MLS Major League Soccer

Clashes Between Old and New Guards Highlight Week Two - This Week in MLS

Published on March 9, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


New York City FC will make its long-awaited debut at historic Yankee Stadium on MLS Soccer Sunday, welcoming the New England Revolution to the Bronx at 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). After drawing Orlando City SC in front of more than 62,000 fans at the Orlando Citrus Bowl, David Villa, Mix Diskerud, & Co. look to propel NYC FC to its first-ever MLS victory. The bright lights of the Big Apple will shine down on a game that is two years in the making, but a battle-tested Revolution squad won't be blinded by the spectacle. After falling 3-0 in Seattle on Sunday, New England will look to respond with a winning effort over its newest Eastern Conference foe.

The Portland Timbers and LA Galaxy cap off MLS Soccer Sunday with an evening showcase at Providence Park at 7:00 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes). Portland hosts the reigning MLS Cup champions after battling Real Salt Lake to a gritty scoreless draw in last Saturday's opener. Injuries to the Timbers' midfield have boosted backups Jack Jewsbury and George Fochive into starting roles, and both players responded to the challenge with steady performances versus RSL. Darlington Nagbe, Fernando Adi, and Rodney Wallace will go toe-to-toe with Gyasi Zardes and Robbie Keane, who helped the Galaxy glide to a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire in the season opener. LA appeared to pick up right where it left off after December's MLS Cup win, but the Galaxy will have a tough task ahead, taking on an inspired Portland squad in front of the Timbers Army.

This week's Viernes de Fútbol matchup between the Houston Dynamo and Orlando City SC kicks off week two of the 2015 MLS season at 7:00 p.m. ET (UniMás) at BBVA Compass Stadium. Head coaches Owen Coyle and Adrian Heath will engage in one of the season's unique coaching matchups. The pair share considerable similarities-both are MLS newcomers, both hail from the United Kingdom, and both managed English side Burnley-but their clubs saw different results last weekend. Late-game heroics from Kaká allowed Orlando City to salvage a draw in its inaugural match against NYC FC on Sunday. This week, the Lions won't have the comforts of home as the club embarks on its first road trip to face a Dynamo squad that blanked Columbus Crew SC 1-0 in its opener. Goalkeeper Tyler Deric was outstanding for Houston-who traded former starter Tally Hall to Orlando last December-and he'll look to keep Kaká and Orlando City off the score sheet.

MLS National TV Schedule - Week Two

Friday, March 13

Houston Dynamo vs. Orlando City SC, 7:00 p.m. ET (UniMás)

Sunday, March 15

New York City FC vs. New England Revolution, 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy, 7:00 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)

News and Notes from Around MLS

EUROSPORT TO BROADCAST MLS ACROSS EUROPE STARTING IN 2015: Eurosport has signed an agreement with MLS to broadcast League matches in all Eurosport's European territories except the UK. The deal runs from 2015 to 2018. The four-year deal includes exclusive TV and digital rights, for all regular season matches, the AT&T MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup Playoff matches, and MLS Cup. Games will be broadcast on both Eurosport and Eurosport 2 and made available through the Eurosport Player, Eurosport's online subscription service.

AUDI BECOMES OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER: Audi and Major League Soccer announced a landmark, multi-year partnership agreement. The partnership, which commenced with the start of the 2015 MLS season, makes Audi the Official Automotive Partner of MLS. As part of the partnership, Audi becomes the presenting sponsor of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Quotables

"I've scored a lot of goals in my career...I have to say this is one of the most emotional."

Orlando City SC midfielder Kaká on netting the game-tying goal in stoppage time

Kaká calls scoring Orlando City's first goal one of most emotional moments of his career (Orlando Sentinel)

"First game as an MLS player in front of 62,000 people, you can't get any better than that. It was a little unreal. It was a long preseason, you have a lot of thoughts; 'If you score the first goal, how's it going to be?' Awesome."

New York City FC midfielder Mix Diskerud on scoring the first goal in franchise history

Orlando's hostile home pitch didn't rattle NYCFC (Orlando Sentinel)

"For anyone that questioned whether he could score goals, I think he proved something today that he's going to be a handful. Being able to protect the ball like that and keep the defender away from it that was just a world-class play. I thought he was outstanding."

Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney on Jozy Altidore's first goal in the club's 3-1 win over Vancouver

Toronto FC defeats Vancouver in season opener (The Canadian Press)

"To do that today is a dream come true. It's sheer ecstasy...I saw the ball come to me. After all the practices the veterans have told me not to be tense and seize the opportunity. The opportunity came. I had to be calm and touch it through. I was nervous, but my mouth wasn't as dry. That first game (in Mexico) got the nerves out of me."

Montreal Impact rookie forward Cameron Porter on sending the club to the CCL semifinals with his 94' minute goal

Extra-time heroics send Impact into CONCACAF semis (Montreal Gazette)

"It is surreal to be able to lead your hometown team. It was quicker than I thought it would happen, but I'm happy to be able to wear this badge and represent the club and represent the city."

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin on manning the sidelines for his hometown club

Jim Curtin embraces challenge of building Union into a winner (Philadelphia Inquirer)

"It's like what Jesse said, the face of the team is the team. It's not going to be about one guy. It's going to be about a team that has a winning mentality, a fighting mentality that never gives up. When you see us play you'll see that we're a team that never gives up."

New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan on filling the void left by Thierry Henry

Revamped Red Bulls start again with new regime in 2015 (New York Daily News)

Sweet Tweets

Mix Diskerud (@MixDiskerud): "@OfficialRoMa__: If @MixDiskerud scores the first MLS goal for NYC, I'll get his name put in mine -legally" So.... What you gonna do?

https://twitter.com/MixDiskerud/status/574741426174562304

Dax McCarty (@DaxMcCarty11): The amount of pride I feel in being named captain of #RBNY can't be put into words. Stoked to get going. Thanks to everyone for the support.

https://twitter.com/DaxMcCarty11/status/573956994639523840

Dom Dwyer (@Ddwyer14): And I know......... My wife could have finished that ???? will be better it's coming! I promise

https://twitter.com/Ddwyer14/status/574753381324980224

Darlington Nagbe (@darlingtonnagbe): 1st game of the season and 1st time on the field with Dada last night. She had no idea what was going on ???? #memories

https://twitter.com/darlingtonnagbe/status/574580335276482560

Jeb Brovsky (@JebBrovsky): Golf clap to Mastroeni's stache. #NodOfRespect

https://twitter.com/JebBrovsky/status/574316252660916225

AJ DeLaGarza (@AJD_20): Just trying to be like Mike... @MarylandMSoccer @LAGalaxy

https://twitter.com/AJD_20/status/574653113467953152

Kofi Sarkodie (@KofiSarkodie8): The support was amazing last night. Glad the team could deliver. Always a pleasure leaving every drop on the field.

https://twitter.com/KofiSarkodie8/status/574620484207255555

Week Two Game Previews

Friday, March 13

Houston Dynamo vs. Orlando City SC, 7 p.m. ET (UniMás)

- In his first game as the Houston Dynamo No. 1 between the posts, Tyler Deric recorded six saves to record his fourth career shutout in a 1-0 win against Columbus Crew SC on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium. The game's lone goal was scored by Giles Barnes.

- Kaká scored the first goal in Orlando City SC history in dramatic fashion - netting a free kick in stoppage time to give his team a 1-1 draw vs. New York City FC in its first-ever MLS contest.

- The crowd of 62,510 to see the inaugural OCSC match at the Orlando Citrus Bowl was the 14th largest in MLS history, the ninth-largest for a standalone league match, and the second-largest for a team's first-ever MLS home opener.

Saturday, March 14

Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 6 p.m. ET

- Octavio Rivero scored the first goal of the season for Vancouver - on his MLS debut - but Whitecaps FC lost its first-ever home opener on Saturday in the club's 3-1 defeat to Toronto FC at BC Place.

- For a third consecutive year, the Chicago Fire opened the season at StubHub Center and recorded a loss, falling 2-0 to the LA Galaxy on Friday evening. The Fire lost 3-2 to Chivas USA last year, after opening 2013 with a 4-0 loss to the Galaxy in Carson.

- The Fire have never lost to Whitecaps FC at Toyota Park while the 'Caps have never scored a goal in Bridgeview. The Fire have won one of three meetings all-time at Toyota Park; the teams have played to a pair of scoreless draws there, including in the lone meeting last year.

- The Whitecaps have won both encounters at home, scoring seven goals (allowing three) vs. Chicago.

Columbus Crew SC vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

- Jozy Altidore scored his first goals in MLS since May 25, 2008, netting twice as Toronto FC opened their season with a 3-1 win against Canadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.

- Crew SC opened their new season with a 1-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo, the first time since 2012 they've lost their season opener. The Crew had opened the last two seasons with 3-0 victories (last year vs. D.C. United, the year before vs. Chivas USA).

- Toronto FC won all three meetings between the clubs last year, the first time in the eight-year history of the series they had swept the season series. It was just the second time TFC claimed the Trillium Cup, the supporters-sponsored award given to the winner of the season series.

- TFC won two matches in Columbus last year, their first at Mapfre Stadium since 2011, and just their second and third all-time in Ohio. Toronto FC have won their last two home meetings with the Crew, their first-ever in the series after three losses and five draws over the first six-plus seasons.

FC Dallas vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. ET

- FC Dallas striker Blas Perez picked up where he left off, scoring the game-winning goal in stoppage time to lead his club to a dramatic 1-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes to open the season. Perez scored five goals in the final seven games of the season last year for FCD.

- Sporting's central defense partnership played a vital role in their season-opening 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls. Ike Opara scored the SKC opener early in the first half, while Matt Besler was sent off late in the match.

- The teams have played to draws each of the last two seasons, including a 1-1 result last year at Sporting Park. FC Dallas has not defeated Sporting at home since 2010, when they won 1-0 in Frisco.

- The teams are back in the same conference for the first time since 2004. They met in the Western Conference semifinals all the way back in 1996, the first playoff series for both clubs.

Real Salt Lake vs. Philadelphia Union, 9:30 p.m. ET

- In their first match with a new 4-3-3 tactical scheme - a significant shift from the 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield they have featured for the past number of years - RSL reached a scoreless draw at the Portland Timbers to open the 2015 season.

- Union kept the Colorado Rapids without a single shot on target, but still settled for a scoreless draw in their season opener on Saturday afternoon at PPL Park.

- RSL has never lost to Union in seven meetings all-time. RSL has won twice in the series, the last coming in 2011, a 2-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium.

- The teams have played to three consecutive draws over the last three seasons. The teams reached a 2-2 draw last April 12 at PPL Park - the fourth draw in as many matches in Chester.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10 p.m. ET

- Clint Dempsey opened his 2015 account with a pair of goals in Seattle Sounders FC's 3-0 season-opening victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday evening. It marked his fourth career multiple-goal game in MLS (three came in 2014), and it came in his 100th career MLS start.

- The Quakes opened their 2015 campaign with a last-gasp 1-0 loss at FC Dallas, the first time since 2008 they've opened the season on the road. The Quakes continue their season-opening road swing with the trip to Seattle before opening its new Avaya Stadium next weekend against the Chicago Fire.

- The teams evenly split their three games a season ago, each winning 1-0 on their home ground before the clubs reached a 1-1 draw at CenturyLink Field.

- Sounders FC haven't scored a goal in their last three visits to northern California since a 2-1 loss at Buck Shaw Stadium in 2012. Seattle last won at San Jose in 2010; Sounders FC have two wins and a draw in the last three meetings at CenturyLink Field.

Sunday, March 15

New York City FC vs. New England Revolution, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

- For a second consecutive season, the Revolution opened their season with a heavy defeat, falling 3-0 to Seattle Sounders FC. Last year, the Revs started with a 4-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo - a season that ended with a trip to MLS Cup.

- Mix Diskerud went into the history books as the first player to score a goal in New York City FC history, netting the club's opening goal in their 1-1 draw at Orlando City FC. Of the players to score the opening goal for the 23 clubs in MLS history, just one has scored the first goal ever for two - NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis, who did it for FC Dallas in 1996, and Real Salt Lake in 2005.

Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy, 7 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1)

- The Timbers picked up right where they left off in 2014, reaching a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake in the season opener at Providence Park. The Timbers concluded last season with a 304-minute shutout streak; they now have recorded clean sheets in four consecutive league matches.

- LA Galaxy midfielder Jose Villarreal scored the first goal in the MLS season, netting the opener midway through the second half as the Galaxy began their defense of the MLS Cup title with a 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire on Friday evening.

- The Galaxy have won the last two meetings between the clubs, both coming at StubHub Center. The Galaxy have never lost to the Timbers in Carson, with five wins in six matches there all-time.

- The Timbers had won two home meetings in a row with the Galaxy before the clubs played to a 1-1 draw in their only match at Providence Park last year.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 9, 2015


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