MLS Major League Soccer

This Week in MLS

Published on June 14, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Rookie watch: Class of 2011 making contributions

As the 2011 season nears the halfway point, a large number of rookies have made their mark across the league. Several players selected in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft have stepped into starting roles. Players in their first professional season are eligible for the Gatorade Rookie of the Year award. Those with previous professional experience, like draftees Joao Plata and Paolo Cardozo, are eligible for the Newcomer of the Year award.

First-round selections in 2011 with more than three appearances thru June 12:

Omar Salgado (Vancouver Whitecaps FC): 9 GP, 2 GS, 1 G, 0 A

Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers): 10 GP, 5 GS

Perry Kitchen (D.C. United): 10 GP, 9 GS, 1 G, 0 A

Zarek Valentin (Chivas USA): 11 GP, 10 GS

AJ Soares (New England Revolution): 13 GP, 13 GS

Jalil Anibaba (Chicago Fire): 10 GP, 10 GS, 0 G, 1 A

CJ Sapong (Sporting Kansas City): 12 GP, 8 GS, 1 G, 2 A

Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo): 15 GP, 14 GS, 4 G, 1 A

Rich Balchan (Columbus Crew): 13 GP, 13 GS, 1 G, 0 A

Corey Hertzog (New York Red Bulls): 4 GP, 0 GS

Justin Meram (Columbus Crew): 4 GP, 1 GS, 0 G, 1 A

Bobby Warshaw (FC Dallas): 7 GP, 1 GS

Other rookies who have made an impact include:

Michael Farfan (Philadelphia Union): 4 GP, 3 GS, 1 G, 1 A

Stephen McCarthy (New England Revolution): 13 GP, 12 GS, 1 G

Servando Carrasco (Seattle Sounders FC): 7 GP, 4 GS

Anthony Ampaipitakwong (San Jose Earthquakes): 8 GP, 3 GS, 0 G, 2 A

Chris Korb (D.C. United): 10 GP, 9 GS, 1 G, 0 A

Ethan White (D.C. United): 9 GP, 8 GS

2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game voting update: Donovan, Beckham, Marquez and Keller lead

Fan voting for the First XI players to be named MLS All-Stars launched last Wednesday. Through almost one full week of voting, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Rafa Marquez and Kasey Keller lead at their respective positions - having received the most combined votes from the online ballot and text voting. Twitter voting will occur June 17-20. Online and text voting concludes July 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Quotables

"It felt good. I was just telling somebody I think I have 75 percent of my goals against former teams."

-- Toronto FC striker Alan Gordon, after his second goal of the game, in stoppage time, gave his team a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy

"It's frustrating because we know we should still be two points ahead of New York. And [Real Salt Lake] didn't create anything, just the one shot."

-- Philadelphia Union manager Peter Nowak after their 1-1 home draw with Real Salt Lake

"We looked like young kids tonight. This is going to happen. We've always said it, that we're going to have games like this, where young kids make mistakes. That I can live with. The commitment and the energy that we didn't show at times in that game was unacceptable."

-- D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen after the 4-2 loss to San Jose

"I'm speechless for sure. That's an absolutely unbelievable goal." -- Sounders FC defender James Riley.

"That's going to be one of the world's greatest goals of 2011." - Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon.

"I closed my eyes and shot. I had a lot of luck there." - Whitecaps FC striker Eric Hassli

-- All three after Hassli's "wonder goal" in the 2-2 draw between Seattle and Vancouver

"During Wednesday's match with Real Salt Lake, while caught up in the emotion of trying to help my team win, I made some poor decisions that I regret. For that, I want to apologize to my teammates and coaches, the club and the fans."

-- Crew designated player Andrés Mendoza, in a statement

"Experience has taught me patience. When the goals come, they're going to come in bunches. No pressure. I'm happy. I'm happy for Mendoza. ... The fans want (the record) for me and it's an emotional thing for them. But the goal was important for Mendoza and this organization. We need to support him. He needs that love from us."

-- Crew striker Jeff Cunningham, after Mendoza took a penalty kick Wednesday, with Cunningham still one goal away from tying Jaime Moreno for the all-time MLS goalscoring lead

Sweet Tweets

@lancearmstrong - June 9

Here in KC for the opening of @LIVESTRONGPark. Thanks @SportingKC. Excited to be your partner.

@SoccerByIves - June 12

Taking a tour of @LIVESTRONGPark in KC. Place is beautiful. The bar for new MLS stadiums has been set VERY high.

@Deadspin - June 12

Watch Eric Hassli's MLS Goal Of The Year http://deadspin.com/5811162/

@ChrisTierney8 - June 12

Ridiculous goals in MLS this weekend. This league is legit

@alexilalas22 - June 13

Please forgive me, I've watched the replay of Brek Shea's goal more times than Eric Hassli's. #roadlesstraveled #MLS

@BrianStraus - June 14

Ppl still debating Hassli-Zusi. Nuts! Hitting moving ball out of air w/ D chasing v hitting still ball w/ no time pressure/danger #NoContest

According to the Elias Sports Bureau: Disciplinary measures on decline

A look at the number of cards issued in the wake of early-season injuries suggests that MLS officials have delivered a message and the players have responded with restraint. Three high-profile fouls occurred in a span of 16 days starting April 22, during a month when a record-high number of red cards were issued (18). But only six players saw red in 43 MLS matches during May, the second-lowest average in a full month over the last five seasons. The numbers are similarly low so far in June: 3 reds in 21 matches.

Yellows have been issued sparingly over the past six weeks as well. There have been an average of 3.0 cautions per game issued during May and June, compared to 3.7 per game during March and April.

Week 14 match previews: June 15-19, 2011 (home team listed first; all times ET)

Wednesday, June 15

New England Revolution vs. Toronto FC, 8 p.m. (TSN)

- Despite coming back for a stirring 2-2 with the LA Galaxy, TFC is winless in its last six games. The Revolution have lost four in a row after their 2-1 defeat at New York.

- Zak Boggs scored for the Revolution in their 2-1 loss at New York, the Revolution's first goal from open play in 601 minutes (since April 23). New England's last two goals (over a six-game span) came from a free kick and a penalty kick.

- Alan Gordon came off the bench for his first appearance since April 30 and scored two goals against his former club in the 2-2 draw at the LA Galaxy. In his first game for Chivas USA after being traded by the Galaxy, he also scored.

- The Revolution have never lost to Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium. In five meetings all-time, the Revs have won four, including a 4-1 win last year, with one draw.

Friday, June 17

Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 8:30 p.m. (FOX Soccer)

- Steven Lenhart scored his first professional hat trick - his first since he was at Azusa Pacific University - in San Jose's 4-1 win against D.C. United. All four of Lenhart's goals this season have come in the last two games, with 2010 MLS Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski on U.S. national team duty.

- The Quakes are riding a six-game unbeaten streak, with back-to-back wins twice and 14 goals scored in that stretch.

- Sporting Kansas City returned to the road after opening their new Livestrong Sporting Park and won for the first time in 11 games (since First Kick) in a 4-1 win at FC Dallas.

- San Jose hasn't won on their last five trips to Kansas City, since a 2-0 victory in 2004 - the last win by a road team in the series. Kansas City last won at San Jose in 2000.

Saturday, June 18

Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7 p.m.

- Sounders FC extended their unbeaten run to six games (2-0-4) in the 2-2 draw with Vancouver. While a buoying late 2-2 with the LA Galaxy.

- Mauro Rosales and Osvaldo Alonso each scored their first goals of the season. It was the first MLS goal for Rosales; Alonso has scored one goal in each of his three seasons in the league.

- Eight different players have scored the last eight goals for Seattle, including the first goal of the season for five players (Rosales, Alonso, Jeff Parke, Patrick Ianni, Lamar Neagle).

- Sounders FC claimed a 3-0 victory in the first meeting between the teams, behind two goals from Brad Evans, April 30 at Qwest Field.

New England Revolution vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m.

- The Fire won for the first time under interim head coach Frank Klopas in the 1-0 victory at Columbus, snapping their winless streak at a club-record 11 games.

- Cristian Nazarit scored his first MLS goal, coming off the bench as a late substitute after making starts in each of his first three league appearances, the Fire's first goal after back-to-back scoreless draws.

- After returning between the posts on May 28, goalkeeper Sean Johnson has recorded shutouts in each of his last three games. The Fire have a 286-minute shutout streak alive.

- On eight occasions from 2000-09, these two teams met in the MLS Cup Playoffs - including three times (2003, '05, '07) with a trip to MLS Cup on the line. Each team advanced on four occasions.

Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew, 8:30 p.m.

- The Dynamo won for the first time since April 29 in Saturday's 2-1 victory, extending their Robertson Stadium unbeaten streak vs. Chivas USA to nine.

- Brad Davis contributed his league-leading ninth assist, leading the Dynamo comeback in their 2-1 win against Chivas USA. Three of his assists have come on set piece services.

- After taking (and scoring) the penalty kick that could have given Jeff Cunningham a share of the all-time MLS goalscoring lead, Crew striker Andrés Mendoza issued an apology. In the 1-0 home loss to Chicago on Sunday, the Crew did not register a single shot on goal.

- The Crew have never won at Robertson Stadium. But in five all-time meetings there, the Dynamo have won just once (2-0 in 2008); the other four results have been draws.

Colorado Rapids vs. LA Galaxy, 9 p.m.

- The Rapids ended their consecutive draw streak at six just in the nick of time in the 1-0 win at Portland. The six straight with a draw was the most ever in a single MLS season, and equaled the mark set by San Jose over the conclusion of the 2004 season and the start of 2005.

- The Galaxy saw their shutout streak come to an end at 479 minutes against Toronto FC, the second-longest in MLS this season (behind FC Dallas' 521 minutes) and the second-longest in club history, after a 521-minute stretch from the end of 2009 and the start of 2010.

- The Galaxy have allowed four goals in the final 10 minutes of games that have cost them points. LA has given up late goals at D.C. United, at FC Dallas, at Philadelphia and vs. Toronto FC, costing the team a total of seven possible points.

- The road team won each of two meetings between the teams last year. The Rapids have defeated the Galaxy on each of their last two trips to The Home Depot Center.

Real Salt Lake vs. D.C. United, 9 p.m.

- After going two games without seeing the field, Fabian Espindola has made four straight starts for Real and scored two goals in that time, including the equalizer in the 1-1 draw at Philadelphia.

- D.C. United allowed four goals for a fourth time this season in the home loss to San Jose - by far the most in MLS this season. United have allowed 24 goals this season, one fewer than Toronto FC.

- After recording a pair of assists in the 3-2 win against Portland two weeks earlier, rookie Blake Brettschneider scored his first MLS goal against San Jose.

- Since a 3-1 win against RSL in their first trip to Utah, United have lost on their last five trips to the Wasatch Front since 2006, outscored 13-3.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 10 p.m.

- Vancouver's Eric Hassli recorded his second two-goal game in MLS in the draw against Seattle, including a stunning strike for the 85th-minute equalizer.

- Whitecaps FC's winless streak has reached 14 games - the third-longest in MLS history. It's now the longest ever within a single season; the league record is 18 games without a victory set by Real Salt Lake from Aug. 10, 2005 to May 6, 2006.

- Philadelphia Union remain one of three teams in MLS unbeaten at home (4-0-3), along with LA (4-0-4) and Sporting KC (0-0-1).

- The teams met for the first time on March 26, a Carlos Ruiz goal in the 77th minute giving Union the victory at PPL Park.

Chivas USA vs. FC Dallas, 10:30 p.m.

- FC Dallas saw their nine-game unbeaten streak come to a halt in the 4-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City. It was the most goals FCD had allowed since a 4-2 at Real Salt Lake, July 24, 2009.

- Since returning from his four-game suspension, Marcos Mondaini has scored in back-to-back games, netting the opener in the 2-1 loss at Houston. Mondaini has three goals in his last four appearances.

- Chivas USA are the only team in MLS below .500 at home, with a 2-3-2 mark at The Home Depot Center. Five teams (Toronto, Kansas City, D.C., Chicago and Vancouver) are .500 on their home grounds.

- FC Dallas won both meetings in 2010, 2-1 at The Home Depot Center and 1-0 at Pizza Hut Park, a year after Chivas USA won both meetings (each by a 2-0 scoreline).

Sunday, June 19

Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls, 10 p.m. (Galavision)

- Thierry Henry scored his seventh goal of the season - all coming in his last eight appearances, since April 16 - in the 2-1 home win vs. New England. Henry is now second in the MLS Golden Boot race, one behind the LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan.

- The Red Bulls won for the first time since April 30 (six games) in defeating the Revolution, also stopping a stretch of four consecutive draws.

- The Timbers have now lost three consecutive games for the first time in their MLS history, the last two by 1-0 scorelines. They've also lost two in a row at Jeld-Wen Field after winning their first five home games.

- The Timbers have been held without a goal in consecutive games for the first time in MLS.

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 14, 2011


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