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Toronto FC's Alejandro Pozuelo Has An MLS Debut for the Ages: MLS News & Notes

April 3, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Alejandro Pozuelo had a Major League Soccer debut for the ages when he paced Toronto FC to a 4-0 win against New York City FC last week.

Pozuelo scored a pair of goals, both from audacious chip shots - one from a penalty kick and one from open play - and added an assist on TFC's opening goal of the match.

Pozuelo became the 17th player in MLS history to score two goals on his debut (no player has ever scored a hat trick in his first league match). The last to net a brace in his first league contest was Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who did it almost a year previous to the day (March 31, 2018) for the LA Galaxy.

Pozuelo is just the third player in MLS history to score a pair of goals and add an assist in his MLS league bow. The first happened in just the second week of MLS history, when Brian McBride scored twice and assisted once in the first game ever for the Columbus Crew, April 13, 1996. The feat was then repeated by Fredy Montero, when he made his debut for Seattle Sounders FC on March 19, 2009.

TWO GOALS PLUS ASSIST ON MLS DEBUT

Brian McBride 4/13/1996 CLB vs DC, W 4-0

Fredy Montero 3/19/2009 SEA vs NY, W 3-0

Alejandro Pozuelo 3/29/2019 TOR vs NYC, W 4-0

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau

GOAL RECORDS SHATTERED ACROSS LEAGUE ON EXPLOSIVE DAY

Saturday, March 30 was a record-breaking goalscoring day on many fronts across Major League Soccer.

Leading the way was Sporting Kansas City, which scored a club-record seven goals on their way to a 7-1 victory against the Montréal Impact - just the sixth team in MLS history to net seven goals or more in a single game.

MOST GOALS, ONE TEAM (ONE GAME)

8 LA 6/4/1998 LA 8 at DAL 1

7 LA 5/6/1998 LA 7 vs COL 4

7 CHI 7/4/2001 CHI 7 at KC 0

7 NYR 5/21/2016 NYR 7 at NYC 0

7 ATL 9/13/2017 ATL 7 vs NE 0

7 KC 3/30/2019 KC 7 vs MTL 1

Sporting were one of four teams to set club records on Saturday. The Los Angeles Football Club defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 5-0 at Avaya Stadium, matching their club record for goals in a game, also with the largest margin of victory in the club's brief existence. For both the Earthquakes and the Impact, they set records for most goals conceded in a single game, with both losses the heaviest for each club in their MLS histories.

The Sporting six-goal margin of victory was also one goal shy of the all-time MLS record, the 12th team in league annals to win a game by at least six goals. SKC own three of the 12 largest victories in MLS history, most of any team.

LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY

7 LA 6/4/1998 LA 8 at DAL 1

7 CHI 7/4/2001 CHI 7 at KC 0

7 NYR 5/21/2016 NYR 7 at NYC 0

7 ATL 9/13/2017 ATL 7 vs NE 0

6 KC 6/20/1999 KC 6 vs MET 0

6 NY 8/26/2006 NY 6 vs RSL 0

6 RSL 4/25/2009 RSL 6 vs NE 0

6 DAL 8/1/2009 DAL 6 vs KC 0

6 LA 9/5/2014 LA 6 vs COL 0

6 KC 4/20/2018 KC 6 vs VAN 0

6 RSL 8/25/2018 RSL 6 at COL 0

6 KC 3/30/2019 KC 7 vs MTL 1

In all, 32 goals were scored in the nine matches on Saturday - with a goal differential of plus-22 for the winning teams, the largest in a single day in league history. Over the entire match round, 42 goals were scored, the third-most in MLS history (and the second-most this season).

HIGHEST GOAL DIFFERENTIAL, SINGLE DAY

GOALS GAMES GD

3/30/2019 32 9 +22

10/22/2017 46 11 +20

10/25/2015 34 10 +20

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau

RAPIDS SET RECORD IN GIVING UNTO OPPONENTS

The Colorado Rapids were involved in history of a different sort in their 4-1 loss to the Houston Dynamo at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.

The Dynamo received two goals courtesy of own goals by the Rapids - the 14th time in MLS history multiple own goals occurred in the same match.

But it was the sixth time in league annals one team put multiple goals into their own net. Remarkably, of those six occasions, three have been performed by the Colorado Rapids.

MULTIPLE OWN GOALS, ONE TEAM (ONE GAME)

6/16/2001 DAL 6 at COL 3 Scott Vermillion (COL) 5

6/16/2001 DAL 6 at COL 3 Lance Key (COL) 56

6/22/2002 SJ 4 vs COL 0 Rick Titus (COL) 63

6/22/2002 SJ 4 vs COL 0 Ritchie Kotschau (COL) 89

6/25/2005 SJ 3 vs LA 0 Michael Umana (LA) 65

6/25/2005 SJ 3 vs LA 0 Tyrone Marshall (LA) 68

6/6/2015 ORL 3 at CHI 2 Adailton (CHI) 40

6/6/2015 ORL 3 at CHI 2 Adailton (CHI) 86

3/30/2019 HOU 4 at COL 1 Axel Sjoberg (COL) 15

3/30/2019 HOU 4 at COL 1 Keegan Rosenberry (COL) 34

OFFENSIVE ERUPTION COULD BE AHEAD IN SAN JOSE THIS WEEKEND

An attacking eruption could be in store this Saturday at Avaya Stadium when the San Jose Earthquakes play host to the Portland Timbers.

Through the opening four games of the 2019 season, the teams have allowed the second- and third-most goals of any teams in MLS history after four matches - the Quakes having allowed 14, and the Timbers 12. Minnesota United FC set the MLS record, allowing 18 goals in the first four games of the club's MLS history in the 2017 season.

Of the 10 teams to allow 11 goals or more through the first four games in a year, three of those have come this season, with the Montréal Impact also now having conceded 11 goals this year.

MOST GOALS CONCEDED, FIRST FOUR GAMES OF SEASON

18 2017 Minnesota United FC

14 2019 San Jose Earthquakes

12 2019 Portland Timbers

11 2019 Montréal Impact

11 2010 D.C. United

11 2005 Chivas USA

11 2000 Chicago Fire

11 2000 D.C. United

11 1999 Miami Fusion

11 1999 Tampa Bay Mutiny

MLS WEEK 6 - LOOK AHEAD

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. LA GALAXY

Friday, April 5, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #53)

BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.

7 p.m. PT (TSN; SpecSN)

REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Chris Wattam; AR2 (opposite): Apolinar Mariscal; 4th: Alex Chilowicz; VAR: Silviu Petrescu; AVAR: Joshua Patlak

MLS Career: 271 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 97; pens: 102

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps 5 wins, 16 goals ... Galaxy 10 wins, 30 goals ... Ties 5

AT VANCOUVER: Whitecaps 3 wins, 13 goals ... Galaxy 2 wins, 12 goals ... Ties 4

Whitecaps FC gained their first point of the season after opening with three consecutive defeats, reaching a scoreless draw with Seattle Sounders FC at BC Place on Saturday evening.

The Galaxy won for a third time in four games to start the year, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a pair of goals - both from the penalty spot.

The Galaxy won the second meeting between the teams last year, a 3-0 win on Sept. 29 at Dignity Health Sports Park, their first win in the series in five games (since July 4, 2016 in Carson).

Whitecaps FC have a five-game undefeated streak on their home ground in the series (2-0-3), the last Galaxy win at BC Place coming on April 12, 2014. The teams reached a goalless draw in the lone meeting in Vancouver last year on March 24.

There has been a shutout in 11 of the past 13 meetings between the teams, dating back to 2013, including three scoreless draws.WHITECAPS FC: Maxime Crepeau was credited with three saves in making the shutout vs. Seattle, the first of his MLS career (in his seventh league start).

GALAXY: Zlatan Ibrahimovic recorded his seventh multiple-goal game in MLS, in his 29th league appearance. He was second in MLS in multiple-goal games in 2018 (Josef Martínez had seven). ... The Galaxy have won all three games this season at Dignity Health Sports Park, one of two teams with a 3-0-0 home record this season (along with the Los Angeles Football Club).

NEW YORK CITY FC vs. MONTREAL IMPACT

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #54)

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.

1 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; YES)

REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Adam Wienckowski; AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson; 4th: Lorant Varga; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Ian McKay

MLS Career: 81 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 28; pens: 48

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 5 wins, 17 goals ... Impact 1 win, 9 goals ... Ties 3

AT NEW YORK: NYCFC 2 wins, 10 goals ... Impact 1 win, 6 goals ... Ties 2

NYCFC suffered their first defeat of the season after three consecutive draws to open, falling 4-0 to Toronto FC at BMO Field on Friday evening.

The Impact conceded the most goals in a single game in the club's MLS history, falling 7-1 to Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park on Saturday evening. Saphir Taïder scored the lone Impact goal late, his third of the year.

NYCFC has a three-year and six-game undefeated streak alive in the series, with three wins and three draws over that time.

NYCFC won 3-0 last July 11 at Yankee Stadium, their first win in the Bronx vs. the Impact since the first meeting ever between the teams in 2015. They had reached draws there the previous two matchups, after the Impact's lone win in the series came on Aug. 1, 2015.

The teams played to a 1-1 draw in the lone meeting at Stade Saputo, on Sept. 22. NYCFC had won the first three meetings all-time in Montréal; the Impact have never won at home in the series.NYCFC: NYCFC's current four-game winless streak is tied for the fourth-longest in the club's history. ... The four goals allowed by NYCFC are tied for third-most in club history. It was the seventh time they've allowed at least four goals in a game - three of those have come vs. Toronto FC (now including two 4-0 defeats).

IMPACT: The previous Impact club record for goals allowed in an MLS game was five, set on three occasions, last coming last Sept. 29 in a 5-0 loss to D.C. United. ... Maximiliano Urruti collected an assist for a second consecutive game; he had a single-season MLS career-high 11 assists last year with FC Dallas. ... Daniel Lovitz recorded his first assist of the season; he had a single-season MLS career-high five assists last year.

D.C. UNITED vs. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #55)

Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

3 p.m. ET (FOX / FOX Deportes)

REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Kyle Atkins; AR2 (opposite): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; 4th: Marcos de Oliveira; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod

MLS Career: 77 games; FC/gm: 22.4; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 17; pens: 20

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 0 wins, 1 goal ... LAFC 0 wins, 1 goal ... Ties 1

AT D.C.: First meeting.

D.C. United remained undefeated on the season with a third win in four outings, defeating Orlando City SC 2-1 at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday evening.

Wayne Rooney scored a goal and added an assist - the goal coming directly from a free kick, already his third in his time in MLS (from 16 total goals). Rooney now has four goals and three assists this season, having played a part in seven of United's nine goals scored in 2019.

LAFC remained undefeated on the season with a fourth win in five outings, setting a club record for the biggest victory in their two MLS seasons in a 5-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Carlos Vela netted a hat trick, his first in his MLS career and the second in LAFC club history - now sitting atop the MLS Golden Boot standings with six goals for the season.

The teams played once in LAFC's inaugural season, reaching a 1-1 draw on May 26 at Banc of California Stadium.UNITED: Steve Birnbaum scored his eighth career MLS goal, his last coming last Sept. 8 vs. NYCFC. ... Wayne Rooney had at least one goal and one assist in the same game for a second consecutive match, the fourth time since coming to D.C. United and MLS (in 24 appearances).

LAFC: Carlos Vela added an assist, his third of the season, having played a part in nine of LAFC's 15 goals this season. ... Diego Rossi scored his third goal of the season, his second in as many games, and added his first assist of the year, the third time in his MLS career (in 37 games) he's had at least one goal and one assist in the same game. ... Steven Beitashour scored his first goal of the season, his last coming last June 9 vs. San Jose. Three of Beitashour's five career MLS goals have come with LAFC. Beitashour also added an assist, the second time he's had a goal and an assist in the same game. ... Tyler Miller was credited with two saves in making his first shutout of the season; last year Miller had 10 shutouts, tied for third-most in MLS.

TORONTO FC vs. CHICAGO FIRE

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #56)

BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.

3 p.m. ET (CTV / TSN; ESPN+)

REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Jeffrey Greeson; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Kieso; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Robert Schaap

MLS Career: 118 games; FC/gm: 22.4; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 26; pens: 28

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 11 wins, 49 goals ... Fire 9 wins, 44 goals ... Ties 9

AT TORONTO: Toronto FC 8 wins, 33 goals ... Fire 4 wins, 26 goals ... Ties 4

Toronto FC won their third game on the trot to open the season, strolling to a 4-0 win against New York City FC at BMO Field on Friday evening. It was an MLS debut to remember for Alejandro Pozuelo, scoring two remarkable goals from chip shots and adding an assist.

The Fire claimed their first victory of the 2019 season, defeating the New York Red Bulls by the game's only goal at SeatGeek Stadium - the only tally coming from an own goal.

The teams met three times a year ago, and TFC came away with points from all three, winning the last two a week apart, a 2-1 victory on July 21 in Bridgeview, Ill., and a 3-0 win on July 28 at BMO Field.

TFC now has a nine-game undefeated streak alive in the series (8-0-1), dating back to Sept. 26, 2015. The Fire's last victory in the series came on April 4, 2015, a 3-2 win at SeatGeek Stadium, which capped a 12-game Fire undefeated streak in the series (6-0-6), dating back to 2010.

TFC has won the past three meetings in Bridgeview, its only wins ever there. The Fire had come away with five wins and five draws in the first 10 meetings all-time in Bridgeview. TFC is undefeated in the past eight encounters at BMO Field.TFC: Jonathan Osorio collected a pair of assists, the second multiple-assist game of his MLS career (also: June 25, 2016 vs. Orlando City). ... Jay Chapman scored his first goal of the season, his fifth career MLS league goal.

FIRE: The victory marked the second time in Fire club history they had won a game with the only goal coming through an own goal (also: Oct. 22, 2009 vs. Chivas USA). ... Over the last three seasons, the Fire have benefited from five own goals - tied with D.C. United for the most in that time. ... David Ousted was credited with one save in keeping the clean sheet, his first of the season, the 43rd of his MLS career (in 163 appearances).

NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #57)

Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.

7 p.m. ET (MSG2; FS-North)

REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Chris Penso; VAR: Luis Guardia; AVAR: Gjovalin Bori

MLS Career: 13 games; FC/gm: 26.2; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 3; pens: 5

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Red Bulls 2 wins, 6 goals ... MNUFC 0 wins, 0 goals ... Ties 0

AT RED BULLS: Red Bulls 1 win, 3 goals ... MNUFC 0 wins, 0 goals ... Ties 0

The Red Bulls fell to their second consecutive defeat - both by the game's only goal - dropping a decision to the Chicago Fire at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

MNUFC lost their second game in a row following a pair of wins to start the campaign, falling 2-1 to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening. Darwin Quintero scored his third goal of the season - all coming from penalty kicks.

The Red Bulls have won both meetings between the clubs, and both by 3-0 scorelines, one at each ground. The Red Bulls last year won on March 24 at TCF Bank Stadium; they claimed the victory when the clubs met on July 22, 2017, at Red Bull Arena in Minnesota United's inaugural MLS season.RED BULLS: The Red Bulls have lost consecutive games in league play for the first time since suffering three losses in a row May 3-14, 2017 (vs. Sporting KC, Philadelphia, LA Galaxy). ... The Red Bulls have been shut out at the attacking end in back-to-back games for the first time since May 3-6, 2017.

MNUFC: Minnesota United have scored three goals from penalty kicks this season, tied for most in MLS (along with the LA Galaxy). In 2018, they scored just one goal from penalty kicks (from one attempt) - the fewest in the league (next lowest: Chicago, Colorado, New England, NYCFC, all with three).

PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. FC DALLAS

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #58)

Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.

7:30 p.m. ET (PHL 17; FCDTV Network)

REFEREE: Timothy Ford. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Nick Uranga; 4th: David Gantar; VAR: Kevin Stott; AVAR: Peter Manikowski

MLS Career: 2 games; FC/gm: 23.0; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 1; pens: 0

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Union 1 win, 11 goals ... FC Dallas 6 wins, 20 goals ... Ties 4

AT UNION: Union 1 win, 8 goals ... FC Dallas 1 win, 8 goals ... Ties 3

The Union won their second game in a row after a winless opening to the season, defeating FC Cincinnati 2-0 at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening. David Accam scored his third goal, all over the past two matches, while Marco Fabián netted his second of the year.

FC Dallas won for a second consecutive match and a third time in four games, defeating Real Salt Lake 4-2 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Paxton Pomykal, 19, netted a pair of goals - the first two of his MLS career - and 18-year-old Jesús Ferreira also scored, his second career tally, and added a pair of assists, the first two of his MLS career.

FC Dallas won the lone meeting between the teams last year, a 2-0 win on April 21 at Toyota Stadium, the 10th time in 11 matchups all-time they have taken points (6-1-4).

The Union won the last time the teams met at Talen Energy Stadium, a 3-1 victory on May 5, 2017, their only win in the series all-time. FC Dallas are 5-0-1 all-time vs. the Union in Frisco, Texas.UNION: David Accam also recorded an assist, a second consecutive game where he's had at least a goal and an assist in the same game, the ninth time in his MLS career. ... Andre Blake returned between the posts and was credited with one save in keeping his first clean sheet of the season, the 28th of his MLS league career (in 102 appearances). The Union have now not allowed a goal in the last 200 minutes.

FCD: Carlos Gruezo scored a goal, his first of the season and his third in MLS league play, the last coming last July 14 vs. Chicago. ... Matt Hedges recorded an assist, the third of his MLS league career, his last coming Sept. 27, 2015 at the LA Galaxy.

ORLANDO CITY SC vs. COLORADO RAPIDS

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #59)

Orlando City Stadium, Orlando, Fla.

7:30 p.m. ET (YouTube [ORL] / My65; Altitude)

REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Logan Brown; 4th: Elvis Osmanovic; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Kyle Longville

MLS Career: 242 games; FC/gm: 23.1; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 41; pens: 72

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Orlando City 3 wins, 6 goals ... Rapids 0 wins, 1 goal ... Ties 1

AT ORLANDO: Orlando City 2 wins, 4 goals ... Rapids 0 wins, 0 goals ... Ties 0

OCSC suffered their second loss of the season in five matches, falling 2-1 to D.C. United at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday evening. Dom Dwyer netted his third goal of the year, all in the past four matches.

The Rapids are still looking for a first win in the new season, suffering a third loss in five outings in a 4-1 defeat by the Houston Dynamo at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.

Kei Kamara scored the lone Rapids tally, the 114th goal of his MLS league career, now tied for fifth-most all-time with Ante Razov.

Orlando City SC have never lost to the Rapids, now with three wins and a draw in the four meetings all-time between the clubs.

OCSC has won the past two encounters, including a 2-1 victory last April 29 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the lone meeting between the teams. Orlando City have won both meetings all-time in Florida, both by 2-0 scorelines, last in 2017.OCSC: Nani recorded his third assist, tied for the MLS league lead, his first after gaining assists in the opening two matches of the season. ... Chris Mueller was credited with an assist, his second in as many games, the ninth of his MLS career.

RAPIDS: The Rapids had their winless streak extended to five games, the longest in MLS this season.

COLUMBUS CREW SC vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #60)

Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

7:30 p.m. ET (FS-Ohio; NBCS-Bos)

REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Ismir Pekmic; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Kevin Klinger

MLS Career: 11 games; FC/gm: 20.2; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 4; pens: 3

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Crew SC 36 wins (4 shootout), 110 goals ... Revolution 23 wins (1 shootout), 88 goals ... Ties 13

AT COLUMBUS: Crew SC 20 wins (1 shootout), 66 goals ... Revolution 8 wins (1 shootout), 39 goals ... Ties 7

Crew SC won their third game in the past four matches - all coming by shutout - defeating Atlanta United 2-0 at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Gyasi Zardes netted his third goal of the season.

The Revolution snapped a four-game winless run to open the season for their first victory, defeating Minnesota United FC 2-1 at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jalil Anibaba and Brandon Bye scored; Carles Gil contributed an assist, now involved in four of New England's five goals this season (three goals, one assist).

Crew SC won the second meeting between the teams a year ago, a 1-0 victory on May 19 at Gillette Stadium, their fourth victory over the last six meetings in league play dating back to 2016. The Revolution's only win in that span came on May 21, 2017, a 2-1 victory in Foxborough.

The teams reached a 2-2 draw at Mapfre Stadium on April 21 in their other meeting a year ago. The Crew have a five-game undefeated streak alive at home in the series (4-0-1); the last Revolution league win in Columbus was on Oct. 27, 2013, though the Revolution won the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series there in 2014.CREW SC: Pedro Santos scored his second goal in MLS, his last coming last March 24 vs. D.C. United. Santos has been involved in three of Crew SC's six goals this season (1 goal, 2 assists). ... Federico Higuaín was credited with his second assist of the season, now with 60 for his MLS league career.

REVOLUTION: Jalil Anibaba scored the sixth goal of his MLS league career, his first since April 5, 2015, while he was with Sporting KC. ... Brandon Bye scored the second goal of his MLS league career, his first coming last Sept. 15 at the Los Angeles Football Club. ... DeJuan Jones collected his first career assist.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #61)

Avaya Stadium, San Jose, Calif.

5 p.m. PT (NBCS-BA; ROOT-NW)

REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Michael Barwegen; 4th: Lukasz Szpala; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Chris Elliott

MLS Career: 103 games; FC/gm: 25.5; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 16; pens: 27

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Earthquakes 4 wins, 22 goals ... Timbers 10 wins, 30 goals ... Ties 7

AT SAN JOSE: Earthquakes 4 wins, 14 goals ... Timbers 2 wins, 10 goals ... Ties 4

The Quakes suffered their fourth loss of the season in four matches, falling 5-0 to the Los Angeles Football Club at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening. The loss matched the largest defeat in San Jose club history.

The Timbers saw their winless start continue with a third defeat in four matches, falling 2-1 to the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday evening. Jeremy Ebobisse netted his second goal of the season, while Diego Valeri contributed a third assist, tied for the MLS league lead.

The Timbers won both meetings between the teams a season ago, a 1-0 win on May 5 at Avaya Stadium, and a 2-1 win on July 7 at Providence Park.

The Timbers' victory in the first meeting was their first ever at Avaya Stadium in five meetings all-time, just the second victory by a visiting team in the all-time league series (the first coming in 2014, a Portland 2-1 win at Buck Shaw Stadium).

The Timbers have never lost to the Quakes at home in their MLS history. The Timbers have won eight of 11 meetings between the teams in Portland (with three draws), including the past six meetings there.QUAKES: The loss to LAFC was the heaviest for the Quakes at Avaya Stadium. They suffered a 5-0 loss to FC Dallas at Buck Shaw Stadium on Aug. 16, 2014. ... The Quakes had their losing streak extended to five games dating back to the final game last season, one game shy of the club record set twice previously (last: Sept. 1-Oct. 6 of last year). It's the longest losing run to open a season in Quakes club history.

TIMBERS: David Guzmán recorded his first assist of the season, his first since last Sept. 1, his lone assist of the 2018 league season. ... Jeremy Ebobisse has matched his single-season MLS career-high with his two goals (he scored two goals in nine appearances in 2018).

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. REAL SALT LAKE

Saturday, April 6, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #62)

CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.

7 p.m. PT (JOEtv / YouTube [SEA]; KMYU-12)

REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): Mike Kampmeinert; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Alex Chilowicz; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Joshua Patlak

MLS Career: 40 games; FC/gm: 26.9; Y/gm: 4.3; R: 6; pens: 16

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 9 wins, 27 goals ... Real 11 wins, 27 goals ... Ties 4

AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 8 wins, 20 goals ... Real 3 wins, 9 goals ... Ties 2

Sounders FC had their season-opening winning streak ended but still remain undefeated on the new year, following a goalless draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday evening.

Real suffered a third consecutive defeat, dropping a 4-2 decision to FC Dallas at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.

Real won both meetings between the teams a year ago, claiming both ends of a home-and-home series over consecutive weekends, first a 1-0 win on May 26 at CenturyLink Field, then a 2-0 win on June 2 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The RSL win in Seattle was just their second there all-time, the first since May 12, 2012, also a 1-0 victory. Sounders FC had won the previous seven league meetings between the teams at CenturyLink Field.

Real have won their past seven home games vs. Seattle; Sounders FC last won in league play in Sandy on May 28, 2011, a span of eight games (they did win there in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2012).SOUNDERS FC: Stefan Frei was credited with three saves in recording his second shutout of the season, the 68th of his MLS career, seventh-most all-time.

REAL: Marcelo Silva scored the first goal of his MLS league career, in his third season. ... Jefferson Savarino scored his first goal of the season, his 14th in 58 MLS league appearances. ... Albert Rusnák collected his first assist of the season, involved now in three of RSL's five goals for the year.

FC CINCINNATI vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY

Sunday, April 7, 2019 (Week 6, MLS Game #63)

Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

3 p.m. ET (ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes)

REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): Adam Garner; 4th: Ismir Pekmic; VAR: Jon Freemon; AVAR: Peter Balciunas

MLS Career: 131 games; FC/gm: 25.5; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 34; pens: 38

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting

FC Cincinnati had their two-game winning streak and three-game undefeated streak put to an end, falling 2-0 to the Philadelphia Union at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening.

Sporting scored the most goals in a single game in club history, the sixth team in MLS history to net seven goals or more in one game in a 7-1 defeat of the Montréal Impact at Children's Mercy Park.

Krisztián Németh scored a hat trick, his first in MLS, the ninth in SKC club history (and third in the last three seasons), while Johnny Russell added a pair of goals, now with three in the past two games.

The teams are meeting for the first time in FC Cincinnati's inaugural MLS season.FCC: FC Cincinnati were shut out at the attacking end for the first time in their MLS existence. ... Spencer Richey and FCC had their shutout streak put to an end after 312 minutes with the first Philadelphia goal, the second-longest shutout streak in MLS this season (D.C. United, 333). ... According to Opta, FC Cincinnati had 44 percent of possession against Philadelphia. FCC is winless when they have had less than 45 percent of possession (2L-1D) and unbeaten when the have more than 45 percent of the ball (2W).

SPORTING: Johnny Russell also had an assist, the second time in his MLS career he's been involved in three goals in a game (scoring a hat trick last April 20). ... Gerso Fernandes collected two assists, the second multiple-assist game of his MLS career (2 goals, 2 assists vs. San Jose, Sept. 15, 2018). ... Felipe Gutiérrez scored a goal and added an assist, the second time in his MLS career he's had at least a goal and an assist in the same game (1 goal, 2 assists vs. San Jose, Sept. 15, 2018). ... Roger Espinoza recorded two assists, the third multiple-assist game of his MLS career (the previous two both coming last season). ... Krisztian Nemeth was the third player this season to record a hat trick, needing just four shots to do so. D.C. United's Wayne Rooney needed 11 shots and LAFC's Carlos Vela took seven to get their hat tricks.

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Major League Soccer Stories from April 3, 2019


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