MLS Major League Soccer

MLS Clubs Return to Action this Weekend -- This Week in MLS

Published on March 3, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


On the heels of an off-season filled with big signings and unlikely trades, Major League Soccer's 19th season kicks off this weekend with 16 teams set to begin their campaigns. The first touch of the season will take place in Seattle's sold-out CenturyLink Field as Clint Dempsey and the Sounders FC host Graham Zusi and the defending MLS Cup champions Sporting Kansas City (NBCSN, 3 p.m. ET). The last of seven Saturday matches will take place on the West Coast, when Landon Donovan and the LA Galaxy host last season's Western Conference champions Real Salt Lake. The weekend action concludes with a Sunday match between an overhauled Chivas USA squad and the Chicago Fire, who will be playing their first match under new coach Frank Yallop (UniMas 3 p.m. ET).

MLS Players to see plenty of action on March 5 FIFA fixture date

A number of MLS players will get a chance to feature for their respective national teams during the March 5 FIFA fixture date. A total of 21 players, representing 10 countries will be in action including seven nations who will be preparing for this summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

MLS WORKS and Sounders FC Renovate Boys & Girls Club Music Room

MLS WORKS and Seattle Sounders FC, with assistance from Sound Wave, the official Sounders FC band, will unveil the refurbished music room at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue Teen Center on Wednesday, March 5. The renovation will provide an updated space, as well as supply new musical instruments, for budding musicians to play and record music. Sounders FC standouts Brad Evans, Andy Rose, Lamar Neagle, in addition to members of Sound Wave, will be in attendance at the room unveiling. The event highlights the continued efforts of Major League Soccer and MLS WORKS to support the local communities where we live and play our games.

Quotables

"They're really creative players and the more they're in the game, that opens up stuff for me," Nagbe said. "I hope they do well. If they do well, I can do well also."

Portland Timbers' Darlington Nagbe on the the Argentine trio of Diego Valeri, Gaston Fernandez &Maxi Urruti

"I wouldn't be so bold to say we're elite. Teams take time to jell. What I would say is the locker room is elite. The feeling within the locker room and the confidence and the way people are stepping up to take leadership, we're laying a foundation to be very good. I don't think you're looking to be MLS Cup champions in pre-season. You can look at Sporting Kansas City, but they're going to have to go through an entire season and earn it again. For us, we're very comfortable with where we are in terms of laying a foundation to have a successful season."

Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko on taking it one step at a time through preseason

"Nobody is ready for the opener. But can we find ways to win when it's not perfect? That is the trick early in the season."

D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen on the start of the season

"I think the game was set up as a good test for us, a measuring-stick game. I think we came out of it pretty well. There are obviously still improvements we need to make, but overall the guys competed and interpreted it in the right way."

Columbus Crew's Gregg Berhalter on team's winning performance in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic championship

"I guess it's kind of cool. Stats are obviously cool, right? As far as it meaning anything, I don't think it does. Every game we treat the same way and it's just another opportunity to get better."

LA Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez on the possibility of pairing with Sporting KC defender Matt Besler - the most inexperienced dup -- in this summer's World Cup

Sweet Tweets

"@ZacMacMath - March 3 - Zac MacMath, Philadelphia Union

Let's get some burritos @ChipotleTweets !! @PhilaUnion players love playing credit card roulette for burritos after practice

"@SoonySaad - March 3 - Soony Saad, Sporting Kansas City

Hey look who's on my TV @TealBunB! #Twisted @kyliebunbury #bestbroforlife pic.twitter.com/zF7P8jpdDy

@DarrenMattocks - March 2 - Darren Mattocks, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Finally got my 1st international goal...on to the next one!

@magee9 - March 1 - Mike Magee, Chicago Fire

Sparky and little 1 pumped for MASSIVE @ChicagoFire game today. Supposedly preseason but we don't give a damn #cf97 pic.twitter.com/9QF853Ou0i

"@AJD_20 - March 1 - AJ De La Garza, LA Galaxy

One week til the Season Opener #ThisIsLA @LAGalaxy

@EricAvila12 - March 1 - Eric Avila, Chivas USA

Pre-season comes to an end. Now let the games begin. #ChivasUSA #MLS #2014 #tunnelvision

MLS Week 1 Previews

Saturday, March 8

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 3 p.m. (NBCSN)

"¢ Sounders FC have a seven-game unbeaten streak alive against Sporting, including a 1-0 win at Sporting Park last May 8 in the only meeting between the teams. Since a 1-0 KC win in 2009 in the first meeting ever between the clubs, Seattle has won six matches (with one draw).

"¢ Sounders FC concluded an undefeated preseason with a 2-2 draw with D.C. United in the final match of the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, S.C. Seattle had a 6-0-3 record in preparation matches, including a 3-0-3 mark against MLS clubs.

"¢ Sporting saw their undefeated preseason run come to an end in their final preparation match, falling 4-1 to Columbus in the title match of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Kissimmee, Fla.

"¢ Sounders FC midfielder Clint Dempsey is the lone MLS player in the U.S. national team squad for the midweek friendly vs. Ukraine.

D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew, 7 p.m.

"¢ D.C. United come into the 2014 campaign off another victory in the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, S.C., following their 2-2 draw with Seattle on Saturday in the tourney finale. United went 1-0-2 in the week-long event, also defeating Houston 2-0.

"¢ The Crew concluded their preseason with an undefeated record, winning the Disney Pro Soccer Classic following a 4-1 win against Sporting KC in Saturday's tournament finale.

"¢ One of the oldest rivalries in all of Major League Soccer (the teams met in three consecutive seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs from 1997-99), United hold a slim 25-23-8 lead in the all-time series record.

"¢ The Crew won both meetings between the teams a season ago, winning 2-1 at RFK Stadium on March 23, and 3-0 at Crew Stadium on April 27.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. (TSN)

"¢ Whitecaps FC have never lost to the Red Bulls. The teams played to three consecutive 1-1 draws in 2011-12, before Vancouver claimed a 2-1 victory last June 1 at Red Bull Arena in the only 2013 meeting between the teams.

"¢ Whitecaps FC concluded their preseason schedule with the best record in the Rose City Invitational, following a 1-1 draw Saturday with the host Portland Timbers. Whitecaps FC were unbeaten in the three tournament games.

"¢ Whitecaps FC have not lost a home opener since coming into MLS. They've twice defeated Toronto FC, including a 1-0 victory to open the 2013 season, and also knocked off the Montréal Impact.

"¢ The Red Bulls ended in a tie for third place in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic following a wild 4-4 draw with NASL side Orlando City SC in their tournament finale.

FC Dallas vs. Montreal Impact, 8:30 p.m.

"¢ The Impact have yet to defeat FC Dallas. The teams played to a scoreless draw last July 20 at Stade Saputo in their only meeting of the season; FCD took a 2-1 win in Frisco in the first meeting ever between the clubs in 2012.

"¢ FC Dallas concluded their preseason preparations with a 1-1 draw with the NASL San Antonio Scorpions before a sellout crowd last Saturday.

"¢ The Impact ended their preseason slate with a 2-2-1 record following a loss in a penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 draw with Philadelphia Union in their final match at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic.

"¢ The game featured a matchup of head coaches who were at different MLS clubs a year ago - FC Dallas guided by Oscar Pareja (Colorado Rapids) and the Montréal Impact by Frank Klopas (Chicago Fire).

Houston Dynamo vs. New England Revolution, 8:30 p.m.

"¢ The clubs evenly split their three games a season ago. Each won at the other's home ground - Houston taking a 2-0 victory May 18 in the only contest at BBVA Compass Stadium - before the teams concluded their series with a draw in Foxborough in September.

"¢ The Dynamo concluded their preseason with a 7-3-1 record after a 2-0 win against the NASL Charleston Battery in the final match of the Carolina Challenge Cup.

"¢ The Revolution ended their preseason with a 2-1-4 overall record, including a 1-1-2 mark at the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz, following a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids in the tournament finale.

"¢ Teal Bunbury, acquired from Sporting Kansas City in the offseason, scored for the Revs in their preseason finale vs. Colorado.

LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:30 p.m.

"¢ The teams met last year in a gripping Western Conference Semifinal, Real Salt Lake coming back to take the series 2-1 on aggregate following an extra-time win in the second leg at Rio Tinto Stadium to end the Galaxy's bid for a third consecutive title.

"¢ The Galaxy won two of three regular-season meetings between the teams, including a 4-2 win Aug. 17 at StubHub Center in their only home game vs. RSL.

"¢ Real concluded their preseason preparations with a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA in the finale of the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz.

Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union, 10:30 p.m.

"¢ The Timbers have never lost to Union in four meetings all-time. Portland has won both home matches in the series, including a 3-1 triumph March 12, 2012 in the last game in the Rose City. They've played to two scoreless draws in two games at PPL Park.

"¢ The Timbers concluded their preseason schedule with a 1-1 draw vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the finale of their own Rose City Invitational, ending with a 2-1-4 record.

"¢ Union ended their preparations with a penalty kick shootout victory against the Montréal Impact following a 1-1 draw in the finale of the Disney Pro Soccer Classic.

"¢ Union made one of the major acquisitions of the offseason, acquiring U.S. international midfielder Maurice Edu on loan from Stoke City FC of the English Premier League.

Sunday, March 9

Chivas USA vs. Chicago Fire, 3 p.m. (UniMás)

"¢ Chivas USA won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 4-1 victory March 24 at Toyota Park. The road team has won each of the last two meetings in the all-time series, the Fire taking a 2-1 in 2012 at StubHub Center in the lone encounter between the teams that season.

"¢ The Fire laid claim to the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz, defeating the developmental team for C.D. Guadalajara of Mexico 2-0 in the championship match.

"¢ Defending MLS MVP Mike Magee returned to the Fire camp during the final week of preparation in a bid to become fit in time to play in the season opener. Magee has been suffering from a hamstring injury.

"¢ Chivas USA concluded their undefeated run in the Desert Diamond Cup with a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake in their final match, ending their preseason slate with an eight-game undefeated run.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 3, 2014


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