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Pivotal Early-Season Points up for Grabs - This Week in MLS

Published on March 23, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Montreal Impact, Orlando City SC look to regain momentum

Orlando City SC embarks on its maiden Canadian voyage for a matinee meeting with the Montreal Impact on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET (TSN 3/4/5, RDS). Both clubs are looking to regenerate early-season momentum-Orlando City from its MLS debut and Montreal from its stunning CCL win over Pachuca-following forgettable weekends. OCSC was dealt a devastating blow in the waning moments of Saturday's loss to Vancouver, when 'Caps striker Octavio Rivero scored the game-winner in the 96th minute. Rivero's goal gave the Lions their first ever MLS loss and snapped a 194-minute shutout streak. The Impact settled for a scoreless draw with the New England Revolution as they continue searching for their first league goal of the season-despite scoring five in their last three CCL matches. With injuries starting to pile up for Montreal, Frank Klopas will seek contributions from his entire roster in its bid to shutdown Kak=A8 cent & Co.

Chicago Fire host Philadelphia Union as both clubs seek elusive first win

MLS Soccer Sunday kicks off on Sunday evening with a showdown between the Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). Both clubs enter the regular season's fourth weekend without a win, making this a pivotal moment as essential early-season points escape their clasps. Though Philadelphia accrued two points after opening the season with a pair of draws, Chicago enters the weekend pointless and desperate for a win. Last year's rookie of the year finalist Harry Shipp netted the Fire's first goal of the regular season in Sunday night's loss at San Jose, but Chicago will need more contributions from its new slate of Designated Players to get back on track.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, had the misfortune of hosting a scorching-hot FC Dallas squad on Saturday. The Union were blanked, 2-0, but can catapult back into the upper half of the Eastern Conference standings with a positive result this weekend. Head coach Jim Curtin will look for Fernando Aristeguieta to regain the form he showcased against Real Salt Lake two weeks ago, when he recorded a first-half brace in only his second MLS match.

Real Salt Lake aims to continue home dominance against Toronto FC

Real Salt Lake welcome Toronto FC to Rio Tinto Stadium to cap off MLS Soccer Sunday's doubleheader at 7 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes). RSL and Toronto have squared off against one another seven times in Utah with RSL coming away with a 7-0-0 record (2-0-0 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, 5-0-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium). Toronto FC will be without Designated Players Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley as they have been called up to the U.S. national team for a pair of friendlies on March 25 against Denmark and March 31 versus Switzerland. The Reds will have to rely upon Italian international Sebastian Giovinco and company to turn around their fortunes in Utah.

MLS National TV Schedule

Saturday, March 28

Montreal Impact vs. Orlando City SC, 4 p.m. ET, TSN 3/4/5, RDS

Sunday, March 29

Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes

Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes

Montreal Impact inch closer to historic CCL Final appearance

More than 33,000 fans jammed into Olympic Stadium to witness the Montreal Impact secure a crucial 2-0 result in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal tie on Wednesday night. Thanks to goals from Ignacio Piatti and Victor Cabrera, Montreal heads to Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto looking to deliver a knockout blow to Costa Rican side Alajuelense. If the Impact indeed advances, then they will become the first Canadian club to ever reach the CCL Final. A win will also make Montreal the first MLS club to appear in the final since Real Salt Lake in 2010-11. The second leg is slated for Tuesday, April 7, at 10 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 2) in Alajuela.

54 MLS Players Called Up for International Duty

With a FIFA window for international matches open from March 23-31, national teams have called up 54 MLS players representing 17 MLS clubs as of today. The United States Men's National Team leads all national squads represented, naming six players to the senior team, seven players to the U-23 squad and five players to the U-20 team. Orlando City SC leads all MLS clubs with a total of seven players representing their national teams.

The U.S. Men's National Team will play two exhibition matches during the FIFA window, first taking on Denmark in Arhus on March 25 at 3:00 p.m. ET (ESPN, UniM=A8 cents) and then travelling to Zurich to face Switzerland on March 31 at 12:00 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1, UniM=A8 cents).

The Canadian National Team, which called up nine MLS players, will head to Fort Lauderdale for its first match against Guatemala on March 27 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Canadians will then close out their international schedule with a fixture against Puerto Rico in Bayam=A8©n on March 30 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

International Call-Ups

For running list of call-ups click HERE

United States - at Denmark (3/25), at Switzerland (3/31)

Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC)

Michael Bradley (Toronto FC)

Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC)

Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Brek Shea (Orlando City SC)

Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

US U-23s - at Bosnia & Herzegovina (3/27), at Denmark (3/31)

Fatai Alashe (San Jose Earthquakes)

Christian Dean (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake)

Shane O'Neill (Colorado Rapids)

Khiry Shelton (New York City FC)

Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy)

Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)

US U-20s - at England (3/29)

Marky Delgado (Toronto FC)

Conor Donovan (Orlando City SC)

Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy)

Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City)

Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes)

Canada - vs. Guatemala (3/27), at Puerto Rico (3/30)

Sam Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) -- withdrew due to injury

Kyle Bekker (FC Dallas)

Marcel de Jong (Sporting Kansas City)

Cyle Larin (Orlando City)

Chris Mannella (Toronto FC)

Karl Ouimette (New York Red Bulls)

Quillan Roberts (Toronto FC)

Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Maxim Tissot (Montreal Impact)

Belgium - Euro 2016 qualifiers vs. Cyprus (3/28), at Israel (3/31)

Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact)

Cameroon - at Indonesia (3/25), at Thailand (3/30)

Ambroise Oyongo (Montreal Impact)

Costa Rica - vs. Paraguay (3/26), at Panama (3/31)

Waylon Francis (Columbus Crew SC)

Alvaro Sabor - o (Real Salt Lake)

El Salvador - Argentina (3/28), Guatemala (3/31)

Darwin Cer?n (Orlando City SC)

Guatemala - Canada (3/27), El Salvador (3/31)

Mois's Hern=A8 centndez (FC Dallas)

Marco Pappa (Seattle Sounders FC)

El - as V=A8 centsquez (Real Salt Lake)

Honduras - Gold Cup qualifiers at French Guiana (3/25), vs. French Guiana (3/29)

Roger Espinoza (Sporting Kansas City)

Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo)

Luis Garrido (Houston Dynamo)

Iraq - vs. DR Congo (3/28), vs. DR Congo (3/31)

Justin Meram (Columbus Crew SC)

Ireland - Euro 2016 qualifier vs. Poland (3/29)

Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)

Jamaica - vs. Venezuela (3/27), vs. Cuba (3/30)

Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo)

Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls)

Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers)

Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls)

Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo)

Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas)

Romario Williams (Montreal Impact)

Panama - at Trinidad & Tobago (3/27), vs. Costa Rica (3/31)

Jaime Penedo (LA Galaxy)

Blas P?rez (FC Dallas)

Portugal U-20s - vs. Uzbekistan (3/27), vs. Uruguay (3/31)

Rafael Ramos (Orlando City SC)

Estrela (Orlando City SC)

Scotland - vs. Northern Ireland (3/25), Euro 2016 qualifier vs. Gibraltar (3/29)

Shaun Maloney (Chicago Fire)

Trinidad & Tobago - vs. Panama (3/27)

Kevin Molino (Orlando City SC)

News and Notes from Around MLS

MLS, US SOCCER SIGN PARTNERSHIP WITH JOHNSON & JOHNSON: I n the latest in a recent series of partnership announcements, Major League Soccer and the US Soccer Federation announced on Friday that they have signed an official partnership with the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies. The deal makes the Johnson & Johnson consumer division the exclusive and Official Healthcare Sponsor of MLS and US Soccer, including the US Men's, Women's and Youth national teams.

MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL BECOMES OFFICIAL SNACK BRAND OF MLS: Mondel=A8=A5z International, the maker of OREO, RITZ, TRIDENT, HONEY MAID and SOUR PATCH KIDS, announced a multi-year deal to become the Official Snacks of MLS. The sponsorship bolsters the brands' presence in the sport as they enter the second year of the #PassTheLove campaign, a fully integrated program to help spread the passion for soccer coast to coast.

Quotables

"You have a sense that it's yours. A sense of ownership. This is ours."

San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski on the home opener at Avaya Stadium

After years of tumult, San Jose Earthquakes right at home (San Francisco Chronicle)

"I didn't know how that was going to go, if I'm honest. We had great fan support today. It feels really good, and I'm so happy that everyone came out here - fans, staff, players - with the right attitude, the right execution, and the right thing happened. We're here, we're home, we won - against a rival. It feels really good.''

New York Red Bulls Sporting Director Ali Curtis on the home support at Red Bull Arena home opener

Amid anger, Red Bulls quell fans with impressive home debut (New York Post)

"Not at all. It was crazy. I couldn't believe it. I was hanging over the box I was in. When we scored the second goal, it was crazy. It was very surreal to hear the fans and how loud they were, screaming, chanting N-Y-C and New York City

New York City FC Sporting Director Claudio Reyna on if he thought the home opener at Yankee Stadium would have been as successful as it was when he joined the team a year ago

New York City FC relishes grand debut at Yankee Stadium (FoxSports.com)

"I have tough decisions to make. I remember 12 months ago, you could probably (easily) pick my best 11. Now, we've suddenly got a stronger squad. And that's the only way you improve as a club, you always bring in better players than you have to increase the competition."

Vancouver Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson on the welcomed challenge of choosing a starting 11 from a deep squad

Lineup decisions get tougher for Whitecaps (Vancouver Sun)

"One of the big reasons I went there is because I do take pride in my academics. I think it's surprising especially when you look at a sport like soccer. The amount of quality teams that have been produced in the Ivy League and just how competitive the league is from top to bottom."

Montreal Impact rookie standout Cameron Porter on why he attended Princeton University and the quality of soccer in the Ivy League

Cameron Porter uses head and feet to find success at Montreal Impact (The Guardian)

Sweet Tweets

Fatai Alashe ( @FataiPrince27 ): What an amazing day yesterday was! Quite an experience scoring my first professional goal as well as- https://instagram.com/p/0knvwQMB-k/

https://twitter.com/FataiPrince27/status/580000921419051008

Khiry Shelton ( @khirtyshelton14 ): What a blessing it is to have been called up to the U-23 National team. Off we go.. #USA #USMNTU23 #NYCFC #Godisgood #Blessed #Humbled

https://twitter.com/khiryshelton14/status/579838461479358464

Bradley Wright-Phillips ( @TheRealBWP ): Mood, proud of the boys tonight, great team effort #rbny https://instagram.com/p/0jP6Z9wGRX/

https://twitter.com/TheRealBWP/status/579808123315208192

Brad Davis ( @Brad_Davis11 ): Can't believe last night was my 300th game in a Dynamo kit. It's been an honor and a pleasure. Thanks for all the kind words. #moretocome

https://twitter.com/Brad_Davis11/status/579700019302776832

Sebastian Velasquez ( @TiaN_Futbol ): HaHaHa Sitting RIGHT Next To @Guaje7Villa Lets See Who Falls Asleep First

https://twitter.com/TiaN_Futbol/status/578644892248854528

Patrice Bernier ( @pbernier10 ): Thank you to all for great support to club and team. Crowd and noise like that don't happen everywhere. #ImpactFans #montreal

https://twitter.com/pbernier10/status/578402111081299968

Week Four Game Previews

Saturday, March 28

New England Revolution vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 3 p.m. ET

- The Revolution were shut out for a third consecutive match to start the season, but took their first point following a scoreless draw with the Montr?al Impact on Saturday. The longest a team has gone without scoring from the start of the season was in 2007, when Toronto FC started the year without a goal in 383 minutes. The Revolution saw their overall league scoreless drought reach 325 minutes, dating back to last season.

- Rookie Fatai Alashe scored the first goal in Avaya Stadium history as the Earthquakes inaugurated their new stadium with a 2-1 win against the Chicago Fire. It was the second win in a row for the Quakes after putting an end to a 16-game winless streak dating back to last August.

- Ty Harden - making his 100th career league appearance - scored his first MLS goal and also assisted on the Quakes' opener.

- The Revolution have won the last two meetings between the teams over the last two seasons, including a 2-1 win at Buck Shaw Stadium last year in the only match between the clubs.

- The Revolution won 2-0 in 2013 in the last meeting at Gillette Stadium; that was their first home win vs. the Quakes since the 2009 season. That win in 2013 ended a five-game New England winless run vs. San Jose.

Montreal Impact vs. Orlando City FC, 4 p.m. ET

- The Impact are still looking for their first league goal of the season, reaching a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution in their second MLS game of the season. The Impact have scored five goals in three CONCACAF Champions League matches in 2015.

- Orlando City SC were shut out for the first time and lost for the first time in their MLS history, seeing Vancouver Whitecaps score the game's only goal deep in stoppage time for a victory Saturday evening at the Citrus Bowl.

- Orlando City saw their shutout streak put to an end after 194 minutes with the dramatic Vancouver goal, the longest goalless skein in MLS so far this season.

New York City FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7 p.m. ET

- New York City FC are still undefeated for their MLS history, following a scoreless draw at the Colorado Rapids on Saturday afternoon. The three games unbeaten to start matches the longest undefeated run by any expansion team in league annals (Seattle Sounders FC won their first three matches before losing in 2009).

- NYCFC have also recorded back-to-back shutouts, the 180 minutes without conceding tied for second-longest in MLS this season.

- Sporting KC saw their season-opening winless run extended to three games with a second draw, after reaching a scoreless result with the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening in Kansas City. Sporting saw their overall league winless streak extended to five games dating back to last year, matching the longest since going 10 games without a victory during the 2011 season.

D.C. United vs. LA Galaxy, 7 p.m. ET

- United lost their first league match of the season, falling 2-0 to archrivals New York Red Bulls on Sunday afternoon in New Jersey.

- The Galaxy are still undefeated on the new season, but played to a second consecutive draw in their 1-1 result with the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening at StubHub Center. Jose Villarreal recorded an assist for a second consecutive match after scoring in the season opener, setting up Robbie Keane's second goal of the season.

- The Galaxy won the lone meeting between the teams last year, a 4-1 win Aug. 27 at StubHub Center, extending their home undefeated streak vs. United to nine years and eight matches.

- United have not defeated the Galaxy at RFK Stadium since 2008. The Galaxy have won one of the four meetings in Washington since, with three draws.

Columbus Crew SC vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET

- Crew SC return to action after a weekend off, winning their first game of the year on March 14 with a 2-0 win against Toronto FC in Columbus.

- Lloyd Sam netted his second goal in as many games as the Red Bulls won for the first time under new head coach Jesse Marsch, a 2-0 victory against D.C. United on Sunday afternoon. The Red Bulls have a win and a draw in their two games to start the season.

- The teams evenly split their three meetings a season ago, each winning once with one draw. The tied game came in the only match in Columbus, a 1-1 result on April 26.

- Crew SC won 3-1 at Red Bull Arena on Oct. 19, their first win at the Red Bulls since 2010. The Red Bulls had won two of the four home meetings in between with two draws.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers, 8 p.m. ET

- Octavio Rivero extended his goalscoring streak to three games to start his MLS career in dramatic fashion, netting the game's only tally late in stoppage time to give Whitecaps FC a second consecutive victory, against Orlando City SC on Saturday evening.

- The Timbers reached their third draw in as many matches to open the new season, playing to a scoreless draw for a second time this year in their match Saturday evening at Sporting Kansas City.

- Whitecaps FC have won just once in 11 all-time MLS meetings between the teams, that victory coming June 1 at Providence Park, a wild 4-3 victory.

- The Timbers have won three of five meetings all-time at BC Place, including a 3-0 victory last Aug. 30 in the only meeting of the year in Vancouver.

Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m. ET

- The Dynamo extended their league undefeated streak vs. the LA Galaxy with a 1-1 draw Saturday evening at StubHub Center. The Dynamo haven't lost a regular season game to LA since 2011.

- The Rapids are still looking for their first goal in 2015 - but they have yet to take a loss, reaching a second scoreless draw of the campaign in their match with New York City FC in Saturday's opener at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids saw their overall goalless streak stretched to 420 minutes, extending to last season.

- The Rapids last lost to the Dynamo in league play in 2009, when the Dynamo took a 1-0 victory April 19 at Robertson Stadium. The Rapids have won four of the seven meetings since, with three draws.

- The Dynamo haven't won at Dick's Sporting Goods Park since 2008, with the Rapids winning the last two meetings in Commerce City, including a 3-0 win last June 1 in the only meeting between the teams.

FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 8:30 p.m. ET

- FC Dallas continued their perfect start to the 2015 season, winning their third match in as many starts in a weather-delayed 2-0 match at Philadelphia Union on Saturday afternoon. FCD has opened a season with three consecutive wins for the second time in club history, the first since 1998; they are the only team with maximum points in MLS this season.

- Sounders FC return to action after a weekend off, following their opening match victory with a 3-2 defeat by the San Jose Earthquakes on March 14 in their second game this season at CenturyLink Field. Clint Dempsey netted after just 17 seconds, the sixth-fastest goal in MLS history and his third goal of the season, still in a tie atop the MLS Golden Boot standings.

- Sounders FC won two of the three league meetings between the teams a year ago, including a 3-2 win on April 12 at Toyota Stadium, their third win in seven encounters all-time in Frisco.

- The teams also met in the Western Conference Semifinals. They reached a 1-1 draw at Toyota Stadium in the first leg, then played to a scoreless draw in the second leg in Seattle, with Sounders FC advancing on away goals.

Sunday, March 29

Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

- The Fire saw their season-opening losing streak reach three games, falling 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes in the opening of Avaya Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Harry Shipp scored the first goal of the year for the Fire, ending the club's season-opening goalless drought at 209 minutes.

- The Union saw their winless streak to open the season reach three games - but lost for the first time in 2015 in their 2-0 defeat to FC Dallas on Saturday afternoon at PPL Park in a game delayed a day by weather.

- The teams played to three draws in three meetings a year ago, two coming at Toyota Park and one at PPL Park.

- The Fire haven't won at home vs. Union since 2012; Philadelphia has won two of the four Bridgeview meetings since, with two draws. The Fire have come away with points on their last two trips to Chester.

Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1)

- RSL return to action after a weekend off, playing to a second draw in two games in their last game, a 3-3 draw with Philadelphia Union at Rio Tinto Stadium on March 14.

- Jamison Olave scored a goal - and was also credited with an own goal - in the RSL draw, the first player in MLS history to score a goal for both clubs in the same game on two occasions (he also did it in 2013 for the New York Red Bulls).

- Toronto FC also return to action after a weekend off, their last match a 2-0 defeat at Columbus Crew SC which followed a 3-1 win at Vancouver. It's the third game in TFC's seven-match road swing to start the season while BMO Field undergoes expansion.

- RSL has won three consecutive meetings vs. Toronto FC over the last three seasons, including a 3-0 victory last March 29 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

- RSL has won every meeting between the teams at Rio Tinto Stadium and have lost at home to TFC just once in seven meetings - a 2-1 Toronto FC victory on July 4, 2007 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the first ever meeting ever between the clubs.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 23, 2015


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