MLS Major League Soccer

This Week in MLS

Published on August 9, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


MLS Cup Playoff race update

With 11 weeks left in the 2011 MLS regular season, the LA Galaxy have opened up a six-point lead over FC Dallas atop the Western Conference standings and the race for the Supporters' Shield. In the East, the Columbus Crew hold a one-point lead over the Philadelphia Union for the top seed in that side of the bracket. The 18 MLS Clubs each have between nine and 13 games remaining - Real Salt Lake and D.C. United have the most "games in hand."

Ten teams will qualify for the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs. Playoff berths will be determined by points in the standings upon the completion of the regular season. All 18 teams will have played 34 games.

- The top three finishers in each conference, based on regular season points (six automatic berths)

- The next best four clubs based on regular season points, irrespective of conference (four wild cards)

- The four wild cards will play single elimination games against each other, with higher seeds hosting (1 vs. 4; 2 vs. 3). These play-in games are part of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

- After the two play-in games conclude, the lowest remaining seed will face the Supporters' Shield winner in the Conference Semifinals; the other will face the No. 1 seed in the opposite conference from the Supporters' Shield winner.

Quotables

"He just likes to play. You can see his enthusiasm. It looks like he's got a footballer's brain. So it was a no-brainer to get him on. He did a fantastic job. He gets the penalty, he gets the goal. What else can you ask for?"

-- New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol on Home Grown Player Diego Fagundez, after he scored his first professional goal in the 3-2 loss to Chivas USA

"This isn't a team that is used to losing, and when we do lose games, two in a row, we do take it very seriously."

-- Real Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers after the 3-0 win vs. New York

"He's made quite a reputation for himself over the years on set pieces. He continues to serve the ball into dangerous spots. Teams that can score goals off of set pieces win a lot of games and he's obviously an important part of our attacking schemes."

-- LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena after David Beckham set all three goals from deadball situations in the 3-0 win vs. FC Dallas

"For me, it's more about who has the quality to represent this country. There's a lot of quality coming through MLS so we will always consider MLS players. The stronger MLS becomes, the better it is for us. I'm not saying I prefer European-based players or MLS players. I want to make up my own mind after seeing them play."

-- U.S. national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann

"Tres, tres, tres, tres, tres important. It's really important for the fans."

-- Vancouver Whitecaps FC striker Eric Hassli, after the 4-2 win Sunday vs. Chicago

Sweet Tweets

@JenChang88 - August 2

Revs sign 1st DP in Argentine Milton Caraglio. Gamble. Talented, but has had knee, weight issues in past. Failed West Ham trial last year.

@NickRimando - August 4

Congrats to @BillHamid28 on his first call up. I'm sure he's buzzing as I was on my first camp. Good luck.

@BrianStraus - August 4

So it appears that Real Madrid has won the World Football Challenge. Take that, Pep! mlssoccer.com/wfc/standings

@SteveDavis90 - August 6

Amazing factoid about ongoing TFC rebuild: TFC starting 11 vs. D.C. includes just ONE person who started vs. D.C. in April.

@SoccerInsider - August 6

Players falling all over the place. GK red card, coach sent off, two accidental goals. Truly one of the strangest matches at RFK ever

According to the Elias Sports Bureau: Goals, goals, goals

Was it only a month ago when the number of goalless draws was the subject of weekly concern? Well, guess what: there hasn't been a 0-0 scoreline in MLS since July 17. There have been 32 matches played since then, producing 3.02 goals per game - an increase of 32 percent over the average for the 2011 season prior to that (2.39).

And if it seems there's been a hotter competition for Goal of the Week lately, that also seems to be true. Not every long-range goal is a golazo, but there is a recent uptick in goals scored from outside the penalty area. Since last Wednesday, there were 11 goals scored from beyond the 18-yard line in 12 matches, or 0.917 per game - more than double the league average prior to that.

Week 22 match previews: Aug. 13-14, 2011 (all times ET)

Saturday, August 13

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chivas USA, 4 p.m.

- Sounders FC have won six of their last eight league games, and have lost just once in MLS play since the start of June. Their last three wins have all seen the winning goal scored after the 83rd minute; Sounders FC lead MLS with 13 goals scored in the final quarter-hour of games.

- In the last six games, Seattle midfielder Mauro Rosales has two goals and four assists, including scoring one and setting up one in Sounders FC's 2-1 win at Kansas City last weekend.

- Alejandro Moreno returned to the Chivas USA starting lineup for the first time since June 11 and scored two goals in the 3-2 win at New England on Saturday night. They were his first MLS goals since scoring in back-to-back games April 23-30.

- Chivas USA are playing the third game of a five-game road swing, but the final three are all against Western Conference clubs - at Seattle, Colorado and Portland.

Toronto FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m.

- Since being picked by Toronto FC following his release by FC Dallas, Peri Marosevic has scored two goals in two games, coming off the bench at halftime in each.

- Toronto FC Designated Player Julian de Guzman scored his first MLS goal in 42 league appearances, a long-range strike vs. D.C. United.

- Alvaro Saborio scored for the sixth time in his last six games, converting a penalty to cap the 3-0 win against New York on Saturday.

- Saborio scored twice to lead Real Salt Lake to a 3-1 win against Toronto FC in the first meeting this season, June 25 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.

- Making his league debut, 16-year-old Home Grown Player Diego Fagundez won a penalty kick and then scored his first professional goal for New England in the 3-2 loss to Chivas USA.

- The Revolution's first Designated Player, 22-year-old Argentinean forward Milton Caraglio, made his MLS debut, starting and playing 62 minutes.

- After Andy Gruenebaum recorded back-to-back shutouts in goal for the Crew, William Hesmer returned from injury to go between the posts for the 2-0 loss at Colorado last Friday.

- The teams are meeting for the first time this season; they play in Foxborough on Oct. 15. The Revolution haven't defeated Columbus at home since 2006.

D.C. United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 7:30 p.m.

- Dwayne De Rosario has scored all six goals D.C. United has scored since his arrival on June 27. All of the goals have come against his former clubs (1 vs. NY, 2 vs. SJ, 3 vs. TOR).

- Eric Hassli scored two goals in a game for the fourth time this season, hitting for a brace in the 4-2 win against Chicago. The MLS record for multiple-goal games in a season is eight, set in 1998 by Stern John and 2000 by Mamadou Diallo.

- De Rosario moved into a tie for fourth place in the MLS Golden Boot standings, behind Landon Donovan (LA) and Thierry Henry (NY) with 10 and Hassli (VAN) with nine.

- Called into the U.S. national team for the first time for this week's friendly vs. Mexico, United goalkeeper Bill Hamid will miss the Vancouver match after he was sent off after just seven minutes vs. Toronto.

New York Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m.

- Since the start of May, the Red Bulls have won just twice in 17 league games (2-5-10), they are winless in five league games.

- Since the start of the season, the Fire have won just twice in 22 league games (2-7-13); they are winless in their eight MLS contests.

- Recent acquisition Frank Rost had to come off at halftime of the Red Bulls' 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake over the weekend, suffering a thigh injury. Rost had conceded eight goals in the previous 225 minutes in MLS play before Bouna Coundoul came on in his place.

- Sebastian Grazzini recorded his first MLS assist in his second league game, setting Dominic Oduro's team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 4-2 loss at Vancouver.

Philadelphia Union vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

- Marvin Chavez continued his hot streak, having scored all four goals FC Dallas have tallied over the last three games after opening the scoring in the 3-1 loss at the LA Galaxy.

- Making his FCD debut after being acquired from Toronto FC, Maicon Santos partnered Chavez up top and recorded his first assist on his goal.

- Although he has not scored this season - after leading Union with 14 goals a year ago - Sebastien Le Toux has eight assists on the season, tied for third in MLS, after setting up Jack McInerney's goal vs. Houston. David Beckham (LA) and Brad Davis (HOU) are tied for the league lead with 10 assists.

- Brek Shea and Fabian Castillo scored as FC Dallas claimed a 2-0 victory when the clubs first met this season, May 14 at Pizza Hut Park.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m.

- Despite coming back for a 1-1 draw with Portland last weekend, the Earthquakes saw their winless run extended to 10 games, matching the club record set Sept. 8, 2004 - April 16, 2005.

- Second-year defender Steven Beitashour moved into the team lead with his fourth assist - a picture-perfect cross from the right touchline to Alan Gordon on Saturday.

- While he did not score after netting four goals in the previous three games, Rapids striker Sanna Nyassi did set up front-line partner Omar Cummings for his first goal since April 30, in the 2-0 win vs. Columbus.

- The Rapids haven't won in San Jose since a 2-1 win on Aug. 30, 2003. The Quakes have won three of the seven meetings since in northern California, with four draws.

Sunday, August 14

Houston Dynamo vs. Portland Timbers, 9 p.m. (Galavisión)

- Back in the starting lineup for a second consecutive match after coming off the bench for five straight games, Portland's Kenny Cooper scored his first goal since April 30 in the 1-1 draw at San Jose.

- Honduras international Carlo Costly, signed just before the match, came off the bench for the final half-hour for his MLS debut in the Dynamo's 1-1 draw with Philadelphia.

- Defensive anchor Geoff Cameron pulled into the Dynamo team lead with his fourth goal in the Philadelphia match, level with strikers Will Bruin and Cam Weaver.

- The clubs are meeting for the first time. The return match is scheduled for Oct. 14 at Jeld-Wen Field.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 9, 2011


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