MLS Major League Soccer

Red Bulls Look to Make History, Win Shield -- This Week in MLS

Published on October 21, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


The New York Red Bulls enter the final week of Major League Soccer's regular season controlling their own destiny in their quest to win the Supporters' Shield and bring the club, one of the League's original franchises, their first major trophy in their 18-year history.

Tim Cahill scored just eight seconds into the Red Bulls' 3-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday - the fastest goal in MLS history - to put the club on the brink of history. With 56 points the Red Bulls hold a one-point lead over Sporting Kansas City, a two-point advantage over the Portland Timbers, and a three-point lead on Real Salt Lake.

All that stands between the Red Bulls and the Shield, which is awarded annually to the team with the most regular season points, is the Chicago Fire, who come to Red Bull Arena Sunday (5 p.m. ET, UniMas) looking to secure a playoff spot. With Salt Lake playing Wednesday night, and Kansas City and Portland playing Saturday, New York will know before it takes the field if it needs the full three points to earn its first silverware.

Here are the full Supporters' Shield scenarios:

New York Red Bulls will clinch the Supporters' Shield IF

- New York Red Bulls win vs. Chicago Fire on Sunday

OR

- New York Red Bulls tie vs. Chicago Fire on Sunday AND

- Sporting Kansas City lose or tie vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday

OR

- New York Red Bulls lose vs. Chicago Fire on Sunday AND

- Sporting Kansas City lose vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday AND

- Portland Timbers lose or tie vs. Chivas USA on Saturday AND

- Real Salt Lake lose or tie vs. Chivas USA on Wednesday

Sporting Kansas City will clinch the Supporters' Shield IF

- Sporting Kansas City win vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday AND

- New York Red Bulls tie or lose vs. Chicago Fire on Sunday

Portland Timbers will clinch the Supporters' Shield IF

- Portland Timbers win vs. Chivas USA on Saturday AND

- New York Red Bulls lose vs. Chicago Fire on Sunday AND

- Sporting Kansas City tie or lose vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday

Real Salt Lake will clinch the Supporters' Shield IF

- Real Salt Lake win vs. Chivas USA on Wednesday

AND

- Sporting Kansas City tie or lose vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday AND

- Kansas City does not score 8 more goals than RSL

AND

- New York Red Bulls lose vs. Chicago Fire on Sunday AND

- New York does not score 3 more goals than RSL

AND

- Portland Timbers tie or lose vs. Chivas USA on Saturday

Playoff Scenarios

Montréal Impact will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- Montréal Impact win vs. Toronto FC on Saturday

OR

- New England Revolution tie or lose vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday

OR

- Houston Dynamo tie or lose vs. D.C. United on Sunday

OR

- Montréal Impact tie vs. Toronto FC on Saturday AND

- Chicago Fire lose vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday OR

- Chicago Fire do not score 5 goals more than MTL in tie vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday

OR

- Montréal Impact lose vs. Toronto FC on Saturday AND

- Chicago Fire do not score 5 goals more than MTL in loss vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday

Chicago Fire will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- Chicago Fire win vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday

OR

- New England Revolution tie or lose vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday

OR

- Houston Dynamo tie or lose vs. D.C. United on Sunday

OR

- Chicago Fire tie vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday AND

- Score 5 goals more than MTL does in tie vs. Toronto FC on Saturday OR

- Montréal Impact lose vs. Toronto FC on Saturday

OR

- Chicago Fire lose vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday AND

- Score 5 goals more than MTL does in loss vs. Toronto FC on Saturday

New England Revolution will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- New England Revolution win vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday

AND

- Montréal Impact tie or lose vs. Toronto FC on Saturday OR

- Chicago Fire tie or lose vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday OR

- Houston Dynamo tie or lose vs. D.C. United on Sunday OR

- Houston Dynamo do not score 9 goals more than NE in win vs. D.C. United on Sunday

OR

- New England Revolution tie vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday

AND

- Houston Dynamo lose vs. D.C. United on Sunday OR

- Houston Dynamo do not score 10 goals more than NE in tie vs. D.C. United on Sunday

AND

- Philadelphia Union tie or lose vs. Sporting Kansas City on Saturday OR

- Philadelphia Union do not score 8 goals more than NE in win vs. Sporting Kansas City on Sunday

OR

- New England Revolution lose vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday

AND

- Houston Dynamo lose and do not score 10 goals more than NE vs. D.C. United on Sunday

AND

- Philadelphia Union tie or lose vs. Sporting Kansas City on Saturday

Houston Dynamo will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- Houston Dynamo win vs. D.C. United on Sunday

AND

- Montréal Impact tie or lose vs. Toronto FC on Saturday OR

- Chicago Fire tie or lose vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday OR

- New England Revolution tie or lose vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday OR

- Score 10 goals more than NE does in win vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday

OR

- Houston Dynamo tie vs. D.C. United on Sunday

AND

- New England Revolution lose vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday OR

- Score 10 goals more than NE does in tie vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday

AND

- Philadelphia Union tie or lose vs. Sporting Kansas City on Saturday OR

- Score 2 goals than PHI does in win vs. Sporting Kansas City on Sunday

OR

- Houston Dynamo lose vs. D.C. United on Sunday

AND

- Score 10 goals more than NE does in loss vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday

AND

- Philadelphia Union tie or lose vs. Sporting Kansas City on Saturday

Philadelphia Union will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- Philadelphia Union win vs. Sporting Kansas City on Saturday AND

- New England Revolution lose vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday AND

- Houston Dynamo lose vs. D.C. United on Sunday

Colorado Rapids will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- Colorado Rapids win or tie vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday

OR

- San Jose Earthquakes tie or lose vs. FC Dallas on Saturday

OR

- Colorado Rapids lose vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday AND

- San Jose Earthquakes win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

- San Jose does not score 13 more goals than Colorado

San Jose Earthquakes will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- San Jose Earthquakes win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

- Colorado Rapids lose vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday AND

- San Jose scores 13 more goals than Colorado

New York Red Bulls, Sporting Kansas City, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC have clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

D.C. United, Toronto FC, Chivas USA, FC Dallas Columbus Crew and Vancouver Whitecaps FC have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Week 35 National Broadcasts

Saturday, October 26

Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City, 3:00 p.m. ET (NBC SN)

Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact, 4:00 p.m. ET (TSN, UDN, RDS)

San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas, 5:30 p.m. ET (NBC SN)

Sunday, October 27

D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo, 1:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

New York Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire, 5 p.m. ET (UniMas)

Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Quotables

"He covers as much or more ground than anyone on that field, he wins as many or more tackles than anybody on that field, is involved in decisive plays as many times or more times as anybody on the field...Incredibly important player for them and somebody we'll need to be mindful of."

Real Salt Lake Coach Jason Kreis on Portland Timbers midfielder and former RSL player Will Johnson

"I am very pleased to be back with the Impact in 2014...After discussions with my family, it was clear that I wanted to keep playing and I am happy to be in Montreal for another season."

Marco Di Vaio on his decision to return to the Impact in 2014

"Days like today you're reminded of exactly how old you are and how many games you've played...As a player, it's nice to show that you've been around and you've been relevant for a while, so to get to 250 games is a big milestone."

New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis on making his 250th career appearance

"I think one of the great things about our run is we're playing the best teams in the Western Conference...We're playing Seattle, we're playing LA Galaxy, we're playing Colorado, we're playing Salt Lake, and we've done well against those teams. I think that gives us a lot of confidence going into the postseason."

Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter on his team's recent on-field success

"It was set up the way we do in training, and it paid off; let me bring the ball down and it sat nicely and put it away from the goalkeeper in the goal...It's nice when you come away especially in such a big game and you get an early lead. But to get it that early was pretty special.''

Tim Cahill on scoring the fastest goal in MLS history

"I've gotten hundreds of nice messages from Mexican supporters through Twitter, and it's pretty funny how this has all kind of panned out...Mexico is such a rival for us, to see them thankful of the U.S. team and the players, it's fun."

Graham Zusi on scoring the equalizer in the 92nd minute of the U.S. national team's 3-2 victory over Panama

Sweet Tweets

‏@Krowe210 - October 21 - Kelyn Rowe, New England Revolution

If you ever doubted our determination, our passion, our commitment to this sport... Think again. #NERevs http://instagram.com/p/fuw4CqtE9t/

‏@Tim_Cahill - October 20 - Tim Cahill, New York Red Bulls

Great to see Tony Parker today before the game and support @NewYorkRedBulls #SanAntonioSpurs massive win today pic.twitter.com/FI7JuD5boY

‏@NickRimando - October 20 - Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake

If your haven't watched a @TimbersFC game at Jeld-Wen Field you might want to add that to your bucket list.

@JoeCannonGK1 - October 15 - Joe Cannon, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Montezuma has vowed to be gentler during the upcoming tourist season. #CONCACAF

‏@JebBrovsky - October 15 - Jeb Brovsky, Columbus Crew

Beautiful pale skin...Spot on!"@H1ZUMI: @JebBrovsky so identical!! #IMFC #FIFA14 pic.twitter.com/0ls8YwX2Li"

MLS Week 35 Previews

Wednesday, October 23

Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas USA, 9 p.m.

- Real have a win and two draws in their last three matches, clinching a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs for a sixth consecutive season following their scoreless draw at Portland on Saturday evening.

- Chivas USA have lost their last three matches and have not scored in the last two, suffering their biggest loss ever in a SuperClásico in their last match, the 5-0 loss to the LA Galaxy on Oct. 6.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and Real have won both previous. Ned Grabavoy scored a pair of goals - the first multiple-goal game of his 10-year MLS career - as RSL rolled to a 4-1 win May 19 in Carson. Javier Morales scored the game's only goal early in the second half on April 20 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

- Real took the lead in the all-time series between the expansion class of 2005. Coming into the last meeting, each team had won 10 times in 24 all-time matches, each scoring 30 goals.

Saturday, October 26

Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City, 3 p.m. (NBCSN)

- José Kléberson set up a goal for the second consecutive match - his first two MLS assists - but Union saw their playoff hopes take a massive hit in a 2-1 Montréal Impact come-from-behind win on Saturday afternoon.

- Sporting Kansas City have recorded three consecutive shutouts and have now not allowed a goal in 324 minutes, the fourth-longest streak in MLS this season, following their 1-0 win against D.C. United on Friday.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Conor Casey scored the game's only goal in a Union victory Sept. 27 at Sporting Park. Graham Zusi scored one goal and set up two others as Sporting Kansas City took a 3-1 win at PPL Park in the season opener on March 2.

- The road team has won both meetings this season, the first wins all-time by a road team in the series.

Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact, 4 p.m. (TSN, RDS)

- Karl W. Ouimette scored his first professional goal - perhaps the biggest goal in Impact club history - putting the club on the verge of a playoff berth in its second MLS season in a 2-1 win Saturday against Philadelphia Union. Marco Di Vaio scored the equalizer, tying for the MLS Golden Boot with his 20th goal.

- Toronto FC will conclude the season after coming off back-to-back 1-0 losses, last a defeat by the Chicago Fire over the weekend.

- Since coming to MLS, the Impact have not won in Toronto, with two losses and two draws in four meetings in all competitions at BMO Field.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season in league play. First-half goals from Patrice Bernier and Marco Di Vaio sent the Impact on their way to a 2-1 win March 16 in Montréal; the teams played to a wild 3-3 draw at BMO Field on July 3.

- The teams also met in the semifinals of the Canadian Championship. TFC won the first leg 2-0 at home, but Di Vaio scored two and set up two others as the Impact won the second leg 6-0 on their way to a second Canadian national title.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas, 5:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

- The Earthquakes must defeat FC Dallas and score 13 or more goals and have Colorado lose to Vancouver if they are to gain a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs, after their scoreless draw Sunday at the LA Galaxy.

- FC Dallas were victorious in Schellas Hyndman's final home game in charge as head coach, with a 2-0 win against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday afternoon. Hyndman is stepping down following the season finale.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Fabian Castillo scored the game's lone goal in the 33rd minute for an FC Dallas victory May 25 in Frisco; a Michel penalty kick capped an FCD comeback from two goals down for a 2-2 draw Aug. 24.

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

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

- Portland Timbers have reached the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in their third MLS season following their scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

- Donovan Ricketts recorded his 13th shutout in the draw with RSL, tied with Sporting KC's Jimmy Nielsen for the league lead.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Rodney Wallace, Diego Valeri and Will Johnson all scored in a 3-0 Timbers victory, May 12 in Portland; the teams reached a 1-1 draw Sept. 14 at StubHub Center.

- Chivas has won four of the seven meetings all-time in the league series - all three meetings between the teams a season ago, including both matches at Jeld-Wen Field. The Timbers did win a U.S. Open Cup play-in game between teams in 2010.

Sunday, October 27

D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo, 1:30 p.m. (NBC)

- D.C. United come into their season finale needing a victory not to finish with the fewest victories ever in an MLS season. United have won three times in 33 MLS games this season; Chivas USA finished 4-22-6 in 2005.

- The Dynamo have been shut out in back-to-back matches, following their 3-0 home loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and the Dynamo have won the first two. An own goal and a goal from Warren Creavalle in the final 10 minutes gave the Dynamo a 2-0 win to open the season, March 2 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Will Bruin scored twice as the Dynamo rolled to a 4-0 win May 8 in Houston, maintaining their all-time home unbeaten record vs. United.

- United's 3-2 home win in the first meeting a season ago was their first against Houston at home since 2009.

Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution, 4 p.m.

- The teams are meeting in the back end of a home-and-home series to conclude the season. Diego Fagundez's late game-winner kept the Revolution playoff hopes alive and officially eliminated the Crew in a 3-2 win Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

- Defenders A.J. Soares and Chris Tierney each scored their first goals of the season to stake the Revolution to leads in the win against Columbus.

- Dominic Oduro scored his 13th goal, setting a new single-season career-high, for the Crew in the New England loss.

- In the first meeting this season, Jose Gonçalves and Diego Fagundez both scored in second-half stoppage time to give the Revolution a dramatic 2-0 win July 20 at Crew Stadium, the Revolution's first win in Columbus since a 1-0 victory on the final day of the 2009 season that gave them a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

New York Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire, 5 p.m. (UniMas)

* The Red Bulls can claim the Supporters' Shield - the first major honor in the club's history - with a win vs. Chicago.

* Tim Cahill's goal after 8 seconds - the earliest goal in MLS history - sent the Red Bulls on their way to a 3-0 win Sunday in Houston, extending their undefeated streak to seven matches. The club record is nine games without loss, set in 2000.

* Mike Magee scored the game's only goal, and remained in a tie for the MLS Golden Boot with his 20th tally of the season, keeping the Fire's playoff hopes intact in a home win against Toronto FC on Saturday.

* The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Maicon Santos scored twice as the Fire claimed a 3-1 victory on April 7 at Red Bull Arena.

- The Fire won the final meeting between the teams last season, a 2-0 win at Red Bull Arena on Oct. 6, their first away win in the series since the 2009 season. The Red Bulls have never won at Toyota Park.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 8 p.m.

- The teams are meeting in the back end of a home-and-home series to end the season. Gabriel Torres scored twice, including the stunning game-winner from long distance, as the Rapids maintained their playoff hopes and officially eliminated Whitecaps FC in a 3-2 win Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

- Gabriel Torres has netted three of the last four goals the Rapids have scored, while Deshorn Brown scored his 10th goal - one shy of the MLS rookie single-season record - leading Colorado to the win that left them on the verge of a playoff spot.

- 18-year-old Kekuta Manneh scored his fourth goal over the last three games and Camilo Sanvezzo scored his 19th goal - one off the MLS Golden Boot lead - for Whitecaps FC in Colorado.

- In the first meeting this year between the teams, Deshorn Brown and Edson Buddle scored to lead the Rapids to a 2-0 victory Aug. 17 in Commerce City, Colorado's first win vs. Whitecaps FC since 2011.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

- The Galaxy officially secured their 15th berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 19 seasons following their scoreless draw with San Jose on Sunday at StubHub Center, stretching their undefeated run to three games.

- Sounders FC also claimed a spot in the postseason thanks to the result in Carson, having reached the playoffs in all five of their MLS seasons, despite coming off a 2-0 defeat at FC Dallas, their club-record fourth consecutive loss and sixth game without a victory.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. The Galaxy scored four first-half goals - the most conceded by Sounders FC in their history - on their way to a 4-0 win May 26 in Carson. LA's Juninho and Seattle's Eddie Johnson traded goals in a 1-1 draw Sept. 21 at StubHub Center.

- In the last meeting, Sounders FC scored for the first time vs. the Galaxy in five meetings in Carson in league and MLS Cup play, since the 2010 season.

Check out the Major League Soccer Statistics

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



Major League Soccer Stories from October 21, 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