MLS Major League Soccer

MLS News and Notes

Published on June 17, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Let the Mid-Year Reviews (and Debates) Begin

By Sunday night, five MLS clubs will complete half of their 34-game regular season: Colorado, New York, Portland, Real Salt Lake, and San Jose. Seven others will have played 16 once the nominal midpoint - Week 17 of the 35-week campaign - unfolds. There has been no shortage of surprises to date.

Teams exceeding predictions include conference leaders Montreal Impact and FC Dallas. Other teams that missed last year's MLS Cup Playoffs - the Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers - are currently on track to play in this year's postseason.

Individual performances of note include 21-year old Philadelphia striker Jack McInerney, who leads the league in goals with 10 and is bidding to become the youngest player to win the MLS Budweiser Golden Boot; and Portland midfielder Diego Valeri, a Designated Player, who is among the League's best newcomers thus far.

Western Conference teams have a 20-12-22 W-L-T record against Eastern Conference clubs, with Montreal (3-0-1) and Vancouver (4-1-0) faring well against foes from the other conference. LA Galaxy (7), Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers (8 each) have played the fewest games within their conference.

2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game Fan Voting Update

Just one week into fan voting for the 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, the following are the combined online and text results as of June 17:

Top 5 Goalkeepers

Top 7 Defenders

Top 7 Midfielders

Top 7 Forwards

1. Luis Robles (NY) 1. Matt Besler (SKC) 1. Graham Zusi (SKC) 1. Chris Wondolowski (SJ)

2. Jimmy Nielsen (SKC) 2. Omar Gonzalez (LA) 2. Mike Magee (CHI) 2. Thierry Henry (NY)

3. Raul Fernandez (DAL) 3. Aurelien Collin (SKC) 3. Kyle Beckerman (RSL) 3. Robbie Keane (LA)

4. Troy Perkins (MTL) 4. Matteo Ferrari (MTL) 4. Will Johnson (POR) 4. Landon Donovan (LA)

5. Nick Rimando (RSL) 5. Jamison Olave (NY) 5. Tim Cahill (NY) 5. Marco DiVaio (MTL)

6. DeAndre Yedlin (SEA) 6. Patrice Bernier (MTL) 6. Jack McInerney (PHI)

7. Michael Harrington (POR) 7. Justin Mapp (MTL) 7. Eddie Johnson (SEA)

Fans can vote for the All-Star First XI through Monday, July 2 at 3 p.m. ET online HERE or by sending a player's last name via text message to 22442. Twitter voting will occur June 20-21. The 10 players with the highest combined votes from these three voting methods will be named to the All-Star Fan XI.

The 11th player - a forward - on the Fan XI will be decided after the general voting window closes on July 2, as part of the AT&T MLS All-Star ‘In the Game' Challenge that will take place from July 3-July 10.

All-Star Head Coach Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City will choose the game day roster and the starting lineup to play against AS Roma on July 31 at 9 p.m. ET at Sporting Park (ESPN2, UniMas, and in Canada on TSN and RDS).

Week 17 National Broadcasts

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Montreal Impact vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 p.m. ET (TSN, RDS)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Chivas USA, 10 p.m. ET (TSN, RDS2)

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids, 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

Chivas USA vs. LA Galaxy, 11 p.m. ET (UniMas)

AT&T Goal of the Week (Week 16) - CLICK HERE to vote

- Darlington Nagbe (POR)

- Steven Lenhart (SJ)

- Kelyn Rowe (NE)

- Kenny Miller (VAN)

- Kenny Miller (VAN)

Check It Out

Chicago Fire: Good Luck Blackhawks!

Columbus Crew: Dominic Oduro Delivers Papa John's Pizza

San Jose Earthquakes: Happy Father's Day from the Quakes

Seattle Sounders FC: Mariners First Pitch: Eddie Johnson

Sporting KC: Sporting KC Players Drive Exotic Cars

Quotables

"Absolutely fantastic goals and his overall performance was really top class. It made a big difference to the team tonight. Not just the goals, but his hunger and desire and work rate when we were losing, that started to rub off on other people."

Head coach Martin Rennie on Kenny Miller's stellar performance in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC's 4-3 win over the New England Revolution

"It was a really important game for a lot of different reasons tonight. Obviously, playing our in-state rivals, any win against them really means a lot to us. And to advance in the competition that has our owner's father's name on it is also very, very important."

FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper on defeating the Houston Dynamo and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

"The sky's the limit. I always feel like it's a challenge at my age. My dad played a long time. I have good genes. People say I'm old, but I look younger than them."

Edson Buddle on resurrecting his career with the Colorado Rapids

"(Watson) definitely added a little different mentality and things of that nature. It's a great mix. He has done a great job of coming in here and commanding our locker room. All of the guys have bought in."

Chris Wondolowski on new San Jose Earthquakes interim coach Mark Watson after their win over the Colorado Rapids

"A few years ago, the talk was always about the European [league] players. Now that we have MLS guys making an impact, it definitely speaks volumes for this league and how it's growing."

LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez on the growing roles of MLS players on the U.S. national team

"Unbelievable...The best crowd I've played in in the United States without a doubt. So from all the players, a big thank you to everybody who was here, to everybody in this city who makes this a special night for us, because people don't know what a difference it makes when you play in an atmosphere like this."

Michael Bradley on the environment at CenturyLink Field during the U.S. World Cup qualifier against Panama

Sweet Tweets

@JebBrovsky - June 12

Huge day for the @MLS partnering up with @YouCanPlayTeam ! I am proud to be a part of a League with social awareness and acceptance.

‏@eddie_johnson7 - June 12

Seattle yall represented like always the boys can't stop talking about how amazing you were lastnite #sounders #bestfans #usmnt #wcq 3pts

@mnanchoff - June 13

It was an honor scoring in front of the @timbersarmy! Not only was my goal special but my tackle on Coach was priceless. #rctid #Timbers

‏@NickRimando - June 16

Being a father is tough at times but also the best thing in the world. You always try to lead them in...

‏@PumaNielsen1 - June 16

Wife told me that Father's Day is my day to clean, since she does that the other 364 days a year

MLS Week 17 Previews

(Home team listed first; all times Eastern)

Wednesday, June 19

Montreal Impact vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 p.m. (TSN, RDS)

- The teams evenly split their three meetings in Montréal's inaugural MLS season, each winning once at home. The third match, at BBVA Compass Stadium, was a draw.

- The Impact saw their three-game winning streak come to an end over the weekend in a 2-0 loss at Columbus, but they still maintain their leadership atop the Eastern Conference.

- The Dynamo return to league play off a second consecutive draw, a 1-1 result June 1 at Columbus, which extended their winless streak to four games in league play, their longest this season.

Chicago Fire vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m.

- Mike Magee scored his second goal in as many league games for the Fire in their last outing, a come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Portland on June 8.

- Magee has scored a goal in each of his four appearances in all competitions for the Fire, also netting in each of the Fire's victories in the U.S. Open Cup.

- The Rapids saw their six-game undefeated streak - matching their longest over each of the last three seasons - come to an end in a 2-1 loss to San Jose at Dick's Sporting Goods Park last weekend.

- The Rapids have never won at Toyota Park. Colorado's last road win against Chicago came in 2004, at Soldier Field. Since, the Fire are 5-0-2 in home games in the series, including a 2-0 win in the last meeting in Bridgeview in 2011.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Chivas USA, 10 p.m. (TSN, RDS2)

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. An own goal and a goal from Eric Avila led Chivas USA to a 2-1 victory March 30 in Carson.

- It was the first-ever win for Chivas against Vancouver, in six meetings all-time. The opening goal in the March 30 encounter snapped a 316-minute scoring drought for Chivas USA vs. Whitecaps FC.

- Chivas USA have not won in league play since the first meeting with Whitecaps FC, now eight league games without a victory. Chivas are riding a five-game losing streak, the longest since a club-record seven-game losing run at the end of last season.

- Camilo Sanvezzo scored his fourth goal in the last four games to start the Whitecaps FC comeback from two goals down in their 4-3 win against New England on Saturday at BC Place.

- Kenny Miller scored a pair of goals in a game for the first time since coming to MLS in Vancouver's come-from-behind 4-3 win against New England on Saturday evening at BC Place.

LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers, 10:30 p.m.

- The Timbers extended their undefeated streak to 13 games - equaling the 10th longest in MLS history - with their 1-0 home win against FC Dallas on Saturday afternoon.

- Darlington Nagbe scored his fifth goal of the season in Portland's win vs. Dallas - a goal he called "probably No.1" of his three-year MLS career. Nagbe won the MLS Goal of the Year in his rookie season of 2011.

- The Galaxy are coming off back-to-back losses for the second time this season, their last match a 3-1 loss at Real Salt Lake on June 8 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

- The Galaxy won all three meetings between the clubs a year ago. Portland's lone victory in five all-time meetings came in 2011 at Jeld-Wen Field; the Galaxy are 3-0-0 all-time in the series in Carson.

Saturday, June 22

D.C. United vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7 p.m.

- In Mark Watson's first game in charge as interim head coach, the Earthquakes ended a four-game winless streak with a 2-1 win against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, their first away win this season.

- D.C. United saw their club-record winless streak in league play extended to13 games as Toronto FC came back for a 2-1 win Saturday at RFK Stadium. The 13-game winless run is tied for sixth-longest in MLS history.

- The teams met once a year ago, the Earthquakes taking a wild, 5-3 victory at Buck Shaw Stadium. It was the first home win in the series since the 2010 season.

- San Jose has won on each of its last three trips to the nation's capital, dating back to 2009. United has won one of the last eight meetings between the teams (with two draws).

Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m.

- The teams are meeting for the second time in league play this season. Jeff Larentowicz scored in the 83rd minute to give the Fire a 1-0 win on April 20 at Toyota Park.

- The teams also played last Thursday at Toyota Park, the Fire taking a 2-1 victory in a weather-delayed U.S. Open Cup fourth-round match. Crew defender Glaúber suffered a season-ending knee injury in the match.

- The Crew haven't won at Toyota Park since the 2006 season. In the 11 meetings since in Bridgeview, the Fire have won six, with four draws.

- Matias Sánchez scored his first MLS goal to send the Crew on their way to a 2-0 victory against Eastern Conference leaders Montréal Impact on Saturday at Crew Stadium, ending a three-game winless slide.

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

- Missing their three top strikers, FC Dallas were shut out for the first time this season in their 1-0 loss at the Portland Timbers on Saturday afternoon, the final team in MLS to be held out without a goal in a game in 2013.

- Sporting saw their home winless streak extended to three games, and their overall winless run stretched to three games, in their last match, a 2-1 loss to the Montréal Impact at Sporting Park.

- The defending U.S. Open Cup champions, Sporting also saw their bid to repeat ended last week in a fourth-round loss to USL PRO side Orlando City SC at Sporting Park.

- Sporting won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 2-1 victory at Sporting Park, the first win by a home team in the series since 2010.

Houston Dynamo vs. Toronto FC, 9 p.m.

- Toronto FC won for the first time in league play since March 9, snapping an 11-game winless streak, in their come-from-behind 2-1 defeat of D.C. United on Saturday night at RFK Stadium. It was TFC's second victory in 28 MLS games since winning three in a row last July 11-18.

- The Dynamo have not won in MLS play at BBVA Compass Stadium since April 14, with two draws and two losses in their last four games, the two losses snapping their MLS-record 30-game home undefeated streak.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Jeremy Hall gave TFC a lead in the second half, but Warren Creavalle scored deep into stoppage time to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw, April 20 at BMO Field. The Dynamo are undefeated in the last five meetings with Toronto FC.

Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 9:30 p.m.

- Real Salt Lake are undefeated in their last four games, scoring 11 goals in recording three wins and a draw, their last match a 3-1 win against the LA Galaxy on June 8.

- Javier Morales has recorded four assists and scored a goal himself over Real's four-game undefeated run. Since returning to the starting lineup on April 13, Morales has three goals and five assists; RSL is 6-2-2 in that stretch.

- Sounders FC have recorded six wins in their last eight matches, winning for a second game in a row in their 3-2 home win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in their last match, June 8 at CenturyLink Field.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. First-half goals from Luis Gil and Robbie Findley sent Real on their way to a 2-1 victory, March 30 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Sunday, June 23

Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls, 5 p.m. (ESPN)

- Sebastien Le Toux recorded his third career two-assist game in MLS, leading Union to a comprehensive 3-0 win against Columbus in their last match, June 5 at PPL Park. Le Toux took over the league lead with six assists, entering Week 17.

- The Red Bulls return to league play after seeing their seven-game league undefeated streak come to an end in a 2-1 home loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 1.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. A goal from Thierry Henry in the 81st minute snapped a 1-1 tie and gave the Red Bulls the victory, March 30 at Red Bull Arena.

- The Red Bulls have won the last five meetings between the clubs, dating back to the last meeting in 2011. The Union goal in the first meeting this year snapped a 287-minute goalless drought in the series.

Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)

- After scoring one goal in his first eight MLS seasons, Nathan Sturgis has scored three goals this season, hitting for the lone Rapids goal in their 2-1 home loss to San Jose last weekend.

- Timbers head coach Caleb Porter equaled an MLS record with a 13-game undefeated streak in his first season as an MLS head coach. Tom Soehn did it with D.C. United during the 2007 season.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. A pair of goals from Will Johnson in the second half, the second from a penalty kick, overcame a two-goal Rapids lead to leave the teams in a 2-2 draw, March 30 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

- Portland's only win in the all-time series came last Aug. 31, a 1-0 home victory. The Rapids have won four of the six meetings all-time, with one draw.

Chivas USA vs. LA Galaxy, 11 p.m. (UniMas)

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Jack McBean gave the Galaxy the lead in the 83rd minute, but Carlos Alvarez equalized just six minutes later to leave the teams in a 1-1 tie, March 17 in Carson.

- The Galaxy have won eight of the last 10 league meetings, dating back to 2009. Chivas USA won 1-0 last May 19, their first victory against the Galaxy since Aug. 23, 2007, snapping an 11-game winless run in SuperClásicos.

- It will be the first SuperClásico in charge for Chivas USA head coach José Luis Real, who took over the reins of the club this week.

- It will also be the first SuperClásico at the newly-renamed StubHub Center, the home ground for both clubs.

Check out the Major League Soccer Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from June 17, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central