This Week in MLS
Published on May 10, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
Week 9 match schedule
(Home team listed first; all times Eastern)
Wednesday, May 11
Exhibition: Montreal Impact vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Union vs. LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Toronto FC, 9 p.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 14
Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire, 7 p.m.
D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
New England Revolution vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 7:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Philadelphia Union, 8:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo, 9 p.m. (FOX Soccer)
LA Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City, 10:30 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Columbus Crew, 10:30 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers, 11 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/ESPN3.com)
Sunday, May 15
New York Red Bulls vs. Chivas USA, 7 p.m. (Galavisión)
Cascadia Cup, MLS style, opens Saturday
On Saturday night at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2, Seattle Sounders FC host the Portland Timbers in the first of six regular season games featuring pageantry and noise levels that likely will rank among the best in MLS history. Although this is the first meeting in MLS between the clubs, they have a long history against each other, dating back to May 2, 1975, the Timbers' inaugural game in the NASL. The clubs have faced one another in the NASL, Western Soccer League, A-League/USL First Division and now MLS.
Saturday's matchup By The Numbers:
2: Consecutive Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles won by the Sounders, who ousted the Timbers from both the 2009 and 2010 competitions in front of capacity crowds in Portland.
2-0: Score of Portland's preseason win against Seattle on March 4, 2011 in Tukwila, Wash.
6: Months before the Timbers' first MLS game when they posted this billboard within blocks of Seattle's Qwest Field.
13: Points earned by each team thus far in the MLS standings. Portland has done so in two fewer games.
36: Years since the clubs' first meeting on May 2, 1975 - the Timbers' inaugural game in the NASL.
36: Consecutive sold out Sounders FC games at Qwest Field entering Saturday's contest.
75: Saturday marks the 75th all-time meeting between the clubs. Seattle is 39-27-8 against Portland.
$75: Average price for match tickets found Tuesday on a variety of resale web sites.
175: Miles between the two Pacific Northwest cities (about a three-hour drive).
500: Tickets sold directly to traveling supporters for Cascadia Cup matches.
1907: Year of the first Rose Festival in Portland. The Timbers will debut their "Rose City" road jersey on Saturday.
2008: Year of the last regular season league meeting between the clubs.
18,606: Fans who attended a preseason charity match between the clubs on March 11, 2010 at Qwest Field.
36,000+: Attendance at a sold out Qwest Field is expected to crest 36,000 for this match.
2: Specific goals that Portland owner Merritt Paulson declared in this interview for the club's first MLS season: "I want to make the playoffs and I want to beat Seattle."
According to the Elias Sports Bureau: Rivalry tales
The three-way Cascadia Cup derby has its predecessors in MLS history. A few statistical mileposts marking some of the more hotly-contested matchups to date (minimum: 25 head-to-head regular-season games):
- Most goals: D.C. United vs. FC Dallas, 3.5 per match
- Most fouls: D.C. United vs. Chicago, 32.1 per match
- Highest attendance: LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United, 24,167 per match
The most evenly-matched rivalry to date is between the Galaxy and the Red Bulls, whose 36th regular-season meeting ended in a draw last Saturday at The Home Depot Center. Each team has won 15 games, with six draws. The Galaxy have outscored the Red Bulls by a single goal (53-52). And the one playoff meeting between them in September 2001 had to be decided by a sudden-death tie-breaker after the teams split their three-game series (one win apiece and a draw).
Quotables
"Last year, I didn't have the feeling that it was a rivalry or that type of game. But this year, with the (designated) players, the power strikers on both teams, it is a special game. A very good game -- probably the best you can see in MLS, this level between two teams. I can compare it with many leagues in Europe that would have been happy to see a game like this with the number of chances and technical level."
-- New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe, after the 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy.
"My take is, it should have been a goal. It was pretty close. Part of that ball was over the line for sure. Whether all of it was, I sure can't tell from where I am but it was a heck of a play from Landon and Ream."
-- LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena after New York's Tim Ream cleared a Landon Donovan shot off the line.
"Before the game I said that if I scored a goal I was going to dedicate it to the coach in response to the confidence he's had with me and the trust."
-- Toronto FC forward Joao Plata, through an interpreter, after scoring in his first MLS start
"We need to go and sign somebody who is creative in the next transfer window. It's something we're trying to do, something we're looking at now. We need to do that now. We need to be more creative."
-- New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol following the scoreless draw with Colorado
"No, you don't want to get into the hype, but obviously it's something that should be on the back of their minds now. They know it's Portland week and that should get them excited. If I have to spend a long time trying to impress that upon them then they haven't been living in the city long enough."
-- Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid on the upcoming clash with the Timbers
Sweet Tweets
@alexilalas22 - May 6
Only folks who love a rainy night more than Eddie Rabbitt are @TimbersArmy @TimbersFC #RCTID
@SteveDavis90 - May 7
All things considered, technical quality, star-quality, great theater, etc., first half Galaxy-Red Bulls about the best I've seen in MLS '11
@stevezakuani11 - May 7
What a game this is!!! Pure class from Landon, Henry, and Becks! Can't wait for 2nd half! Great football!
@javi_mo11 - May 8 (Javier Morales)
Thanks everyone for kind words, you make me stronger, I felt bad but you make me feel much better. I'll try to be back ASAP. THANKS!!!!
@JeremiahOshan - May 8
Cascadia Cup: ECS Sells Out Away-Ticket Allotment In 28 Minutes http://sbn.to/iwP6jy
@dwaynederosario - May 9
Rest and recoup for Wed. friendly in Montreal vs the Montreal Impact May 11 Wednesday 7:30PM at SAPUTO STADIUM
Joao Plata: Shortest player in "Big Five" leagues rises to occasion
Toronto FC striker Joao Plata was named the MLS Player of the Week after scoring a goal and setting up another in TFC's 2-1 win Saturday against the Houston Dynamo at BMO Field, his first MLS start.
Officially listed at 5-foot-2, Plata is the shortest player in MLS history, based on measures reported by the league's clubs. Before Plata, three players listed as 5-foot-3 shared the distinction of being the shortest players to appear in a League game: Antony De Avila (MetroStars, 1996-97); Paul Dougherty (MetroStars, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Colorado; 1998-2000); and Trevor Perea (Columbus, D.C. United, 2003).
According to research by Elias Sports Bureau, Official Statistician of Major League Soccer, from credible published sources, Plata is among the shortest players in the history of the major professional team sports leagues in North America. Note that heights are unknown for some players and published figures for heights can be unreliable.
MLB: Eddie Gaedel (3-7) - St. Louis Browns, 1951
NFL: Jack Shapiro (5-1) - Staten Island Stapletons, 1929
NBA: Muggsy Bogues (5-3) - Washington Bullets, 1987-88, Charlotte Hornets, 1988-97, Golden State Warriors, 1997-99, Toronto Raptors, 1999-2001
NHL: Darren Pang (5-5) - Chicago Blackhawks, 1985, 1987-89;
Bobby Lalonde (5-5) - Vancouver Canucks (1971-77), Atlanta Flames (1977-79), Boston Bruins (1979-81), Calgary Flames (1981)
Nathan Gerbe (5-5) - Buffalo Sabres (2008-11)
Plata is also the shortest player currently active in the "Big Five" North American leagues:
MLS: Joao Plata (5-2); Toronto FC
NBA: Earl Boykins (5-5); Milwaukee Bucks
NHL: Nathan Gerbe (5-5); Buffalo Sabres
NFL: Darren Sproles (5-6); San Diego Chargers
Stefan Logan (5-6); Detroit Lions
MLB: Tim Collins (5-7); Kansas City Royals
Week 9 match previews: May 11-15, 2011 (all times ET)
Wednesday, May 11
Philadelphia Union vs. LA Galaxy, 7:30 p.m.
- Union played to a sixth 1-0 result in seven matches last week in their loss at Portland. All four Philadelphia wins and both losses have come with 1-0 scorelines; the only difference is a 1-1 draw with Seattle.
- Landon Donovan has scored the last four goals for the Galaxy. Two of them have come on headers. In his MLS career, Donovan has not scored more than three headed goals in a season (2005).
- The clubs meet for the second time this season. A Leonardo goal gave the Galaxy a 1-0 win on April 2 at The Home Depot Center.
- The Galaxy have won all three meetings lifetime against Union, winning both encounters last year in Philadelphia's inaugural season.
FC Dallas vs. Toronto FC, 9 p.m.
- Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei leads MLS with 36 saves.
- Since losing 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira to injury, FC Dallas is unbeaten, coming back for a win against Vancouver, defeating the LA Galaxy then drawing at D.C. United.
- Since a 4-0 victory June 17, 2007 in the first meeting ever between the clubs, Toronto FC haven't defeated FC Dallas. FCD has won four of the seven encounters since, with three draws.
- FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman preserved his League-record 95th regular season shutout with a spectacular late stop against D.C. United's Fred.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10 p.m.
- San Jose returns to action after a weekend off and trying to put the skids on a three-game losing streak, their last match a 1-0 loss at Philadelphia on April 30.
- The Quakes will be without midfield creator Simon Dawkins for up to a couple of months after he underwent surgery on both calves last week to correct compartment syndrome. Dawkins has two goals this season after arriving on loan from English side Tottenham Hotspur.
- Whitecaps FC return home after back-to-back road games, getting a first point away from British Columbia in the scoreless draw with Chicago. The 'Caps have a win and three draws at Empire Field.
- While Whitecaps FC haven't won since First Kick, they did record their second shutout, while maintaining a back four of Alain Rochat, Greg Janicki, Mouloud Akloul and Jonathan Leathers for a third consecutive game. But U.S. international center back Jay Demerit could be ready to return to the lineup for the first time since April 10.
Saturday, May 14
Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire, 7 p.m.
- Fire goalkeeper Jon Conway recorded his first shutout since the 2007 season, when he was with the New York Red Bulls, in the weekend draw with Vancouver. Conway has made four starts in a row since taking over for Sean Johnson between the posts for Chicago, allowing four goals.
- TFC captain Maicon Santos was held out of the starting lineup for the game against Houston, but responded with his second goal of the season in a 15-minute substitute role, his first since the season opener.
- Toronto FC have yet to win at Toyota Park, the teams playing to three draws there, while the Fire have one win (in 2008).
D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
- For the first time since 2008 - and just the second time since Conor Casey arrived at the club - the Rapids played a game without either Casey or Omar Cummings in the scoreless draw at New England. The only other previous occasion was a 3-2 loss at the LA Galaxy on Oct. 12, 2008.
- After eight goals over a two-game stretch, D.C. United has allowed just one goal in the last two - that coming on a penalty kick.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Two goals from Caleb Folan and a late three-goal explosion (over the final 20 minutes) gave the Rapids a 4-1 win April 3 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
- Colorado won 1-0 at RFK Stadium last season, the Rapids' first victory in the nation's capital since 1999. United had won seven of the 11 intervening meetings at home, with four draws.
New England Revolution vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 7:30 p.m.
- The teams have already met this season. An goal from New England's Ilija Stolica three minutes into second-half stoppage time left the teams in a 1-1 draw, April 6 at Empire Field.
- Since that result, the Revolution have been shut out in four of five games. They did hit the back of the net three times in an April 23 victory against Sporting Kansas City.
- The Whitecaps are in a stretch of four weeks when they will play two games in a week - and for the second time in that period, a trip covering three time zones will be involved. When the 'Caps and Revolution met in April, the Revolution were at home both the weekend before and the weekend following.
- While Whitecaps FC haven't won in league play since the season opener, they have reached the final of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, where they will take on Toronto FC. The series will be played over two legs May 18 (in Vancouver) and May 25 (in Toronto), with the winner gaining a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League.
FC Dallas vs. Philadelphia Union, 8:30 p.m.
- When Gabriel and Michael Farfan started for Union in the 1-0 loss at Portland, it was the first time in MLS history twins played in the same game. Sainey (New England) and Sanna (Colorado, ex-Seattle) Nyassi - the first set of twins in MLS history - saw their clubs meet over their first two seasons together in the league, but the pair were never on the field at the same time.
- In the first two games after David Ferreira went down to injury, Eric Avila started in the midfield playmaking spot from which Ferreira won the 2010 MLS Most Valuable Player award. Avila played 69 minutes against LA before substituted by Ricardo Villar; he played 76 minutes against D.C. United last weekend before 19-year-old Ruben Luna came on in his place.
- After the teams played to a draw in their first-ever meeting last year in Philadelphia, FC Dallas came away 3-1 winners in the second, Aug. 8 at Pizza Hut Park.
Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo, 9 p.m. (FOX Soccer)
- Despite seeing a number of streaks come to an end in recent weeks, Real Salt Lake did extend their all-time MLS record home unbeaten streak in league games to 28 in the 1-0 win against Chivas USA. The visit by Houston is the second in a stretch of four out of five games at Rio Tinto Stadium.
- Houston designated player Koke made his first MLS start last weekend, in the 2-1 loss at Toronto FC.
- The Dynamo will again be without striker Brian Ching as he is suffering from plantar fasciitis in his foot. After starting the season with a hamstring ailment, Ching made his only 2011 start against New York on April 2, but suffered a rib injury that then sidelined him for another three weeks.
- While Real have yet to ever win at Robertson Stadium, the Dynamo have left Utah with the full three points just once - a 1-0 win in 2007 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
LA Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City, 10:30 p.m.
- Sporting could have Mexican international Omar Bravo against available, after he underwent sports hernia surgery. Bravo, who last played March 26, scored a pair of goals in his MLS debut against Chivas USA.
- Six of the Galaxy's first 12 goals this season came from dead ball situations - three from corner kicks, two from free kicks and one penalty kick.
- Kansas City won 2-0 against the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center last August, their first victory on the road against LA since the 2004 season.
- The Galaxy haven't defeated Kansas City since 2008, a 3-1 win in Carson on May 24. KC has won three of the five meetings since, with two draws.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Columbus Crew, 10:30 p.m.
- Emilio Renteria has scored the last four goals for the Crew, as the club has extended its unbeaten streak to seven games.
- Earthquakes defender Ike Opara, who scored the late game-winner in U.S. Open Cup qualifying against Portland last week, says he's nearing full fitness after missing much of last year with a broken foot.
- The teams played to draws in both meetings a season ago, a 2-2 result at Buck Shaw Stadium and a scoreless tie in Columbus.
- The Crew's recent success saw them climb to No. 4 overall in the MLSsoccer.com Power Rankings.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers, 11 p.m. (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/ESPN3.com)
- At least 500 vocal Timbers supporters will make the three-hour trip north for this match, the first installment in MLS of the famed Cascadia Cup rivalry that includes Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- The Timbers recorded a second consecutive shutout and won for the fourth time in four league games at home in defeating Philadelphia 1-0 on Friday.
- Sounders FC managed just one shot on goal at Columbus, but it was enough to secure a point as Fredy Montero scored his second goal of the season.
- The Timbers have scored three goals from free kicks this season - most in MLS - and four goals out of their 11 for the year have come from set pieces.
Sunday, May 15
New York Red Bulls vs. Chivas USA, 7 p.m. (Galavisión)
- In the Red Bulls' current four-game unbeaten run, Thierry Henry has four goals and three assists, playing a direct part in seven of New York's nine goals.
- The goal scored by Landon Donovan in the 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy snapped the Red Bulls' shutout streak at 333 minutes, second-longest in MLS this season (behind Columbus, 414 minutes, March 19-April 23). The Red Bulls have allowed three goals total on the campaign, tied with Philadelphia for second-fewest, one behind Real Salt Lake.
- Chivas USA saw their two-game winning streak and five-game unbeaten run come to an end in the 1-0 loss at Real Salt Lake. It was the club's longest undefeated streak in two seasons.
- Venezuelan forward Alejandro Moreno leads Chivas USA in goals (3) and assists (2).
Major League Soccer Stories from May 10, 2011
- Whitecaps FC Host Western Conference Rivals San Jose Earthquakes in Midweek MLS Action - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Sporting Kansas City Signs Defender Seth Sinovic - Sporting Kansas City
- This Week in MLS - MLS
- Los Angeles to Host 2011 MLS Cup, Host Sporting KC on Saturday - LA Galaxy
- Timbers to Play England's West Bromwich Albion at Jeld-Wen Field - Portland Timbers
- MLS Cup 2011 Awarded to Los Angeles - MLS
- Sounders FC Reserves Defeat Chivas USA 3-2 - Seattle Sounders FC
- Chivas USA Reserves Fall 3-2 Against Seattle Sounders Reserves - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
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