This Week in MLS
Published on August 10, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
U.S. youth international Marc Pelosi poised to make impact at hometown club
United States Olympic soccer head coach Andreas Herzog didn't hold back when asked about San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Marc Pelosi:
"When he uses his strengths Marc could be one of the best midfielders in MLS," Herzog told the San Jose Mercury News last week.
That's high praise for a 21-year-old who made his MLS debut on Saturday night. The Sunnyvale, CA native put in a solid 62-minute performance in the midfield against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium.
But, considering Pelosi's resume - four years in Liverpool's academy system, captain of the US U-17 squad at the 2011 U-17 FIFA World Cup, four caps with the U.S. Under-23s - and maybe it's not so farfetched. In fact, had he avoided a devastating double-fracture to his right leg in 2013, there's a good chance Pelosi could have cracked Liverpool's rotation one day. Instead, that leg fracture, in addition to other injuries, has led Pelosi back to where it all started. After moving from Germany to the Bay Area as a child, he spent 10 years with the De Anza Force, a Cupertino-based youth club. Success on the club and international stage caught Liverpool's attention - and the club swayed him to forgo a scholarship offer from UCLA in favor of a shot at making it big in Europe. Four years and several injuries later, Pelosi is hitting the reset button with his hometown club.
Pelosi's success on the youth international level and time with Liverpool will have some onlookers set high expectations for his first MLS season. Despite his wealth of experience, Pelosi is still just a 21-year-old - the second-youngest player on San Jose's active roster for Saturday's match.
As a youngster, Pelosi's potential is tantalizing. The Earthquakes didn't make international headlines when they scooped him up during the secondary transfer window - not while names like Pirlo, dos Santos, and Drogba were arriving in MLS. However, if he proves any bit as successful as LA Galaxy's Sebastian Lletget-another expatriate who returned stateside from the English Premier League this season-the Earthquakes will have a future centerpiece on their hands.
"Everyone has a different road to where they get and I'm happy with the one I chose."
Pelosi will have his next chance to impress in front of his hometown crowd when the San Jose Earthquakes host the Colorado Rapids at Avaya Stadium in this week's edition of Viernes de Futbol at 11 p.m. ET (UniMás).
The Payoff: FC Dallas, LA Galaxy reap the benefits of their youth development systems
Saturday night's meeting between FC Dallas and LA Galaxy offers a showdown between two clubs with a surplus of talent that doesn't solely rely on big international stars.
When the two clubs meet, the Galaxy will have an abundance of riches after welcoming Mexican superstar Giovani dos Santos and English icon Steven Gerrard into the fold. They join a star-studded lineup that already includes Irish international Robbie Keane and U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez. Despite the big names, however, youth development has always been a priority, and one day - if all goes according to plan, at least - the club's Homegrown Players will occupy those roles. LA boasts one of Major League Soccer's most promising crop of homegrown talent, which includes U.S. Men's National Team regular Gyasi Zardes, along with Bradford Jamieson IV, Jose Villarreal, Oscar Sorto, Raul Mendiola and Jack McBean. However, McBean and Mendiola are yet to log minutes with the first team this season, while Sorto, Jamieson IV, and Villarreal have combined to make 24 appearances in 2015.
FC Dallas, meanwhile, has been even more reliant on its youth academy products, especially in 2015. As of August 2, the Hoops' current Homegrown Player contingent - consisting of Victor Ulloa, Moises Hernandez, Kellyn Acosta and Alejandro Zendejas - has logged a total of 3,872 minutes. That's an astounding 1,000 more minutes played than any other MLS team's Homegrown Players this season (LA ranks second with 2,857 minutes played). In 2014, FC Dallas Homegrown Players totaled 4,607 minutes, or 14 percent of the team's total minutes. Oscar Pareja's kids don't wait and learn behind established stars - they learn on the fly.
While LA is taking a more measured approach to its youth academy products, Dallas hasn't hesitated to throw its kids into the deep end. Despite the contrast in their likely starting lineups on Saturday, FC Dallas sits only two points behind LA with three games in hand heading into the exciting Western Conference showdown.
International stars highlight historic Secondary Transfer Window as clubs prepare for final playoff push
The MLS Secondary Transfer Window came to a close on Thursday evening, giving MLS clubs a final opportunity to make significant additions to their rosters as they head into their final playoff pushes. In total, 36 players came into the league during the window with an average age of 27-years-old. The new MLS additions hail from four different continents with Europe leading the way with 12 players, followed by North America (11), South America (8) and Africa (5). New York City FC was the most active team during the window, bringing in five players as they look to make the playoffs in their inaugural year.
LA's splashy signings of Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard and Mexican superstar Giovani dos Santos both made immediate impacts for the Galaxy, becoming the third and fourth LA players to record a goal and an assist in their MLS debuts (watch Gerrard's first MLS goal HERE and dos Santos' goal HERE). Not to be outdone by the reigning MLS Cup champs, the Montreal Impact brought in Chelsea legend and Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba to add more world class experience to their offense, while New York City FC welcomed Italian legend and UEFA Champions League winner Andrea Pirlo alongside Chelsea all-time leading goal scorer Frank Lampard.
The New York Red Bulls also bolstered its roster by bringing in Gonzalo Verón, an Argentinian winger who participated in the FIFA Club World Cup with San Lorenzo, and Shaun Wright-Phillips, the older brother of the 2014 Golden Boot winner Bradley and English Premier League veteran. The brothers have gotten off to a flying start as the two combined to score in their victory over the Philadelphia Union on August 1 (watch the goal HERE). The Philadelphia Union also shored up its midfield by adding Switzerland international Tranquillo Barnetta, a player that has been a part of three FIFA World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014). Across the border, Toronto FC added to its embarrassment of riches of attacking players, signing U.S. international Herculez Gomez, who won the 2005 MLS Cup with the LA Galaxy and went on to play in two CONCACAF Champions League finals while playing in Liga MX from 2010-15.
In total, eight new Designated Players entered the MLS fold during the Secondary Transfer Window: Chicago Fire's Gilberto, Houston Dynamo's Erick 'Cubo' Torres, LA Galaxy's dos Santos and Gerrard, Montreal Impact's Drogba, New York City FC's Lampard and Pirlo, New York Red Bulls' Verón and the Portland Timbers' Lucas Melano.
Players added to MLS rosters by country
Argentina (4); Spain (4); USA (4); England (3); Brazil (2); Costa Rica (2); Mexico (2); Switzerland (2); Austria (1); Colombia (1); Ghana (1); Honduras (1); Italy (1); Ivory Coast (1); Morocco (1); Nigeria (1); Panama (1); Paraguay (1); Sweden (1); Trinidad & Tobago (1); Zaire (1)
Players added to MLS rosters by club
New York City FC (5)
July 8 - Frank Lampard, New York City FC (signed Jan. 10) (DP) (England) [37 years old]
July 8 - Angelino, New York City FC (signed June 16) (Spain) [18 years old]
July 8 - Andoni Iraola, New York City FC (signed June 16) (Spain) [33 years old]
July 8 - Andrea Pirlo, New York City FC (signed July 6) (DP) (Italy) [36 years old]
July 14 - Jefferson Mena, New York City FC (Colombia) [26 years old]
LA Galaxy (3)
July 8 - Steven Gerrard, LA Galaxy (signed Jan. 7) (DP) (England) [35 years old]
Aug. 5 - Dave Romney, LA Galaxy (USA) [22 years old]
July 15 - Giovani dos Santos, LA Galaxy (DP) (Mexico) [26 years old]
Seattle Sounders FC (3)
July 8 - Erik Friberg, Seattle Sounders FC (signed June 29) (Sweden) [29 years old]
Aug. 4 - Andreas Ivanschitz, Seattle Sounders FC (Austria) [31 years old]
Aug. 7 - Nelson Valdez, Seattle Sounders FC (Paraguay) [31 years old]
Columbus Crew SC (3)
July 8 - Cedrick Mabwati, Columbus Crew SC (signed Jan. 30) (Zaire) [23 years old]
July 30 - Harrison Afful, Columbus Crew SC (Ghana) [29 years old)
Aug. 6 - Gastón Sauro, Columbus Crew SC (Argentina) [25 years old]
San Jose Earthquakes (3)
July 15 - Matheus Silva, San Jose Earthquakes (Brazil) [18 years old]
July 17 - Marc Pelosi, San Jose Earthquakes (USA) [21 years old]
Aug. 6 - Anibal Godoy, San Jose Earthquakes (Panama) [25 years old]
Houston Dynamo (2)
July 17 - Erick 'Cubo' Torres, Houston Dynamo (DP) (Mexico) [22 years old]
July 9 - Rasheed Olabiyi, Houston Dynamo (Nigeria) [25 years old]
Portland Timbers (2)
July 9 - Anthony Manning, Portland Timbers (USA) [22 years old]
July 17 - Lucas Melano, Portland Timbers (DP) (Argentina) [22 years old]
Toronto FC (2)
July 24 - Ahmed Kantari, Toronto FC (Morocco) [30 years old]
Aug. 7 - Hérculez Gómez, Toronto FC (USA) [33 years old]
Montreal Impact (2)
July 27 - Didier Drogba, Montreal Impact (DP) (Ivory Coast) [37 years old]
Aug. 3 - Johan Venegas, Montreal Impact (Costa Rica) [26 years old]
Chicago Fire (2)
July 27 - Gilberto, Chicago Fire (DP) (Brazil) [26 years old]
Aug. 6 - Daneil Cyrus, Chicago Fire (Trinidad and Tobago) [24 years old]
New York Red Bulls (2)
July 27 - Shaun Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls (England) [33 years old]
Aug. 5 - Gonzalo Verón, New York Red Bulls (DP) (Argentina) [25 years old]
Orlando City SC (2)
July 29 - David Mateos, Orlando City (Spain) [28 years old]
July 29 - Adrian Winter, Orlando City (Switzerland) [29 years old]
FC Dallas (1)
July 22 - Ezequiel Cirigliano, FC Dallas (Argentina) [23 years old]
Philadelphia Union (1)
July 29 - Tranquillo Barnetta, Philadelphia Union (Switzerland) [30 years old]
Sporting Kansas City (1)
Aug. 6 - Jordi Quintilla, Sporting Kansas City (Spain) [21 years old]
Colorado Rapids (1)
Aug. 7 - Maynor Figueroa, Colorado Rapids (Honduras) [32 years old]
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1)
Aug. 7 - Jordan Smith, Vancouver Whitecaps (Costa Rica) [24 years old]
Numbers Game: San Jose, Colorado, Orlando, Seattle, Chicago and Philly all in search of critical points in Week 24 action
Earthquakes host Rapids in Western Conference matchup
The San Jose Earthquakes (7-10-5) play host to the Colorado Rapids (5-8-9) at Avaya Stadium in this week's edition of Viernes de Futbol at 11 p.m. ET (UniMás).Colorado lost last week at home to Columbus Crew SC 2-1, but will be welcoming in a big-time defender into the fold. The Rapids' signed defender Maynor Figueroa last Friday, a Honduran international and veteran of over eight English Premier League seasons spent between Wigan Athletic and Hull City. Figueroa has appeared in two FIFA World Cups with Honduras (2010, 2014) and will bring an experienced presence to the Rapids' defense. The Earthquakes come into the match coming off a 2-1 loss on the road to Houston Dynamo, but there is reason to be optimistic. Quincy Amarikwa, acquired in a trade on June 26 with the Chicago Fire, has scored four goals in his past four games and is settling in nicely with his new team. The Earthquakes also signed Panamanian international Anibal Godoy, who helped his country to a third-place victory over the U.S. in last month's CONCACAF Gold Cup, to help solidify their midfield. This will be an important match for both clubs as they try and get valuable points for the final Western Conference playoff spots in the last stretch of the season.
Red Hot Red Bulls square off against Toronto FC
An in-form New York Red Bulls (10-6-6, 36 points) host Toronto FC (9-9-4, 31 points) at Red Bull Arena Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET (TSN2) in an Eastern Conference showdown. The Red Bulls are coming off a season sweep over city rivals New York City FC in their 2-0 win last Sunday and are now unbeaten in five matches (4-0-1). Newly acquired Designed Player Gonzalo Veron earned his first MLS appearance for New York and looks to add to an impressive Red Bulls squad. The Argentinian midfielder won the 2014 Copa Libertadores with San Lorenzo and as a result, participated in two FIFA Club World Cup matches. Toronto FC come into the match 2-2-2 in their last six matches and is led by their Italian magician Sebastian Giovinco. Giovinco, one of the front runners for the MVP award, has been in scintillating form of late. The "Atomic Ant" has eight goals and four assists in his past six games and is second in the league in Golden Boot race with 16 goals scored and tied with Cristian Maidana for second in assists with 11 on the season. With both clubs having three games in hand on Eastern Conference leading D.C. United, they will be poised to come away with all three points and overcome the point differential in the standings.
Orlando City SC view Seattle Sounders FC as benchmark for expansion season success
It's hard to believe this season only marks Seattle Sounders FC's seventh in Major League Soccer. The club's success and support suggests it has been woven into the city's DNA over the course of decades. Some 3,000 miles southeast, a similar situation is brewing in Orlando, FL. For the season, Orlando City SC is averaging more than 30,000 fans at the Citrus Bowl - the second-best figure among all clubs. The only club with a better mark? That's Seattle, of course, which is averaging more than 40,000 at CenturyLink Field this year. While Orlando has been greeted by similar fanfare as its Cascadia counterpart, it has a long way to go before it can hope to rival Sounders' on-field success. Orlando City SC (7-10-7, 28 points) will take its first ever crack at Seattle Sounders FC (10-12-2, 32 points) when the clubs open Soccer Sunday at 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). Seattle is desperate to fix its recent form, but a dominant start to the season has it holding onto a Western Conference playoff spot. Orlando City, meanwhile, is tied with Montreal for the sixth seed in the East, but has played three more games.
Chicago Fire, Philadelphia Union hope big-name additions revive playoff outlooks
When the Chicago Fire (6-12-4, 22 points) and Philadelphia Union (6-13-5, 23 points) cap off MLS Soccer Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET, they'll both welcome big-name additions into their lineups as the season hits a critical juncture (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes, TSN2). Chicago added Brazilian striker Gilberto off of waivers on July 27, and he could debut for the Fire in Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup semifinal. The forward recorded seven goals and five assists in 28 appearances for Toronto FC last season after signing as a Designated Player, but the club's offseason roster upheaval saw him put on loan to Brazilian club Vasco de Gama. Gilberto returns to MLS with plenty to prove and will hopefully provide Chicago with an end of season spark. Meanwhile, Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta made his first MLS start for the Union on Saturday. Barnetta, who has three World Cup trips on his resume, bolsters a formidable midfield that also features Cristian Maidana and Sebastien Le Toux. Although the Union and Fire are on the outside looking in, they're only five and six points out of a playoff spot, respectively. For both clubs, the time to perform is now.
Week 24 National Television Schedule
Friday, August 14
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids, 11 p.m. ET (UniMás)
Saturday, August 15
New York Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m. ET (TSN2)
Sporting Kansas City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 9 p.m. ET, (TSN2)
Sunday, August 16
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Orlando City SC, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)
Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire, 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes, TSN2)
Open Cup Fever: Four MLS clubs remain as the semifinals kick off this week
The semifinal field for the 102nd edition of the U.S. Open Cup begins play Tuesday when four-time champions Chicago Fire (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006) travel to PPL park to play last year's runner-ups Philadelphia Union. The other semifinal matchup features two-time champions Sporting KC (2004, 2012) as they host Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park on Wednesday night. The draw to determine hosting priority for the U.S. Open Cup final was held last week and the Chicago Fire won the right to host the match, should they advance. The full order went as follows: Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake, Philadelphia Union, Sporting Kansas City. A full schedule of semifinal matchups can be found below.
Date Game Time Venue
August 11 Chicago Fire (MLS) at Philadelphia Union (MLS) 7:30 p.m. ET PPL Park; Chester, Pa.
August 12 Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS) 7:30 p.m. CT Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.
Montreal, Vancouver meet in 2015 Amway Canadian Championship final
On Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps FC face off in the first leg of the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship final (Sportsnet World, Sportsnet.ca). Nearly three months have passed since both clubs punched their tickets to the final, and while reinforcements have arrived for a Montreal side eyeing its third consecutive trophy, Vancouver enters the tie as the team to beat. The winner of the series will earn a berth in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.
The Impact welcomed global superstar Didier Drogba and Costa Rican midfielder Johan Venegas into the fold before the Secondary Transfer Window closed last week. They join a Montreal side that has six wins in its last eight league matches and is seeking its third consecutive Canadian Championship title. Montreal appears to be hitting its stride at the perfect time, but it will be put to the test by a Vancouver team currently competing for the Supporters' Shield.
Whitecaps FC has been one of MLS' best teams throughout the season, but the Canadian Championship has been unusually cruel to the club since its 2008 inception. The 'Caps appeared in the final five consecutive years from 2009 to 2013, but lost each time - including a 2013 loss to Montreal. Despite its unfortunate history in the tournament, Vancouver enters with one of the league's hottest goalkeepers in David Ousted and a pair of budding 23-year-olds in Cristian Techera and Nicolas Mezquida that propelled it to a 4-0 win over Real Salt Lake in MLS play on Saturday.
Date Game Time Venue Broadcast
August 12 Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Montreal Impact 7:30 p.m. ET Stade Saputo; Montreal, QC MLS LIVE
August 26 Montreal Impact at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7:30 p.m. CT BC Place; Vancouver, BC MLS LIVE
MLS clubs enjoy successful week in CONCACAF Champions League
Four of the five MLS clubs participating in this year's CONCACAF Champions League kicked off their campaigns last week.
Real Salt Lake visited C.S.D. Municipal in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and walked away with three crucial points thanks to a second-minute goal from sparkplug Joao Plata and world-class goalkeeping from Nick Rimando (WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE). Although Kyle Beckerman and Demar Phillips were both issued yellow cards that could prove problematic later in the group stage, RSL is in excellent shape heading into its September 15th showdown versus Santa Tecla FC in El Salvador.
Bruce Arena gave several young players a chance to shine on the Champions League stage in LA's 5-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago's Central FC. Raul Mendiola - a 21-year-old Homegrown product - and Ignacio Maganto - a 23-year-old second-round 2015 SuperDraft selection - both started and scored for the Galaxy. However, Giovani dos Santos stole the show with a goal and assist in his club debut (WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE). The Galaxy returns to CCL action on August 18, when it hosts Guatemalan side C.S.D. Comunicaciones at the StubHub Center.
Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC are the only MLS sides sharing a group, and they played to a 1-1 draw at BC Place in their first of two meetings last Wednesday. Sounders FC, still without Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, and Osvaldo Alonso, salvaged a draw thanks to a 72nd-minute equalizer from Lamar Neagle. Seattle hosts Honduran side CD Olimpia next week, while Vancouver resumes CCL play on September 16 also against Olimpia.
D.C. United opens its Champions League campaign next week in Panama, where it's set to visit Club Deportivo Arabe Undio.
Quotables
"Greg sold me on the idea. He didn't promise me playing time. He said I'd have to compete like everyone else. He sold me on his idea and his vision. We have a common theme: The hunger of wanting to do something special."
Toronto FC forward Herculez Gomez on joining Toronto and competing for a spot
Herculez Gomez: 'I don't feel I get the credit I deserve' (Toronto Star)
"We have to sign a lot of autographs before and after practice. Fans are around a lot more."
LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez on the new additions of Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard
Galaxy trying to gel as dos Santos makes MLS debut (LA Daily News)
"It was a pretty obvious decision - I always knew I wanted to be a professional soccer player. To my parents, it was fairly obvious. I come from a very educated family, however, so obviously giving up college at the time was a big thing for my family to consider."
Philadelphia Union midfielder Zach Pfeffer on forgoing college for professional soccer
Upper Dublin's Zach Pfeffer is growing up with the Union (Philadelphia Inquirer)
"Now it's time to start again, and he could make a huge impact for San Jose. When he uses his strengths Marc could be one of the best midfielders in MLS."
U.S. Olympic coach Andreas Herzog on San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Marc Pelosi making the transition from Liverpool to MLS
Marc Pelosi goes from Liverpool FC to San Jose (San Jose Mercury News)
"It's been amazing every time we play at Citrus Bowl in front of all the supporters. Every time in every moment in every situation. Our average now is 33,000 for games. This is great. It's much more than anyone could've expected,"
Orlando City SC captain Kaká on the support Orlando City receives at the Citrus Bowl
Kaka Embracing Pressure and Leadership Role in 1st Year at Orlando City (Bleacher Report)
Sweet Tweets
Jesse Marsch (@jessemarsch) Only one thing to say... #NYisRED
https://twitter.com/jessemarsch/status/630758419276910592
Dax McCarty (@MaxMcCarty11) Bring em out #RBNY #NYisRED
https://twitter.com/DaxMcCarty11/status/630554710886510593
Nacho Maganto (@Maganto10) Big 3 points today for the team! And congrats to @oficialgio on his MLS debut and goal! / 3 puntos... https://instagram.com/p/6MPC6ryveq/
https://twitter.com/Maganto10/status/630612098834395137
AJ DeLaGarza (@AJD_20) Congrats to this dude @oficialgio on his MLS debut and getting his first goal and assist.... (...https://instagram.com/p/6L9SoIrVKe/
https://twitter.com/AJD_20/status/630573058730889216
Pa-Modou Kah (@PMKAH) Congrats to our little bug Cristian Techera with TOTW. Well done papa https://twitter.com/PMKAH/status/630816002679255040
Brad Davis (@Brad_Davis11) Great to get another 3 pts at home. First goal for @DaMarcusBeasley since 2003 in MLS. Dang Beas, you are old!!#ontothenextone
https://twitter.com/Brad_Davis11/status/630248981541421056
Week 24 Game Previews
Thursday, August 13
New York City FC vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. ET
- New York City FC have lost back-to-back games for the first time in league play since May 3-10, after they were swept in their season series with the New York Red Bulls in a 2-0 defeat Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena.
- D.C. United have put together a season-long three-game winning streak in MLS play, getting the game's only goal for a win at the Montréal Impact on Saturday evening.
- Chris Rolfe scored the United goal - his third in the last two games - on their only attempt at goal for the entire match. United became the first team in MLS history - after 4,254 games - to win while putting one single shot on target for an entire match.
- The teams are meeting for the first time ever. They have a return match set for Oct. 2 at RFK Stadium.
Friday, August 14
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids, 11 p.m. ET (UniMas)
- Quincy Amarikwa scored his fourth goal in the last four games - in his fifth start for the Quakes after coming over from the Chicago Fire - but still saw his club's winless streak extended to six games in a 2-1 defeat at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening.
- The Rapids suffered their second consecutive home defeat on the heels of a three-game winning run, falling 2-1 to Columbus Crew SC on Saturday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Rapids defender James Riley scored deep in stoppage time to cancel out a first-half Chris Wondolowski goal and leave the teams in a 1-1 draw, May 8 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
- The teams have played to draws in each of their last four meetings. The Rapids last defeated San Jose in the first meeting in the 2011 season. The Quakes have won five of the 11 meetings since, with six draws.
- The Quakes have taken points on their last six trips to Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids haven't defeated San Jose at home since the 2010 season.
Saturday, August 15
New York Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m. ET
- Bradley Wright-Phillips scored his fourth goal in the last five matches - as the Red Bulls remained undefeated over that stretch - in their 2-0 win against New York City FC on Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena to complete their season series sweep of the Gotham Derby.
- Sebastian Giovinco collected his 11th assist of the season - one off the MLS assist lead - setting up Michael Bradley's first goal since June 24, but Toronto FC still saw their four-game undefeated run at BMO Field come to an end in a 3-1 defeat by Sporting Kansas City on Saturday afternoon.
- The Red Bulls are undefeated at Red Bull Arena all-time vs. Toronto FC, with five wins and a draw (and a 17-4 goal differential). TFC's only away win vs. New York came in 2008, a 3-1 win at Giants Stadium.
- When Toronto FC defeated the Red Bulls 2-0 last May 17 in the only meeting at BMO Field, it snapped a 10-game winless streak in the series, their first victory since 2009.
New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo, 7:30 p.m. ET
- The Revolution return to action after extending their undefeated streak to three matches last time out, Charlie Davies scoring two goals in a game for the third multiple-goal game of his MLS career in a 3-1 victory against Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium.
- Alex scored his second goal in his last six matches after his return from injury, as the Houston Dynamo extended their undefeated streak to three matches in a 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium.
- The teams met three times a season ago, the Dynamo winning the first before the Revolution won the next two, once at each ground. The Revolution won the only meeting at Gillette Stadium, a 2-0 victory on April 12 that was their first in Foxborough against the Dynamo since 2010.
- The Revolution have a winning record all-time in Houston, with six victories and a draw in 10 league matches there, including a 2-1 win in the final meeting at BBVA Compass Stadium last Oct. 16.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Benny Feilhaber continued his hot streak, scoring a goal and adding an assist as Sporting Kansas City ended a quick two-game winless run with a 3-1 victory at Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon. Feilhaber moved into a tie for the MLS lead with his 12th assist of the season; he has eight goals and eight assists over the last 14 league games, dating back to April 25.
- Whitecaps FC rolled to a third consecutive victory in impressive fashion, steaming to a 4-0 win against Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at BC Place. Whitecaps FC have scored 10 goals in the three victories and won the last two games by shutout; Cristian Techera scored his first two-goal game in MLS to seal the Vancouver triumph.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Kevin Ellis scored the game's only goal early in the second half to lead Sporting to victory, July 12 at BC Place.
- The win was Sporting's first vs. Vancouver since 2012. Whitecaps FC won the lone meeting between the teams last year, a 2-0 win at BC Place on Aug. 10 that is their only win in six matches in the all-time series.
FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy, 9 p.m. ET
- FC Dallas return to action after seeing their five-game winning streak put to an end last time out, falling 2-0 at the Chicago Fire on Aug. 2. It was their first defeat since June 13.
- Giovani dos Santos scored a goal and added an assist in his MLS debut, and Robbie Keane scored his eighth league goal over the last five matches, as the Galaxy cruised to a 3-1 win against Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center.
- The Galaxy have now won five consecutive league games at StubHub Center, scoring 22 goals; over their last eight home games in all competitions, they have netted 33 goals.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Mauro Diaz and Tesho Akindele scored goals late in the second half to pull FC Dallas back from a deficit for a 2-1 win May 9 at Toyota Stadium.
- FCD has won the last two games in Frisco, their first victories at home vs. the Galaxy since 2011. The Galaxy are undefeated in Carson over the last seven meetings vs. FC Dallas in league play, dating back to the start of the 2010 season, going 6-0-1 in that time.
Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers, 10 p.m. ET
- Real Salt Lake suffered a second consecutive heavy defeat on their travels, falling 4-0 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday evening. RSL have allowed 10 goals in their last two MLS games on a trip that has seen them go from Washington, D.C., to Guatemala, to Vancouver, and then to Kansas City for their U.S. Open Cup semifinal at midweek.
- The Timbers put an end to their four-game winless run, Fanendo Adi scoring for a second time in three games for his 10th goal of the season in a 1-0 win against the Chicago Fire on Friday evening at Providence Park.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. They reached a scoreless draw in the season opener for both clubs, March 7 at Providence Park. The teams have played to scoreless draws in each of their last three regular season meetings at Providence Park, over the last three years.
- The Timbers won 3-1 in the only meeting last year at Rio Tinto Stadium, their first win ever in Utah. The only Portland home win vs. Real Salt Lake came in the first meeting ever, in 2011; the last four league meetings in Portland have all been draws.
Sunday, August 16
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Orlando City SC, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- Sounders FC suffered their fifth consecutive defeat - the club's record for its MLS history - in a 3-1 loss to the LA Galaxy on Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center. Chad Barrett scored after 50 seconds for the second-earliest goal in Seattle's MLS history - ending a 363-minute scoreless streak in MLS play, also a club record - then was forced to leave the field with an injury.
- Orlando City has their current winless run stretched to a second game, reaching a scoreless draw with Philadelphia Union on Saturday afternoon at the Citrus Bowl.
- The teams are meeting for the first time ever.
Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire, 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
- Union put an end to a three-game losing run but still saw their winless streak extended, playing to a goalless draw with Orlando City SC on Saturday evening at the Citrus Bowl.
- The Fire remain the only team in MLS without an away victory this season, suffering a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on Friday evening at Providence Park.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Adailton scored the game's only goal in the 37th minute to guide the Fire to a victory March 29 at Toyota Park.
- The Fire have not lost to Union over five consecutive meetings, with two wins and three draws since the last Philadelphia victory in the series, May 18 at PPL Park.
- The first meeting victory was the Fire's first win at home vs. Union since 2012; Philadelphia had won two of the four Bridgeview meetings in between, with two draws. The Fire have come away with points on their last two trips to Chester.
Major League Soccer Stories from August 10, 2015
- This Week in MLS - MLS
- D.C. United Academy Announces Staff for 2015-16 - D.C. United
- Chicago Fire Head to Philadelphia for Back-To-Back Matches against the Union - Chicago Fire FC
- Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
- Earthquakes Name Chris Leitch Technical Director - San Jose Earthquakes
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