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Week 12 Brings MLS to Levi's Stadium; Old Friends Meet in Salt Lake - This Week in MLS

May 18, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Sporting KC hosts in-form New England Revolution

Sporting Kansas City (3-2-5) welcome the New England Revolution (5-2-4) to Sporting Park for a midweek clash on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). Sporting KC's match against the Colorado Rapids this past weekend was postponed due to inclement weather and will be rescheduled at a later date. The Revolution played to a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC, extending their home unbeaten streak to 14 games (10-0-4) and their overall unbeaten streak to nine games (5-0-4). Sporting KC leads the overall series 23-16-11, but New England won all three matchups between the two sides last season. With a win, New England will overtake FC Dallas atop the Supporters' Shield race while SKC would move into fifth place in the Western Conference standings.

Columbus Crew SC seek fourth straight home win vs. Chicago Fire

Both Columbus Crew SC (4-4-2) and the Chicago Fire (3-5-1) are looking to rebound from Week 11 losses on the first leg of Viernes de Futbol at 8 p.m. ET (Univision Deportes Network). After falling 2-0 at San Jose on Saturday, Crew SC returns to MAPFRE Stadium where they have secured three consecutive wins. Columbus has outscored opponents 10-3 during its home unbeaten run thanks to outstanding production from Kei Kamara, Ethan Finlay, Justin Meram and Federico Higuain. The Fire head to Columbus seeking their first road win of the season after letting one slip out of their grasp at New York City FC last weekend. Despite its road struggles, Chicago remains on the periphery of the Eastern Conference playoff picture -currently tied with Toronto FC for sixth place.

LA Galaxy hosts Houston Dynamo, look to remain undefeated at StubHub Center

The second leg of Viernes de Futbol heads to southern California where the LA Galaxy (3-4-5) hope to remain unbeaten at home versus the visiting Houston Dynamo (4-4-4) at 10:30 p.m. ET (Univision Deportes Network). LA fell 4-0 to Orlando City SC on Sunday - marking its most lopsided loss since 2013 - but returns determined more than ever to StubHub Center where it has not lost since March 2014. Robbie Keane missed his seventh consecutive match with a lingering groin injury, and while the reigning MVP resumed workouts last week, his status for Friday is yet to be determined. Houston, meanwhile, is on its first winning streak of the season following a 3-1 win over Portland. Will Bruin's brace propelled the Dynamo to Saturday's win, but Giles Barnes continued his torrid goal-scoring pace with yet another tally. The Jamaican international netted his sixth goal, putting him on track to shatter his previous career-high of 11, which he set last season. LA and Houston met earlier this year on March 21 at StubHub Center and played to a 1-1 draw.

Toronto FC seek first MLS win at remodeled BMO Field vs. Portland Timbers

Toronto FC (3-5-1) returns to freshly renovated BMO Field for their second MLS home match of the season at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday (TSN). TFC hosts the Portland Timbers (3-4-4) on the heels of an impressive 1-1 draw in New England, which extended the club's road unbeaten streak to three games. The Reds now need to replicate that success on their home turf, but they face a Portland side that has accrued a stingy 2-3-1 road record. This match concludes a three-game road swing for the Timbers, which lost 3-1 in Houston on Saturday but won in Montreal two weeks ago. Diego Valeri's return has ignited the club's struggling attack, as the Argentinian midfielder now has a goal and an assist in just 194 minutes on the season. While Valeri returns to form, TFC may be without a key piece of their own in Jozy Altidore, who left Saturday's match early with a hamstring injury. The home side is undefeated in three all-time meetings between these two clubs.

NYCFC's Jason Kreis returns to Rio Tinto Stadium to take on former club

Former RSL head coach and player Jason Kreis and a host of former Real Salt Lake players (Ned Grabavoy, Chris Wingert, Sebastian Velasquez, Josh Saunders) return to Rio Tinto Stadium as Real Salt Lake (3-3-5) host New York City FC (1-6-4) this Saturday at 10 p.m. ET (MLS LIVE). During his seven-year run as RSL's head coach, Kreis led the club to two MLS Cup appearances, winning the title in 2009 and falling short in 2013. Last Friday, a stoppage-time goal from NYCFC's Khiry Shelton, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, helped put an end to his club's four-match losing streak in a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire at Yankee Stadium. RSL forward Devon Sandoval's first goal of the season wasn't enough to jumpstart a comeback in his side's 4-1 loss to the Montreal Impact last Saturday.

I-95 showdown between Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls

Philadelphia Union (2-7-3) visit the New York Red Bulls (4-1-5) for an I-95 showdown at Red Bull Arena to kick off this week's edition of MLS Soccer Sunday at 5 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes). This past Sunday, Union put an end to D.C. United's eight-game unbeaten streak as a stoppage-time goal from Homegrown signing Zach Pfeffer propelled the club to a 1-0 victory over the current Supporters Shield' leaders. The Red Bulls remained unbeaten against Western Conference sides this year as they came away with a scoreless draw against FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas last Friday. The Red Bulls are 5-0-1 in six games at home against Union, while Philadelphia is 2-1-2 in their last five games overall against the Red Bulls.

MLS returns to Levi's Stadium as the Earthquakes host Orlando City SC; Wondolowski one shy of 100 career goal mark

Renowned Levi's Stadium will host a different type of football this weekend on MLS Soccer Sunday as the San Jose Earthquakes (5-4-2) host Orlando City SC (3-5-3) at 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes). Last week, San Jose defeated Columbus Crew SC 2-0 behind goals from Shea Salinas and U.S. international Chris Wondolowski. The goal from Wondolowski was his 99th career goal, putting him on the verge of becoming just the ninth MLS player with 100 career goals in league play. Orlando City earned their first victory of the season at home in front of 40,122 at the Citrus Bowl with a 4-0 thumping of defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy. Brazilian superstar Kaká had a goal and an assist while also paying tribute to fellow teammate Kevin Molino, who is sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury, by wearing his jersey as he celebrated his converted penalty. Orlando City will look to come away with three points in their first visit to the Golden State, while the Earthquakes will try to extend their four-game unbeaten run (2-0-2).

MLS national TV schedule

Wednesday, May 20

Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution, 8 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

Friday, May 22

Columbus Crew SC vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m. (UDN)

LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo, 10:30 p.m. (UDN)

Saturday, May 23

Toronto FC vs. Portland Timbers, 5 p.m. ET (TSN)

Sunday, May 24

New York Red Bulls vs. Philadelphia Union, 5 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes)

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Orlando City SC, 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes)

Montreal Impact return to Amway Canadian Championship final

The Montreal Impact secured a seat in the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship final last Wednesday, moving one step closer to another CONCACAF Champions League bid. Montreal defeated Toronto FC 3-3 on aggregate thanks to a pair of away goals from Dominic Oduro and Kenny Cooper in the second leg. TFC had the Impact on the ropes late in the waning minutes of the match, but Oduro's 84th-minute strike pushed Montreal through.

The other semifinal will be concluded this week when Vancouver Whitecaps FC and FC Edmonton play the second leg of their tie on Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET (MLS LIVE). The first meeting was postponed due to a snowstorm in Edmonton two weeks ago, but the clubs played to a 1-1 draw at Vancouver's BC Place last week.

LAFC unveils plans for 22,000 seat soccer-specific stadium

LAFC's ownership unveiled on Monday its plans for a 22,000 seat soccer-specific stadium at the Sports Arena site in Los Angeles. The stadium, which still needs approval from both the L.A. City Council and Coliseum Commission, would become the most expensive privately financed soccer stadium in the United States. Additionally, it would become the first open-air sports venue built in Los Angeles since 1962 (Dodger Stadium). If approved, the 15-acre complex is expected to be complete when LAFC makes its Major League Soccer debut in 2018.

For more information, please visit https://lafc.com/.

Four MLS venues to host Olympic Qualifying Championship games

CONCACAF has announced that four MLS stadiums will host matches for the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, which will run from October 1-13. Selected as host venues were Sporting Kansas City's Sporting Park, the LA Galaxy's StubHub Center, the Colorado Rapids' Dick's Sporting Goods Park and Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto Stadium. The tournament will pit the U-23 national teams of the United States, Mexico, Canada and five other to-be-determined CONCACAF nations against each other. The eight countries will be split into two groups of four with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semifinals. The competition's two finalists will automatically qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, and the third-place finisher will take on Colombia in a playoff for an additional spot.

U.S. Women's National Team buries Mexico 5-1 as buildup to Women's World Cup continues

A capacity crowd of 27,000 was on hand for the U.S. Women's National Team's 5-1 thrashing of Mexico at StubHub Center on Sunday afternoon. The match marked the team's second consecutive sellout in the buildup toward its opening Women's World Cup match on June 8 vs. Australia (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports). Both Sydney Leroux-wife of Sporting Kansas City's Dom Dwyer-and Abby Wambach recorded braces, while Missouri native Lori Chalupny turned in the team's fifth goal. Dating back to the beginning of 2015, the USWNT has registered a 7-1-1 record while outscoring opponents 19-4. The send-off series concludes at Red Bull Arena on April 30, when the U.S. women face Korea Republic.

Quotables

"He's a guy that can score in any way, and can play anywhere on the field. The main thing I really like about him is him scoring from anywhere and anyway possible. Just being hungry to score and being a beast in the game and that's really what I need to work on, just to be hungry to score and be sharp and be ready for any situation and you never know when those balls are going to come to you anytime."

Orlando City SC rookie Cyle Larin on emulating his game after Didier Drogba

Cyle Larin has impressed during Orlando city's difficult start to MLS life (ESPNFC.com)

"You want to hug everybody because everyone helped me a lot. It was a way to say thanks."

Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri on scoring his first goal after returning from his ACL injury

Timbers look to Diego Valeri to once again spark attack in Houston (The Oregonian)

"I figured now is the time if I'm ever going to grow it out. This is a good chance with this profession when you can look a little untamed. I know post-soccer I'll probably have to be a little more well-groomed and manicured so now's the time to kind of give it a try. If I like it, great. If I don't, I can always cut it and go back to the standard look."

Columbus Crew SC defender Chad Barson on growing his hair out

Bushy-haired Barson all business on field (Columbus Dispatch)

"One thing I really wanted to push him to do when he got here was to get settled with what you're doing off the field, dive into this community, dive into the people who know him. He's from here. He has family here and is a part of New England, so can say, 'I'm going to be here, and I can let that anxiety go away.' And I think it's shown. He's made this his team. The locker room loves him."

New England Revolution head coach Jay Heaps on Charlie Davies first getting acclimated to the team when he arrived in 2013

Settled, focused and evolved, Charlie Davies regains his scoring touch (SI.com)

Sweet Tweets

Michael Lahoud (@MikeLahoud): Cheers to the new Mayor of Philly @ZachPfeffer_27!! Great win tonight! Feels great to #DOOP again. The fans were

https://twitter.com/MikeLahoud/status/600112150418464768

Jermaine Jones (@Jermainejunior): Great win #USWNT!!! Hope dreams come true and you bring the cup home! @sydneyleroux @alexmorgan13

https://twitter.com/Jermainejunior/status/600147265450278912

Kaka (@KAKA): Get well soon buddy! _nash10 https://instagram.com/p/2zqHulMY2b/

https://twitter.com/KAKA/status/600131604426596353

Chad Barrett (@CBarrett19): STRIKE!!! @clint_dempsey with the 'Terminator'. Caught by King Felix. Sunday Funday with the boys.#GoMariners

https://twitter.com/CBarrett19/status/600032130287075328

Erik Palmer-Brown (@ErikBrown14): Graduation then rushing off to the airport to meet up with the team in Australia!

https://twitter.com/ErikBrown14/status/599992487046840320

Week 12 Game Previews

Wednesday, May 20

Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

- Sporting saw their scheduled match with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening at Sporting Park postponed due to inclement weather. In their last match, Sporting extended their undefeated streak to three games in a 1-1 draw with D.C. United on May 9 at RFK Stadium.

- The Revolution stretched their undefeated run to nine matches in a second consecutive draw, reaching a 1-1 result with Toronto FC on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium. It's the second-longest unbeaten streak in club history.

- The Revolution won all three meetings between the clubs a season ago. They won 3-2 on Sept. 26 in the only meeting at Sporting Park - it was New England's first in in Kansas City since 2008, a 3-1 win on April 9, ending an eight-game winless streak there.

- When the Revolution took the first game of the series last season, a 2-0 win at Gillette Stadium on April 26, it ended a six-game Sporting undefeated streak in league play, and the goals were their first scored in the series since July 30, 2011, snapping a 592-minute shutout streak.

Friday, May 22

Columbus Crew SC vs. Chicago Fire, 8 p.m. ET (UDN)

- Crew SC remained winless away from home this season with a second consecutive defeat on the road, falling 2-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening. Crew SC has not scored a goal in their last 309 minutes of play away from MAPFRE Stadium; they have scored 10 goals over their last three home games.

- The Fire put an end to a brief two-game losing run, playing to a 2-2 draw with New York City FC on Friday evening at Yankee Stadium, as Jeff Larentowicz scored for a second consecutive match from the penalty spot.

- Crew SC hasnn't lost to the Fire in the last three meetings in the series, coming away with a win and a draw a year ago. The last Fire victory was a 2-1 win in Columbus, June 22, 2013.

- Crew SC hasn't won at Toyota Park since the 2006 season. In the 13 meetings in all competitions since in Bridgeview, the Fire have won eight, with five draws, including a victory in the lone Bridgeview meeting a season ago.

LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo, 10:30 p.m. ET (UDN)

- The Galaxy saw their overall road winless streak in MLS league and cup play extended to 13 games following a 4-0 defeat by Orlando City SC on Sunday afternoon at the Citrus Bowl - the club's heaviest defeat since a 5-0 loss to New England in 2013.

- The Dynamo have won back-to-back games for the first time this season as Will Bruin hit for multiple goals in a game for the sixth time in his MLS career in a 3-1 win against the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. The Galaxy's Robbie Keane and the Dynamo's Nate Sturgis traded goals in the opening 11 minutes as the clubs reached a 1-1 draw, March 21 at StubHub Center.

- The Galaxy's last league victory against the Dynamo came May 25, 2011, a 1-0 win in Carson. The Dynamo had won four consecutive league meetings between the teams before the draw in first encounter this year. The Dynamo have come away with points on their last two regular season trips to StubHub Center.

Saturday, May 23

Toronto FC vs. Portland Timbers, 5 p.m. ET

- Toronto FC extended their undefeated streak on the road to three games, Michael Bradley scoring his first goal of the season to leave his side in a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium.

- The Timbers conclude a three-game road swing with the visit to BMO Field, starting with a 2-1 win in Montréal before suffering a 3-1 defeat at the Houston Dynamo over the weekend.

- The visiting team has never won in the all-time series between the clubs. TFC has won two of three meetings all-time at BMO Field, with one draw, including a 3-2 victory there last Sept. 27.

- The Timbers have won one of the two meetings at Providence Park, with one draw, their lone victory in the all-time series coming there in a 4-0 triumph Sept. 7, 2013.

New England Revolution vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. ET

- The Revolution extended their home undefeated streak to 14 games in league play, a club record, with their draw with Toronto FC. They have not lost at Gillette Stadium in 16 games in all competitions, dating back to last July 30.

- United saw their eight-game undefeated streak put to an end in dramatic fashion, Philadelphia Union scoring the lone goal of the game deep in stoppage time for a victory Sunday evening at PPL Park. The streak was the fifth-longest in United club history, the longest since the 2007 season.

- The teams split their season series a year ago, each club winning at home. United took a 2-0 win April 5 at RFK Stadium; the Revolution returned the favor with a 2-1 win, May 24 at Gillette Stadium.

- United lead the all-time series with 29 victories; the Revolution have won 26, with 9 draws. United have also won two of the three series all-time in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Montreal Impact vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m. ET

- The Impact claimed their first league win of the season, in their sixth start, in impressive fashion, rolling to a 4-1 win against Real Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon at Stade Saputo. Andrés Romero scored the first multiple-goal game of his MLS career.

- FC Dallas extended their undefeated run to five games following their goalless draw with the New York Red Bulls on Friday evening at Toyota Stadium.

- FC Dallas have never lost to the Impact. FCD has won both meetings all-time at Toyota Stadium, including a 3-2 victory last March 8 in the only meeting between the teams.

- The only meeting all-time at Stade Saputo ended in a scoreless draw, July 20, 2013.

Colorado Rapids vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 9 p.m. ET

- The Rapids will put their streak of four consecutive draws and five games without a victory on the line against Whitecaps FC after their scheduled match at Sporting Kansas City on Saturday evening was postponed due to storms.

- Whitecaps FC hit the road after a third home loss in seven games this season at BC Place, Seattle Sounders FC taking a 2-0 win Saturday afternoon.

- The Rapids took two of the three meetings between the clubs a year ago, including a 2-1 win at Vancouver on April 5, the second victory ever for the Rapids at BC Place.

- The Rapids have won the last three meetings between the teams at Dick's Sporting Goods Park; Whitecaps FC won there in 2012 for their lone triumph on the Rapids' home ground.

Real Salt Lake vs. New York City FC, 10 p.m. ET

- Real Salt Lake saw a three-game unbeaten run end in a 4-1 loss at the Montréal Impact on Saturday to conclude a two-game road swing.

- RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando saw his remarkable success continue while facing penalty kicks. For his career, Rimando has faced 68 penalty kicks total, and has seen 25 of those missed. Eight of the last 10 penalty kicks Rimando has faced in league play have not been successful.

- NYCFC ended their four-game losing streak in dramatic fashion but still saw their winless run reach nine games, as Khiry Shelton scored a stoppage-time equalizer for his first professional goal in a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire on Friday evening at Yankee Stadium.

- The only meeting between the clubs this season, it will be the first for NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis against his former club, where he guided their fortunes from 2007-13, winning MLS Cup 2009 in the process.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 10 p.m. ET

- Chad Barrett scored two goals in a game for the sixth time in his MLS career - the first time since 2010 - as Sounders FC took a 2-0 win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday afternoon.

- Clint Dempsey extended his streak to eight games with a goal and/or an assist - every game he's played this season - with an assist vs. Vancouver. The MLS record is 11 games with at least a goal or an assist, set three times previously.

- Sounders FC have an eight-game league unbeaten streak alive against Sporting, including a 1-0 win at CenturyLink Field last March 8 in the only meeting between the teams. Since a 1-0 KC win in 2009 in the first meeting ever between the clubs, Seattle has won seven matches (with one draw).

- The teams did meet in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup Final, Sporting winning in a penalty-kick shootout after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes in K.C., ending Sounders FC's three-year hold on the Open Cup title.

Sunday, May 24

New York Red Bulls vs. Philadelphia Union, 5 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

- The Red Bulls were shut out at the attacking end for the first time this season, yet still came away with a point in a scoreless draw with FC Dallas on Friday evening at Toyota Stadium.

- Union scored their first goal in 296 minutes in high drama, snapping a four-game losing slide as Zach Pfeffer scored deep into stoppage time for a 1-0 victory vs. D.C. United on Sunday evening at PPL Park.

- The teams evenly split their season series a year ago, each winning once on their home ground, with the third and final meeting a draw at PPL Park.

- The Red Bulls are 5-0-1 in home games vs. Philadelphia, having outscored Union 9-3, and also won a U.S. Open Cup game there in 2010.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Orlando City SC, 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)

- Chris Wondolowski scored his second goal in as many games and moved to within one goal of the lead in the MLS Golden Boot standings with his sixth of the season, as the Quakes extended their undefeated streak to four games with a 2-0 win against Columbus Crew SC on Saturday evening at Avaya Stadium.

- Orlando City SC won for the first time ever as an MLS club at the Citrus Bowl, rolling to a 4-0 victory against the LA Galaxy on Sunday afternoon. Kaká scored a goal - his first since April 12 - and added an assist.

- The victory was the largest ever for an MLS expansion team against the defending champions from the previous season. Expansion teams have knocked off the MLS Cup holders just four times previously; the first was the Miami Fusion's 3-1 win against D.C. United in 1998, the largest ever prior to the OCSC win.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 18, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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