portland Timbers (1)

Will Jonson (Canada)

Real Salt Lake (2)

Abdoulie Mansally (Gambia)

Demar Phillips (Jamaica)

San Jose Earthquakes (2)

Anibal Godoy (Panama)

Sanna Nyassi (Gambia)

Seattle Sounders FC (2)

Clint Dempsey (USA)*

Roman Torres (Panama)

Sporting Kansas City (3)

Matt Besler (USA)

Marcel de Jong (Canada)

Krisztian Nemeth (Hungary)

Toronto FC (3)

Jozy Altidore (USA)

Michael Bradley (USA)

Sebastian Giovinco (Italy)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2)

Darren Mattocks (Jamaica)

Russell Teibert (Canada)

*Indicates delayed call-up (will join USMNT for 9/8 exhibition match versus Brazil)

U.S. Men's National Team tabs nine MLS players for upcoming exhibition matches

U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named six MLS players to the initial 23-man roster for a pair of upcoming exhibition matches ahead of CONCACAF Cup - the decisive October 10 playoff match against Mexico that will determine CONCACAF's representative at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The USMNT faces Peru at RFK Stadium on Friday (7 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, UniMás, UDN) before heading to Boston for a showdown with Brazil at Gillette Stadium next Tuesday, Sept. 8 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN, UniMás, UDN).

The initial six MLS players include Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) and Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy). In addition, Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC) and Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire) will join the team after their respective club matches on Saturday.

This week's exhibition matches mark the USMNT's final tune up ahead of the CONCACAF Cup. With a win versus Mexico on October 10, the United States will earn a Confederations Cup berth for the first time 2009, when it made a miraculous run to the final before falling to Brazil.

U.S. U-23s gear up for CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying; U-20s prepare for Stevan Vilotic Tournament

Nine MLSers called up to U.S. U-23 roster for final camp ahead of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying

Nine MLS players were called up to the U.S. U-23 roster for the final camp ahead of the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament in October. The nine MLS players called up by coach Andi Herzog were defenders Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Eric Miller (Montreal Impact), Boyd Okwuono (Real Salt Lake), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy), and midfielders Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Marc Pelosi (San Jose Earthquakes), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Will Trapp (Columbus Crew SC). The camp began August 30 and will run through September 8. Matches have been scheduled against England on September 3 at Deepdale Stadium in Preston and against Qatar on September 8 at Gigg Lane in Bury Fans can follow the action live via Twitter through @ussoccer.

The 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship will be played in the United States from October 1-13. The U.S. was drawn into Group A and will play in a pair of games at Sporting Park against Canada on October 1 and Cuba on October 3. The U.S. will wrap up group play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on October 6 against Panama. For more information, click here.

United States U-20 squad will lean heavily on MLS talent in Stevan Vilotic-Cele Tournament

United States Under-20 Men's National Team head coach Tab Ramos has selected 14 MLS players to represent the US at the 2015 Stevan Vilotic-Cele Tournament in Serbia. The U-20 squad kicks off tournament play versus Serbia on September 3, before facing off against France on September 4.

Following this summer's U-20 World Cup, a new batch of players born after 1997 have graduated into the U-20 ranks. Sporting Kansas City's Erik Palmer-Brown is the only player from the U.S.'s 2015 U-20 World Cup team also named to the roster.

The 14 MLS representatives include: Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake), Nicholas Hinds (Seattle Sounders FC), Christian Onalfo (LA Galaxy), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City), Pablo Pelaez (Seattle Sounders FC), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire), Collin Fernandez ( Chicago Fire), Cameron Lindley (Chicago Fire), Ben Swanson (Columbus Crew SC), Coy Craft (FC Dallas), Christian Lucatero (Houston Dynamo), Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders FC), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake).

Nine Canadian MLSers called up for World Cup Qualifier vs. Belize

Nine MLSers were included in the 22-man Canadian roster announced ahead of the team's two-legged World Cup qualifier against Belize.

Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau (Montreal Impact), defenders Sam Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Marcel de Jong (Sporting Kansas City), Karl Ouimette (New York Red Bulls), midfielders Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas), Kyle Bekker (Montreal Impact), Will Johnson (Portland Timbers), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and forward Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC) are the MLS players to feature in the Canadian team.

The first leg will be played at BMO Field on Friday, September 4 and the second leg will be contested at FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize on Tuesday September 8. The winner of the two-legged matchup will advance to the semifinal round of qualifying in a group with Mexico, Honduras and the winner of a series between El Salvador and Curacao.

Quotables

"I think it's a watershed moment...This is a testament to his hard work. He took a risk on the league. I don't think anyone argues that. But I think he believed in what we're doing at Toronto FC - in the city, in the league. He's deservedly being rewarded for that by a coach that also believes in him."

Toronto FC GM Tim Bezbatchenko on Sebastian Giovinco's call up to the Italian National Team

Toronto FC GM sees Giovinco call-up to Italian team as 'watershed moment' for MLS (The Canadian Press)

"I always wondered, 'How am I going to get there,'. Should I even be worrying about that? Just work hard, do what you have to do and then, it just happened. It's amazing. Now, I feel like anything's possible. Anything. I used to watch the national team on TV, now it's becoming a little more real to me that next time, I might actually be there. I might win a championship. I can see that happening, and being part of it...It took me a while to get here. But this is only the beginning."

LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget on reviving his career with LA Galaxy

Sebastian Lletget makes his name known after fruitful move to LA Galaxy (SI.com)

"It's hard to put into words. I've been through too many heartbreaks with this tournament. Disappointment for the fans. Disappointment for us. And it's about damn time we won it."

Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Russell Teibert on the club winning its first ever Canadian Championship

Cup-starved Teibert now in mood for more trophies (The Province)

"As your back gets pushed further and further against the wall, at some point, you've got to make a stand and everybody has got to collectively be together. Today was one of those days. Now it's a test for the whole group, whoever comes in with guys on international duty - can we come and do the same next week? That'll be the tone for the rest of the season: Can we do it consistently enough to get ourselves into the playoffs and make a run at this thing?"

Seattle Sounders FC defender Brad Evans on the club's late-season playoff push

Sounders dig deep to get a desperately needed win over Portland, 2-1 (Seattle Times)

"I think any athlete would love to go out on top. That's kind of the dream. Landon did it. David (Beckham) did it. I would certainly love to it as well."

LA Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant on winning MLS Cup before he retires

Injuries force Galaxy's Todd Dunivant into retirement (LA Daily News)

Sweet Tweets

Todd Dunivant (@ToddDunivant): Thank you for all the support the last few days. It has given me an even greater appreciation of how lucky I am @LAGalaxy @MLS

https://twitter.com/ToddDunivant/status/637330386171785216

Kendall Waston (@kwaston88): CAMPEONES CAMPEONES oooooleee ooooleee ooooleeeeee #campeones #champions #CanCha watershed mp #AllGloryToGod #GloriaADios

https://twitter.com/kwaston88/status/636937778375168001

Brad Evans (@brad_evans3): for the fans. 64k plus is really something special. Keep fighting with us. #ebfg #sounders

https://twitter.com/brad_evans3/status/638164615319293954

Jermaine Jones (@Jermainejunior): When I am wearing this jersey I play with heart & pride for the nation! I am back!!! @ Philadelphia...

https://twitter.com/Jermainejunior/status/638000252658843648

AJ DeLaGarza (@AJD_20): Off to play Iran who was in last years World Cup at Azadi Stadium filled with 90k people. Half of our population. Lets do this @GuamFootball

https://twitter.com/AJD_20/status/638334743801565184

Week 27 Game Previews

Saturday, September 5

New England Revolution vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m. ET

- The Revolution have now gone five games in a row without a loss (with four victories in that time) - coming off a five-game losing streak - after their 1-0 win against Philadelphia Union on Saturday evening.

- Diego Fagundez scored the Revolution goal in the Philadelphia victory, his third of the year, becoming the youngest player in MLS history to score 25 regular-season goals, at 20 years and 196 days. He surpassed the mark of Eddie Gaven, who was 20 years and 353 days old when he scored his 25th goal.

- Orlando City saw their winless streak extended to five matches, reaching a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire in a weather-interrupted match Saturday evening at the Citrus Bowl. The lone City goal was from an own goal; OCSC has now gone 443 minutes since one of their own players has scored a goal.

- The teams are meeting for the second time ever. Goals from Cyle Larin and Luke Boden in the game's final 15 minutes pulled Orlando City back from a two-goal deficit and left the clubs in a 2-2 draw, May 8 at the Citrus Bowl.

Montreal Impact vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m. ET

- The Impact suffered their third consecutive defeat, falling 2-1 at Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon. Dominic Oduro scored the lone Montréal goal, ending a 302-minute scoreless drought for the club in league play, the seventh-longest this season in MLS.

- The Impact are the first team in MLS to make a coaching change this year, Mauro Biello taking the reins after Frank Klopas was dismissed following the TFC defeat.

- The Fire posted a second consecutive draw on the road, but still remain winless on the season in away games, after their 1-1 draw at Orlando City SC on Saturday evening. The Fire are 0-7-5 on their travels, the only team in MLS without an away win.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Harry Shipp, Jeff Larentowicz and Kennedy Igboananike netted goals to lead the Fire to a 3-0 win May 30 at Toyota Park.

- The first meeting victory was the first for the Fire since Aug. 10, 2013, a 2-1 win at Toyota Park. The Impact had won one of the four matches after (a 1-0 win last Aug. 16 at Stade Saputo), with three draws. The visiting team has never won in the series.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Toronto FC, 10 p.m. ET

- Obafemi Martins scored a third goal in three games after his return from injury, leading Sounders FC to a a second win in that time after a five-game losing skid in their 2-1 win against the Portland Timbers on Sunday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. The game drew an attendance of 64,358 - the 11th-largest single-game attendance in MLS regular season history.

- Toronto FC have won back-to-back games for the first time since May 23-June 6, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore netted goals in a 2-1 win against the Montréal Impact on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field.

- Toronto FC won the lone meeting between the clubs a year ago, a 2-1 victory at CenturyLink Field on March 15, ending a five-game Sounders FC winning streak in the all-time series.

- TFC has won twice in nine all-time meetings, their only other victory having come April 25, 2010 at BMO Field.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Philadelphia Union, 10:30 p.m. ET

- The Earthquakes won their fourth consecutive game - all by shutout - in a 1-0 win against the LA Galaxy on Friday evening at Avaya Stadium.

- The Quakes have now not allowed a goal in 374 minutes - the longest shutout streak in MLS this season, and the seventh-longest in San Jose club history; the four-game winning streak is the longest in team history since the club-record six-game winning run in 2005.

- Union had their three-game undefeated run put to an end in a third consecutive match without a win at PPL Park, falling 1-0 to the New England Revolution on Saturday evening.

- Union won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 4-2 victory Aug. 24 at PPL Park, ending a two-game Earthquakes winning streak in the all-time series.

- It was just the second win for Union in the series, in seven meetings all-time, the other on April 30, 2011 at PPL Park, a 1-0 victory. Union have never won at San Jose (the Quakes ending with two wins and a draw at Buck Shaw Stadium).

Sunday, September 6

Columbus Crew SC vs. FC Dallas, 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

- Crew SC won their second consecutive match and extended their undefeated run to four games, Federico Higuaín scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 2-1 win against New York City SC on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

- FC Dallas snapped a three-game losing skid - which followed a five-game winning run - defeating Real Salt Lake 2-0 on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium.

- Crew SC have a three-game undefeated streak alive in the series with FC Dallas, with two wins followed by a scoreless draw in the only meeting between the teams a season ago, June 29 in Columbus.

- The Crew have won four of the six league meetings since at home with FCD, with two draws. When Crew SC won 4-2 at Toyota Stadium on Sept. 29, 2013, it was their first win in Frisco since 2008.

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