MLS Major League Soccer

MLS Summer of Soccer Concludes This Weekend

Published on August 3, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


The official stretch of the MLS Summer of Soccer, spanning 51 days and featuring more than 100 top-flight soccer games in the United States and Canada, will conclude this weekend as MLS teams battle for second-half supremacy in the 2009 Regular Season, the 2009 SuperLiga champion is crowned and MLS teams battle two of the world's best clubs - FC Barcelona and Real Madrid - in international friendlies.

The Chicago Fire host the 2009 SuperLiga final on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. ET at Toyota Park with the championship on the line versus Tigres UANL of Mexico. Tigres advanced by defeating Santos Laguna 3-2 in the semifinals at Gillette Stadium setting up the clash with Chicago, who defeated the defending SuperLiga champions the New England Revolution 2-1.

FC Barcelona continue their tour of the United States when they face Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field in Seattle on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes). FC Barcelona defeated the LA Galaxy in the first game of their tour 2-1 in front of more than more than 93,000 fans - the largest crowd to watch a soccer game in the United States since the 1994 World Cup final. They will surely be facing a rowdy pro-Sounders FC crowd on Wednesday.

Real Madrid kick off their tour of North America with a match on Friday versus MLS side Toronto FC at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN, GOL TV Canada). The Spanish giants then travel down the East Coast to face D.C. United at Fed Ex Field on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. ET (FSC, TeleFutura).

Highlights of the MLS Summer of Soccer include tremendous crowds for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, for international friendlies featuring MLS sides and a successful midsummer showcase in the MLS All-Star Game. The MLS All-Stars lost a penalty kick shootout to Everton FC, but gave the sold-out, record crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah a great night of soccer.

FC Dallas Forward Jeff Cunningham Wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 20

FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham was the unanimous winner in Major League Soccer's Player of the Week voting for Week 20 of the 2009 season. Cunningham exploded for four goals and led FC Dallas to a 6-0 victory over the Kansas City Wizards. Cunningham's career-high four-goal performance gives him 112 career goals, eclipsing former Dallas forward and current Real Salt Lake manager Jason Kreis for third on the all-time MLS goal scoring chart.

This is Cunningham's 11th MLS Player of the Week Award and second of the season. No player in MLS history has earned Player of the Week honors more times than the 2006 Budweiser Golden Boot winner. Only MLS Originals Ante Razov (114) and Jaime Moreno (128) have scored more goals in MLS history than Cunningham.

Cunningham is tied with four other players for third place in the Budweiser Golden Boot Race with eight goals and sits behind only Fredy Montero (9) and Guillermo Barros Schelotto (10).

Still hot in Houston; Chicago and Columbus set pace East

The Houston Dynamo remained the hottest team in the League, defeating D.C. United 4-3 on Saturday. The high-energy, high-scoring affair saw the Dynamo net three goals in a four-minute span in the first half, two of which were scored by Dynamo forward Brian Ching in just over 100 seconds. Forward Dominic Oduro played a vital role for the Dynamo in his finest game since being acquired from the New York Red Bulls May 27. Oduro tallied two early assists and earned the penalty kick that yielded Stuart Holden's game-winning goal. The victory gives the Dynamo (10-5-5) a League best 35 points and increases their lead in the Western Conference to six points over second place Seattle Sounders FC (29 points) and seven points clear of the Los Angeles Galaxy who are in third place with 28 points.

The Chicago Fire (8-3-8, 32 points) have outscored opponents 5-1 to go 3-0-2 in their last five League matches and sit one point behind the Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS Cup Champions. With the loss of forward Brian McBride, to a shoulder injury that will sideline the Fire's scoring ace until mid-October, the Fire have relied on their backline to keep pace with the defending champs. Jon Busch, the 2008 Goalkeeper of the Year, has recorded four consecutive shutouts and seven on the season as the Fire have only allowed 20 goals in 19 games this season. On Wednesday, Aug. 5 the Fire take on Tigres UANL of Mexico's La Primera Division in the SuperLiga Final at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. at 8 p.m. ET (TeleFutura).

MLS Quotables

New England Revolution defender Jay Heaps on Toronto FC forward Dwayne De Rosario's goal:

"I don't think there's anyone else in the league [who] can hit it like that. I was closing him down and hesitated for a second because I thought he might take a touch on it. Then I saw his eyes kind of light up, so I came out to block it. Then, I knew it was going into the side of the net.''

FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham on his four-goal outburst:

"Tonight was a celebration. Tonight was one of those nights every striker dreams of. Everything you do goes well. ... I've got to thank my teammates. They were looking for me, you know."

Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden on returning to Houston and the Dynamo starting lineup:

"It was great to be back home and in my own bed, and it is so frustrating to have to watch the team play. Brian (Ching) and I get so emotional, so fired up when we watch because we want to be here; we want to be part of the team. We couldn't be happier to be back."

Rapids Manager Gary Smith on Colorado's 1-0 loss to Columbus:

"That's why they won the championship. They squeak out 1-nil games, and we're still learning."

Previewing Week 21: August 5-9, 2009

(All Times Eastern)

Thursday, August 6

Houston Dynamo at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The Houston Dynamo travel north to face intrastate rivals FC Dallas for the first time this season. Both teams are coming off of explosive games as Houston notched four goals, while FC Dallas erupted for six goals for only the second time in their history (a 6-3 drubbing of the Colorado Rapids June 16, 2001 is the only other occasion). The U.S. national team duo of Stuart Holden and Brian Ching will look to continue their strong form as they play two of their next three on the road. Will Jeff Cunningham be able to continue to make FC Dallas fans forget about the departure of Kenny Cooper to 1860 Munich? Can he follow up his four-goal performance against Pat Onstad and the League's third ranked defense? Cunningham (112 goals) sits only two goals behind Ante Razov (114) for second all-time.

Saturday, August 8

Los Angeles Galaxy at New England Revolution, 6:00 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

- Since the return of David Beckham, the Los Angeles Galaxy have gone 1-0-2 and are within striking distance of first place in the Western Conference. Landon Donovan was voted Player of the Month for July, but recent acquisition Alecko Eskandarian has played as well as anyone in a Galaxy uniform, scoring three goals in three games since he switched locker rooms at The Home Depot Center. The return of Sharlie Joseph from a nagging knee injury and Jay Heaps from U.S. national team duty will position the Rev's for a strong second half. New England has never lost a regular-season game to LA at Gillette Stadium, going an undefeated (5-0-2) in seven games against the Galaxy since the facility opened in 2002. The Revs are 8-4-2 at home against the Galaxy all-time.

Columbus Crew at San Jose Earthquakes, 8:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

- Before the San Jose Earthquakes four-goal rout of Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday the Quakes hadn't won a home game since June 20. San Jose will look to newcomers Andre Luiz of Brazil and Ramon Sanchez of El Salvador to keep the offense flowing at Buck Shaw against the defending MLS Cup Champions. The Columbus Crew enter the match as the first place team in the Eastern Conference (8-3-9, 33 points), but have only won two of their last 10 road games. The Crew could be without Guillermo Barros Schelotto who has missed three consecutive matches with a strained hamstring. Forward Jason Garey has filled in admirably for the Crew tallying four goals and two assists in 10 games for the Crew.

Seattle Sounders FC at Real Salt Lake, 9:00 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- Seattle (7-4-8, 29 points) had their four-game unbeaten streak snapped at the hands of the San Jose Earthquakes who defeated Seattle Sounders FC 4-0. Columbian wunderkind Fredy Montero, leads the youngest squad in the League with nine goals. One of his nine was scored against Real Salt Lake Seattle's 2-0 win in RSL's season opener. Real Salt Lake (6-8-5, 23 points) is happy to be playing at home. RSL is 1-7-2 away from Rio Tinto Stadium this season and hopes a return to their home stomping ground will bring good luck, not to mention Real Salt Lake has only lost once at home this season, a 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards May 16.

Chivas USA at Colorado Rapids, 9:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- These clubs, tied for fourth place in the Western Conference, go head-to-head at Dick's Sporting Goods Park this Saturday. In the Rapid's 1-0 loss to the Columbus Crew last week, forward Omar Cummings had seven shots on goal, but was not able to find the back of the net. Cummings and his Rapids teammates will have to find a way to break one of the better defenses in the League. Chivas USA won the first meeting 2-1, with a two-goal performance by midfielder Paolo Nagamura. Chivas USA is looking to regain their early-season form and are looking to find success on the road. Chivas USA are 2-4-2 on the road and are winless in their last four matches.

Sunday, August 9

Chicago Fire at Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- After facing FC Dallas on Thursday, the Dynamo will return home to meet the Chicago Fire as two of the top clubs in MLS play in Houston. Chicago beat Real Salt Lake 1-0 despite the absence of top players Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Brian McBride. A Patrick Nyarko header was all the Fire needed to keep pace in the Eastern Conference with the Columbus Crew. In their last meeting on June 5, the Dynamo defeated the Fire 1-0. Houston holds a 4-2-1 all-time record over Chicago. Stuart Holden, who tallied the game winner in the Dynamo's 4-3 victory over D.C. United last weekend, was also responsible for the lone goal in the win earlier this season over Chicago. The Fire have been near the top of the conference for weeks. They are battling with D.C. United and the Columbus Crew for top honors and now sit in second place, one point shy of the Crew, and will look for a win versus a Dynamo squad that will be playing their second game in four days.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 3, 2009


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