MLS Major League Soccer

First ESPN2 Match of 2014 Highlights Week 13

Published on May 27, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


The reigning MLS Cup Champions will host the reigning Supporters' Shield winners tonight (8 p.m. ET) in the first ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes game of the 2014 season. Both teams feature early Golden Boot favorites in Sporting Kansas City's Dom Dwyer and New York Red Bulls' Bradley Wright-Phillips. The two have been on fire as of late, as Dwyer has scored six goals in the last four games, while Wright-Phillips has scored nine in his last six outings. The game is part of an ESPN2 doubleheader with the U.S.-Azerbaijan World Cup tune-up game following at 10 p.m. ET.

New England Revolution will look to add another win to their five-game winning streak on the road at the Montreal Impact on Saturday (7 p.m. ET TSN, RDS). The Revolution's recent results have been aided by the performances of rookie Patrick Mullins, who has scored goals in four consecutive games. The Impact have been struggling and will be busy this week, beginning with the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship against Toronto FC at BMO Field. Montreal will look for a positive midweek result heading into the match against the Revolution.

Week 13 National Broadcasts

Tuesday, May 27

Sporting Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / Deportes)

Saturday, May 31

Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew, 5 p.m. ET (TSN)

Montreal Impact vs. New England Revolution, 7 p.m. ET (TSN, RDS)

FC Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 8:30 p.m. ET (UDN)

Sunday, June 1

Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 p.m. ET (UDN)

Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 9 p.m. ET (TSN2)

Sweet Tweets

"@QuincyAmarikwa - May 20 - Quincy Amarikwa, Chicago Fire

In case you were wondering... pic.twitter.com/1vY0o6M28A

@jacob__peterson - May 22 - Jacob Peterson, Sporting Kansas City

BIG congrats to @gzusi & @mbesler on making the final 23. Good luck down there boys.

@SportingKC

@brad_evans3 - May 22 - Brad Evans, Seattle Sounders FC

You got off easy this time @Cristiano

@robbierogers - May 25 - Robbie Rogers, LA Galaxy

I want to be @landondonovan when I grow up.

@AjSoares - May 27 - AJ Soares, New England Revolution

Having lunch with il capitano @oneswitz pic.twitter.com/CfrwdU9viE

Quotables

"To be honest when I scored, I wasn't thinking of the record. It only occurred to me 10 seconds into the celebrating. It's great. I mean, it really is. I think more importantly, I enjoy the rest of the season, keep helping our team. I want to get make to enjoying football. This has been a week where I had moments I fell out of love for it a little bit. I want to make sure I keep enjoying it."

LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan on breaking the MLS goal scoring record

"I think the script was already good enough for him before the game. He broke that record, we all knew that was going to be a matter of time. I think the timing of it couldn't have come any better for him."

LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane on Donovan getting the record breaking goal

"I don't think it's been a distraction at all. This locker room is really strong. We had a goal to get three points at home, as we always do. We came a little short but I walked into our locker room - and I normally don't talk to the guys after the games, I wait until everyone cools down - but I told them that I was extremely proud of them. Our soccer wasn't particularly great tonight, but I thought our fight and our commitment was. If we can get results when our soccer is not particularly great, I think that's huge. I was really proud of them, and I thought that the guys just gave it their all."

RSL head coach Jeff Cassar on how the unbeaten streak affected the teams play

"It's nice to be back home. It's a few weeks earlier than I anticipated or that I wanted but it's really good to be home. And it was a really nice motivation when I came on the field and I heard everybody. I was really appreciative of that and the support that everyone has given me here."

Columbus Crew defender Michael Parkhurst on coming back to team after USMNT camp

"Maybe it's cool, but I don't think about it much. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy wearing the armband and doing that kind of stuff and being a leader. It's all part of the growth as a player, and this is just one step in the overall picture."

Columbus Crew midfielder Wil Trapp on being the youngest captain in MLS history

"I've never really learned the city, learned downtown, but now I drive it and walk it and I'm learning. My friends from (Lake Forest) high school are coming home from college now, and friends from Notre Dame are returning. We're all going to be together. And I'm playing soccer at home. I feel very fortunate."

Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp on playing soccer professionally in his hometown

Week 13 Game Previews

Tuesday, May 27

Sporting Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m.

"¢ The two players tied for the MLS Golden Boot standings - Sporting's Dom Dwyer and New York's Bradley Wright-Phillips, both with 10 goals each - will be head-to-head when the teams meet at Sporting Park in the first game this season televised by ESPN.

"¢ Dwyer has scored six goals in the last four games, after netting both goals in Sporting's 2-2 win against Toronto FC last Friday evening.

"¢ Wright-Phillips has nine goals in the last six games after converting a penalty kick in the Red Bulls' 2-1 loss to Portland over the weekend.

"¢ The teams split their season series a year ago, each winning on the other's home ground. When the Red Bulls won 3-2 on Aug. 3 at Sporting Park, it was their first defeat of Kansas City since April 30, 2011. In the five meetings in between, SKC won three times, with two draws.

Wednesday, May 28

Chivas USA vs. Portland Timbers, 10:30 p.m.

"¢ Homegrown Player Marky Delgado scored his first professional goal, in his 23rd career league appearance, in Chivas USA's 1-1 draw at FC Dallas on May 17 in their last match.

"¢ Maximiliano Urruti scored a pair of goals - and now has three goals in the last two games - as the Timbers extended their undefeated streak to five games with a 2-1 win at the New York Red Bulls in their last match.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. A Will Johnson goal in the fourth minute canceled out by an Erick Torres tally late in the match to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw, April 12 at Providence Park.

"¢ When the Timbers defeated Chivas USA 5-0 last Oct. 26, it was their first win ever at StubHub Center. They were 0-5-2 combined previously in Carson against both Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy.

Saturday, May 31

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 4 p.m.

"¢ Real Salt Lake have equaled the record for the longest undefeated start to a season in MLS history, now 12 games without loss (6-0-6). The Los Angeles Galaxy opened their inaugural season - and the first MLS season - with a 12-0 record (2 by shootout); the Galaxy also started the 2010 season with 12 games without defeat (10-0-2).

"¢ Sounders FC return home to CenturyLink Field where they have won four consecutive matches, two games shy of the club record, and also hold the best record in MLS.

"¢ The teams met three times a season ago, each winning on their home ground - Real won twice at Rio Tinto Stadium, and Sounders FC once at CenturyLink Field.

"¢ The teams also met in the MLS Cup Playoffs in both 2011 and 2012, Real advancing 3-2 on aggregate in 2011, and Sounders FC winning the series 1-0 in 2012.

Montreal Impact vs. New England Revolution, 4 p.m.

"¢ Revolution striker Patrick Mullins became just the second rookie to score goals in four consecutive games when he netted the opener in the 2-1 win vs. D.C. United on Saturday at Gillette Stadium. The first: Damani Ralph, who scored in four consecutive games in 2003, on his way to single-season rookie record 11 goals with the Chicago Fire.

"¢ The Revolution extended their winning streak to five games with the victory against United, one shy of the club record set April 9-May 14, 2005. The current winning streak is the club's longest since that record run.

"¢ The Impact will start the final defense of their Canadian Championship title on Wednesday, when they take on Toronto FC in the first leg of their aggregate series at BMO Field in Toronto. TFC had won the Canadian Championship for four consecutive years before the Impact claimed the title last season.

"¢ The Revolution have won on each of their last two trips to Stade Saputo - their only two victories in the all-time series; both victories have come by 1-0 scorelines.

Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew, 5 p.m.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Michael Bradley and Issey Nakajima-Farran scored goals to lead Toronto FC to a 2-0 victory on April 5 at Crew Stadium.

"¢ The Crew have lost to Toronto FC just three times in 19 meetings all-time. TFC's 2-1 win last July 27 at BMO Field was their first win ever against the Crew on their home ground, after three losses and five draws.

"¢ The Crew put an end to their eight-game winless streak - the club's longest since its record 13-game run without a victory in 2006 - with a 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire on Saturday at Crew Stadium.

"¢ Luke Moore scored his second goal in as many games since coming to Toronto FC, as they came back for an improbable 2-2 draw at Sporting KC on Friday evening.

D.C. United vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7 p.m.

"¢ Sporting KC have a seven-game undefeated streak alive vs. D.C. United, including two wins in three meetings a year ago, with one draw. The last D.C. victory in the series came May 5, 2010 at RFK Stadium.

"¢ United have not won in Kansas City since 2007. In the nine visits since, Sporting have won six games with three ties; that includes two wins and two draws in four meetings all-time at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, and victories in all four meetings at Sporting Park.

"¢ Fabian EspÃ-ndola scored the United goal in their 2-1 loss to New England over the weekend, and now has a goal or an assist in eight of his last 10 games, with six goals and five assists for the season.

FC Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 8:30 p.m.

"¢ Khari Stephenson scored two goals in a game for the first time in his MLS career, hitting for the brace in the 3-0 win against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday evening.

"¢ FC Dallas return home after a two-game road swing where their current winless streak was extended to seven games, losing 2-1 at the LA Galaxy and reaching a scoreless draw at Real Salt Lake last week. The FCD club record is 13 consecutive games without a win, set in 2012.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. A first-half goal from Cordell Cato and a second-half own goal propelled the Earthquakes to a 2-1 win, May 10 at Buck Shaw Stadium.

"¢ FC Dallas hasn't won in Santa Clara since 2009. The Quakes have won four of the six home meetings since, with two draws.

Chivas USA vs. Philadelphia Union, 10:30 p.m.

"¢ Union have never lost to Chivas USA in six meetings all-time. Philadelphia has won all three matchups at PPL Park, including a 3-1 victory last July 12 in the only 2013 meeting between the teams.

"¢ Union won 1-0 on April 21, 2012 in Carson, their first win at Chivas USA in three tries; the teams had played to draws in the first Chivas home games vs. Philadelphia.

"¢ In his first match back after his release from the U.S. national team, Maurice Edu netted the Union goal in their 4-1 loss to the LA Galaxy - a match where fellow national team cut Landon Donovan scored twice to become the league's all-time goalscoring king.

Sunday, June 1

Chicago Fire vs. LA Galaxy, 4 p.m.

"¢ Landon Donovan became the all-time leading goalscorer in MLS history with 135th and 136th league goals in the Galaxy's 4-1 win against Philadelphia on Sunday evening. It was also his MLS record 31st career multiple-goal game.

"¢ Robbie Keane scored a goal and added two assists in the win against Union. Over his last 33 games, since the start of the 2013 season (one shy of a full MLS campaign), Keane has scored 23 goals and added 14 assists.

"¢ The Galaxy have a four-game winning streak in the series, including a 4-0 victory last March 3 at StubHub Center in the only meeting between the teams. The Fire have not defeated the Galaxy since a 3-2 win in Carson on Aug. 1, 2010.

"¢ The Galaxy have come away with points on each of their last four visits to Toyota Park (three victories and a draw). Chicago's last home win in the series came in 2008.

Colorado Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 p.m.

"¢ Homegrown Player Shane O'Neill scored his first professional goal in the Rapids' 4-1 win against Montréal on Saturday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, while reigning MLS Rookie of the Year Dillon Powers scored two goals, his first two of the season and his first career two-goal game.

"¢ The trip to Commerce City is the third game of a road swing for the Dynamo, which started with shutout defeats at D.C. United (0-2) and San Jose (0-3).

"¢ The Rapids have a seven-game undefeated streak alive against the Dynamo. Houston's last victory in the series came in a 1-0 win, April 19, 2009; the teams reached a 1-1 draw last April 28 in Houston in their only meeting.

"¢ Colorado's only win ever in Houston came in a 2-1 win May 4, 2011 at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo have not won at Colorado in their last four visits, since a 3-1 victory Oct. 4, 2008.

Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 9 p.m.

"¢ The Timbers have never lost to Whitecaps FC since the two teams have played in MLS competition. The Timbers have won four of the eight meetings all-time, including two of the four contests at BC Place.

"¢ The teams played to three draws in three meetings a season ago, reaching a pair of 2-2 results at BC Place and ending with a 1-1 tie in Portland.

"¢ The Timbers have played to seven draws in their first 12 games this season. A year ago they played in 15 ties to lead MLS, one shy of the league's single-season record (set in 2011 by New York and Chicago).

"¢ A week after scoring his first professional goal, Erik Hurtado made it two in two games in Whitecaps FC's 2-2 draw with Seattle Sounders FC at BC Place.

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