MLS Major League Soccer

Expect More Red Line Jockeying - This Week in MLS

Published on August 26, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


With nine weeks remaining, the MLS regular season turns into its home stretch. The race to 10 playoff spots could not be much closer.

In both conferences, just three points separate the second-place teams from those in sixth place. Teams have been bouncing back and forth across the playoff qualification red line, and that seems sure to happen again in Week 27.

This week's nationally televised games feature teams who are living dangerously. On Friday night, West leaders Real Salt Lake host the fourth-place Portland Timbers (10 p.m. NBCSN). A Timbers win would put them back near the top of the conference, but a loss could push them below the red line, depending on other results.

On Saturday, the New York Red Bulls host D.C. United (8 p.m. NBCSN) with four teams nipping at the Red Bulls' heels and United on the verge of elimination with a loss and other results going against them.

On Sunday, the Chicago Fire host the Houston Dynamo (3 p.m. UniMás). Both teams currently sit below the red line but a win for either could rekindle their playoff aspirations.

Week 27 National Broadcasts

Friday, August 30

Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers, 10:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

Saturday, August 31

New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United, 8:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

Sunday, September 1

Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo, 3:00 p.m. ET (UniMas)

AT&T Goal of the Week (Week 26) - CLICK HERE to vote

- Dwayne De Rosario (DC)

- Marco Di Vaio (MTL)

- Steven Beitashour (SJ)

- Landon Donovan (LA)

- Kelyn Rowe (NE)

Check It Out

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New England Revolution: Revolution Celebrity Bartending Event

San Jose Earthquakes: 2013 5K 10K Challenge

Vancouver Whitecaps FC: From Banners to Bags

Quotables

"Each guy is such a unique case in the sense that Diego was 15 [when he signed], didn't want to go to college, and Scott wanted to go to college and it gave him four more years to develop his game. It shows to the players who are coming through the academy, there's not one set blueprint. There are many different ways to get to the first team...They have taken very different paths, but they've both seen significant minutes this year and are important to us... I think it says a lot about our academy program about where we started, where we're at now and where we hope to go."

New England Revolution General Manager Mike Burns on their youth academy success stories: Diego Fagundez and Scott Caldwell

"I felt like tonight was the most complete performance we've had for this year and it comes at the right time because we're entering the most critical stretch here. We have a lot to play for, and a lot to win in front of us. We needed a performance to really put some confidence behind our group, and I think that was exactly what we got."

Real Salt Lake Head coach Jason Kreis on his team's dominating 4-0 win over the Columbus Crew

"We're not getting into this for any other reason than to be one of the best teams on the field, year in and year out. We want a culture of consistent winning, playoffs and hopefully win a championship or two. I'm not the type of person who' s just going to spend our way into success though. We want to build our organization the right way over time, making patient, long-range decisions. I would imagine that the Crew are going to become more competitive (with player signings). Federico Higuaín is our only DP right now and I'd like to get a little more aggressive in building out our roster and fielding high-quality talent."

New Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt on his long-term vision for the club

"It's awesome to play here in front of 67,000. It's what you dream about as a kid. Having their support helps you. They're the 12th man. They help us keep going and stay confident and keep pushing. I think that's what helped us get the goal."

Clint Dempsey on the atmosphere at CenturyLink Field Sunday night

"It's absolutely a highlight in my career, this night. Playing in front of 68,000, playing a derby, playing a great game with a win: awesome night. A night I will remember in 20 years."

Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Michael Gspurning on keeping a clean sheet against the Portland Timbers in front of the second-highest attendance in MLS history

Sweet Tweets

‏@CBarrett19 - August 19 - Chad Barrett, New England Revolution

What a fun day in store. Matt Reis charity golf tourney. pic.twitter.com/DkMCYVl5lH

‏@Tim_Cahill - August 23 - Tim Cahill, New York Red Bulls

Enjoyed a great session @NewYorkRedBulls arena @FOXSportsNews and the team 2 welcome him officially here. #DavidCarney pic.twitter.com/UjDAmGaUSD

‏@JebBrovsky - August 24 -- Jeb Brovsky, Montreal Impact

Also a big thank you to @HBernardello5 for putting it nicely on the goal line for me. Appreciate it buddy. #EasyPeasy

@wingert17 - August 25 - Chris Wingert, Real Salt Lake

67,385 people at an MLS regular season game. 3rd largest crowd in the world at a soccer game this weekend- impressive! #SEAvPOR #ESPN2

@bbknighton - August 25 - Brad Knighton, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

1 of 68K here in Seattle! Pretty cool taking in a Cascadia Cup game from a different perspective. mls... http://instagram.com/p/ddtlrKTUOc/

@espn - August 26 - ESPN's official feed

If someone tries to tell you that soccer isn't a big deal in the US, show them this picture of CenturyLink Field -> pic.twitter.com/eNsHzBC20u

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

D.C. United will be eliminated from playoff contention IF

- D.C. United lose to New York Red Bulls on Saturday

AND two of the following three occur:

- New England Revolution win vs. Toronto FC on Friday AND/OR

- Houston Dynamo win vs. Chicago Fire on Sunday AND/OR

- Philadelphia Union win or tie vs. Montréal Impact on Saturday

MLS Week 27 Previews

Friday, August 30

Toronto FC vs. New England Revolution, 7 p.m.

- The Revolution scored five goals for a second time this season in their victory Sunday vs. Philadelphia Union, also netting five in a 5-0 win vs. the LA Galaxy on June 8.

- Juan Agudelo scored two goals vs. Union, his second career two-goal game, also scoring two goals for the New York Red Bulls, vs. Toronto FC on June 6, 2011. Agudelo has three goals in the last two games.

- Matt Reis allowed his first goal in four starts this season. It was his first goal conceded since last Sept. 15, ending a 347-minute personal shutout streak.

- Bobby Convey scored his first goal since coming to Toronto FC in the 1-1 draw with D.C. United on Saturday at RFK Stadium.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Goals from Diego Fagundez and Juan Agudelo gave the Revolution a 2-0 victory on May 25 at Gillette Stadium, then Matias Laba scored the game's lone goal after two minutes for a Toronto FC victory Aug. 4 in Foxborough. The Revolution have never won at BMO Field, with two losses and four draws in six all-time visits.

Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)

- Kyle Beckerman scored two goals in a game for the second time in his 14-year MLS career, as RSL equaled their season-high with four goals in the weekend win vs. Columbus. Beckerman also scored twice April 12, 2008, for RSL vs. D.C. United.

- The Timbers saw their road winless streak extended to six games in a 1-0 loss at arch-rival Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday. The Timbers are undefeated in their last 10 games in Portland.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season, within a nine-day span. They reached a wild 3-3 draw Aug. 21 at Jeld-Wen Field as Cole Grossman scored deep in stoppage time to pull a 10-man RSL back into a 3-3 draw.

- The Timbers have won once in six league meetings all-time - a 1-0 win in the first encounter between the clubs, April 30, 2011 in Portland.

Saturday, August 31

Columbus Crew vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m.

- Sounders FC hit the road off a 1-0 Cascadia Cup home win vs. Portland that drew a crowd of 67,385, the second-largest standalone crowd in MLS history and the largest soccer crowd in Seattle history. It was also the third-largest soccer crowd in the world last weekend.

- Eddie Johnson scored his second goal in the last four matches for Sounders FC, who extended their undefeated streak at CenturyLink Field to a club-record 10 games.

- After scoring four goals in the previous two matches - all of the Crew's goals in back-to-back 2-0 wins - Federico Higuaín was sent off late in the 4-0 loss at Real Salt Lake and will miss the Seattle match through suspension.

- The Crew have never defeated Sounders FC in Columbus. Seattle won its first two visits to Crew Stadium, in 2009 and 2010; the teams reached a 1-1 draw there in 2011.

Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact, 7:30 p.m.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Marco Di Vaio had a hat trick before the first half was complete, leading the Impact to a 5-3 victory May 25 at Stade Saputo.

- The teams are coming off five-goal games - in opposite directions. The Impact scored five goals for the second time this season - after the first meeting with Philadelphia - in a 5-0 win vs. Houston. Union conceded five goals for the second time this season in a 5-1 loss at New England.

- Marco Di Vaio scored two goals in a game for the second consecutive match to take over the lead in the MLS Golden Boot standings, now with 15 goals, one more than Chicago's Mike Magee. They are Di Vaio's first goals following a six-game goalless run from July 7-Aug. 10.

New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Thierry Henry and Jamison Olave scored first-half goals to lead the Red Bulls to a 2-0 win April 13 at RFK Stadium; they played to a scoreless draw March 16 at Red Bull Arena.

- The teams have a rich history against each other, dating back to the league's inaugural season, when United defeated the then-MetroStars in the MLS Cup Playoffs. They've met 73 times in all competitions over the years; New York has won 23 and United have won 39, including a 6-1-2 record in the postseason.

- Dwayne De Rosario scored his first goal since June 15 - and his first from open play since May 11 - in D.C. United's 1-1 home draw with Toronto FC on Saturday.

- Thierry Henry was credited with a pair of assists in the Red Bulls' 3-2 loss at Chivas USA, his fourth multiple-assist game since coming to MLS.

Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m.

- The Rapids return to action after a weekend off, extending their undefeated streak to nine games in their last match, a 2-0 win vs. Vancouver. It matches the longest undefeated streak in club history, equaling the mark set April 30-June 11, 2011.

- Newly-signed Designated Player Vicente Sánchez recorded his first MLS assist in the win vs. Vancouver, setting up the seventh goal of the season for Deshorn Brown, most among MLS rookies.

- Sporting have been shut out in back-to-back games for the second time this season (also: March 16-23), both in 1-0 defeats (to San Jose and Chicago), and have lost four of their last five games.

- The Rapids have not won at Kansas City since 2002, a 2-1 win at Arrowhead Stadium. Sporting have won seven of the 11 meetings since with four draws.

- Kansas City hasn't won in Colorado since 2004, a 3-1 win at Invesco Field at Mile High. All-time at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, the Rapids have won two of the six meetings, with four draws, including a 2-2 result last May 19 in the only meeting between the teams.

LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m.

- Landon Donovan scored his fourth goal over the last three matches and now has 131 for his MLS league career - three away from the all-time record held by Jeff Cunningham - after the Galaxy's 1-0 win at Vancouver on Saturday night.

- Steven Beitashour scored his first goal in MLS since April 24, 2010 - his third professional match - in San Jose's 2-2 draw at FC Dallas on Saturday. Beitashour has a goal and three assists over the last eight matches.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. It was yet another wild California Clasico June 29 at Stanford Stadium, as Shea Salinas and Alan Gordon each scored in stoppage time with the Earthquakes a man down, leading to a 3-2 San Jose victory.

- The Earthquakes have an eight-game league unbeaten streak alive at home against the Galaxy, now across three stadiums. The streak started Aug. 3, 2008, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Sunday, September 1

Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo, 5 p.m. (UniMas)

- The Dynamo allowed a club-record five goals in their defeat by the Montréal Impact on Saturday at Stade Saputo. They had allowed four goals on three occasions since coming into the league in 2006 - including in a 4-2 loss to the Impact on June 23.

- Hunter Jumper scored his first professional goal in just his second career MLS appearance, leading the Fire to their third consecutive home victory, a 1-0 triumph Friday against Sporting Kansas City.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. A late Brad Davis goal snapped a 1-1 tie to give the Dynamo the victory, April 14 at BBVA Compass Stadium; on July 27, Chicago's Mike Magee and Houston's Cam Weaver traded goals two minutes apart to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw in Houston.

- In league play, the Dynamo last won in Bridgeview in 2009. The Fire won at Robertson Stadium in 2006 and 2007 in their first two trips ever to Houston - and have not won there since.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Chivas USA, 7 p.m.

- Erick Torres scored his third and fourth goals in six games since coming to Chivas USA on loan from CD Guadalajara, giving the club its second win in that time, a 3-2 victory Sunday vs. New York at StubHub Center.

- Whitecaps FC have been shut out in back-to-back games for the first time this season following their 1-0 home loss to the LA Galaxy on Saturday.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. An own goal and a goal from Eric Avila led Chivas USA to a 2-1 victory March 30 in Carson; Camilo Sanvezzo scored twice and Jordan Harvey added a third in a 3-1 Whitecaps FC win June 19 at BC Place.

- Chivas USA have won just once all-time in the series, in seven meetings all-time.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 26, 2013


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