MLS Major League Soccer

Three MLS Clubs Begin Champions League Group Play

Published on August 5, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


The 2013-14 edition of the region's top club competition -- CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) - begins for three MLS clubs on Wednesday. The 24-team tournament is divided into eight groups of three teams, with each group winner advancing to the quarterfinals and seeded based on their performance in the group phase.

In the Group 5 opener, Montreal Impact host the San Jose Earthquakes at 8 p.m. ET in the first of two CCL games on Fox Soccer. The third team in Group 5 is Heredia of Guatemala. The Wednesday doubleheader continues with Sporting Kansas City traveling to Nicaragua to face Real Esteli at 10 p.m. ET in Group 2, which includes Honduras' Olimpia.

The other two MLS clubs that qualified for CCL, Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy, begin competing Tuesday, Aug. 20 when the Dynamo visit W Connection in Trinidad and the Galaxy host Costa Rican side Cartagines.

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinals Wednesday

Two clubs that have combined to win six Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles, the Chicago Fire (4) and D.C. United (2), square off at Toyota Park on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. in one of this year's compelling semifinal matches. At 9:30 p.m. ET, the other semifinal features two of the top teams in the Western Conference: First-place Real Salt Lake host third-place Portland Timbers, who are led by former RSL man Will Johnson. Both Real Salt Lake and Portland seek to win their first USOC title.

Week 24 National Broadcasts

Saturday, August 10

Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7:00 p.m. ET (Univision Deportes)

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN, RDS2)

Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United, 8:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

Sunday, August 11

FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy, 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Chivas USA vs. Colorado Rapids, 11:00 p.m. ET (UniMas)

AT&T Goal of the Week (Week 23) - CLICK HERE to vote

- Jonny Steele (NY)

- Conor Doyle (DC)

- Cam Weaver (HOU)

- Chris Wondolowski (SJ)

- Obafemi Martins (SEA)

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San Jose Earthquakes: 2013 Wine and Dine Event

Portland Timbers: 2013 Stand Together Week: Day 1

Quotables

"Seattle, I just want to thank ya'll and the Seattle Sounders organization for making me feel so welcome and at home. I look forward to getting on the field and playing in front of the best fans in the world. I think we'll accomplish some great things here."

Clint Dempsey in front of 39,060 Seattle Sounders FC fans after the announcement of his transfer to the club.

"Our time as owners of the Crew has been very special to our family. There's been a lot of success on the field. It's truly been a huge part of our family for the last 18 years. I grew up in a lot of ways with Major League Soccer and the Columbus Crew."

Clark Hunt following the sale of the family-owned Columbus Crew to Anthony Precourt.

"As MLS enters a period of accelerated growth, the addition of new teams will allow us to expand our geographic coverage, grow our fan base and help us achieve our vision of being among the best leagues in the world by 2022."

Commisioner Don Garber following the announcement of four new teams by 2020.

"Look, at the end, it's a great environment, it's a great game. If all we were looking to do was win a game, then easily we could set something up. These are real games, these are real teams that come in here to play. Sometimes results don't go your way, but in the end, I think it's more than just the winning of the game. It's really what the experience is for everyone who participates in it."

MLS All-Star coach Peter Vermes thoughts on the game against AS Roma

"From the minute we got to the airport, you can see there's real excitement around this game and they've done a really good job. This to me feels bigger than any event I've been a part of in the 13 years."

Landon Donovan on the excitement and festivities surrounding the 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game in Kansas City

Sweet Tweets

‏@zkscott - August 4

Sorry @yedlinny we had to move your locker as well... #suckstobearookie pic.twitter.com/fIWMDl8J9m

@Omar4Gonzalez - August 3

Such an amazing feeling to play, score and win at Dodger Stadium. http://say.ly/bgB6qfi

‏@EthanFinlay13 - August 1

Wow! Can Deuce really be looking to get back in MLS. Shows the advances the #MLS is making on other league's around the world.

@gzusi - July 31

Thank you KC for an amazing experience! Will never forget it. @SportingPark was rocking tonight. Showed why these fans deserved this event!

@tonybeltran23 - July 31

Thank you @SportingKC for being such great hosts. Great couple days, proud to be an #MLSAllStar. Hats off to Roma, class team. Now to SLC!

MLS Week 24 Previews

Saturday, August 10

Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7 p.m. (UDN)

- Toronto FC have won back-to-back games in MLS play for the first time since last July 11-18, when they defeated Vancouver, New England and Colorado in succession.

- Marcus Hahnemann appeared in an MLS league match for the first time since June 26, 1999 when he backstopped Sounders FC's 3-0 victory against FC Dallas on Saturday evening. The 14 years, 1 month and 8 days between appearances is an MLS record.

- After being introduced to the CenturyLink Field crowd before the FC Dallas match as the club's newest Designated Player, Clint Dempsey is expected to make his Sounders FC debut in Toronto. Dempsey last appeared in MLS in 2006, with the New England Revolution.

- Sounders FC have won four games in a row against Toronto FC, including a 3-1 victory last year at CenturyLink Field in the only meeting between the teams. TFC's only win in the all-time series came in 2010 at BMO Field.

Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

- Fabian Espíndola scored his third goal in the last two games as the Red Bulls won for the fourth time in six contests in a 3-2 victory at Sporting KC. New York is now in first place in the Eastern Conference.

- The Crew lost for a third consecutive match and the sixth time in their last seven in a 3-1 defeat at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. They met twice four weeks earlier, a Tim Cahill goal the only score in a Red Bulls win May 4 in Columbus, and an equalizer from New York's Jamison Olave in stoppage time for a 2-2 draw May 26 at Red Bull Arena.

- Columbus has not defeated New York since the 2010 season. The Red Bulls are 3-0-3 in the last six meetings in the series.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. (TSN, RDS2)

- Chris Wondolowski scored a pair of goals, his first league goals since May 8 and his first multiple-goal game this season, giving the Earthquakes a third consecutive victory Saturday vs. Chivas USA.

- Fullback Jordan Harvey scored his fourth goal of the season - his career-high in his eight MLS seasons - but Whitecaps FC had their winless run stretched to three games in a 1-1 draw with Portland.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. San Jose's Chris Wondolowski and Vancouver's Corey Hertzog traded goals as the teams ended in a 1-1 draw April 6 at Buck Shaw Stadium.

- Whitecaps FC have not lost to the Earthquakes in Vancouver; the Quakes have not lost to Vancouver in their three home matches.

Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)

- Luis Silva scored for a third consecutive match since joining D.C. United, and Homegrown Player Jared Jeffrey scored his first professional goal in the club's first MLS win since June 22--a 3-1 victory Saturday against Montréal.

- Union lost at PPL Park for the first time since May 15 in a 2-1 defeat by the Chicago Fire on Saturday. Sebastien Le Toux recorded his league-leading 10th assist of the season.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season in league play. Jack McInerney scored a pair of goals to pace Union to a 3-2 victory April 21 at RFK Stadium.

- The teams also met in the U.S. Open Cup for a third consecutive year, United getting a hat trick from Dwayne De Rosario for a 3-1 fourth-round victory on June 12 at the Maryland Soccerplex.

Chicago Fire vs. Montreal Impact, 8:30 p.m.

- Mike Magee regained the lead in the MLS Golden Boot standings with his 14th goal--the game-winner for a 2-1 win at Philadelphia on Saturday. It was his eighth goal in 10 games since coming to Chicago

- Jeb Brovsky scored his first goal in his professional career, but it wasn't enough to keep the Impact from a 3-1 defeat at D.C. United on Saturday.

- The Impact face the San Jose Earthquakes in the CONCACAF Champions League midweek at Stade Saputo, one of two CCL games involving MLS clubs.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Andres Romero and Marco Di Vaio scored second-half goals to lead the Impact to a 2-0 victory April 27 at Stade Saputo.

Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution, 8:30 p.m.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. They reached a scoreless draw March 23 at Gillette Stadium.

- Sporting are unbeaten in their last five meetings overall with the Revolution, and have a 412-minute shutout streak alive vs. the Revolution. Their last goal conceded in the series was on July 30, 2011. New England hasn't won in Kansas City since 2008.

- Dom Dwyer scored his first MLS goal, but Sporting still suffered their second consecutive defeat overall - and their fourth Sporting Park loss this year - in a 3-2 reversal by New York on Saturday.

- Before the league match, Sporting face a tricky trip to Nicaragua to face Real Estelí in their first CONCACAF Champions League match.

- The Revolution saw a two-game winning streak come to an end, but lost for the second consecutive match at Gillette Stadium, in a 1-0 Toronto FC triumph on Sunday evening.

Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo, 9:30 p.m.

- Alvaro Saborío scored his fourth goal in the last three games - converting a penalty kick following an hour-long lightning delay - but later left injured during RSL's 2-2 draw Saturday at Colorado.

- Will Bruin scored his first goal since May 8 and Brad Davis his first since May 26 as the Dynamo defeated Columbus 3-1 on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium. Their undefeated streak is now extended to four games.

- Real last defeated Houston on May 13, 2010, a 3-1 win at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Dynamo have won two of three meetings since, including a 1-0 win last Sept. 6 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

- RSL is 0-8-1 lifetime in Houston. Earlier this year, Real won for the first time ever in the state of Texas after 22 games in a 3-0 victory against FC Dallas on July 13.

Sunday, August 11

FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

- For the first time in club history, FC Dallas have gone five consecutive league matches without scoring a goal following their 3-0 loss at Seattle Sounders FC. FCD has now gone 450 minutes wihtout hitting the back of the net in league play, the ninth-longest streak in MLS history.

- The Galaxy return to league play coming off a third consecutive defeat away from StubHub Center, a 2-0 loss at Colorado on July 27.

- In the Galaxy's 2-1 victory against Italian side Juventus in Saturday's friendly at Dodger Stadium, Robbie Keane played for the first time since July 13 and scored a goal. The Galaxy face a match in Miami against AC Milan before their league game in Frisco.

- The teams are meeting for a third time this season. George John scored the game's only goal on a late header for an FC Dallas home win on April 13. Marcelo Sarvas and Hector Jimenez scored second-half goals to give the Galaxy a 2-0 home win July 7.

Chivas USA vs. Colorado Rapids, 11 p.m. (UniMas)

- The Rapids extended their undefeated streak to seven games - their longest since a club-record nine-game run in 2011 - in winning the Rocky Mountain Cup for the first time since 2006 following a 2-2 home draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

- Making his third consecutive start in his return to MLS following nearly a 10-year absence, Carlos Bocanegra was sent off during Chivas USA's 2-0 loss at San Jose on Saturday.

- The teams are meeting for a third time this season, and the Rapids have won both previous matches while not allowing a goal. A Deshorn Brown penalty kick was enough for a 1-0 win April 13 in Carson, and Atiba Harris and Nate Sturgis scored in a 2-0 May 25 victory.

- The Rapids have not lost to Chivas USA since March 21, 2009, going 8-0-2 in the 10 matches since. The Rapids have won on each of their last four visits to take on Chivas in Carson over the past four seasons.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 5, 2013


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