Sports stats



MLS Major League Soccer

Week Eight Welcomes Cascadia Cup, New Chapter of New York-LA Rivalry - This Week in MLS

April 20, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Chicago Fire, New York City FC meet for the first time on Viernes de Fútbol

New York City FC and the Chicago Fire open Viernes de Futbol's first doubleheader of the season at 8 p.m. ET (UDN) at Toyota Park. NYCFC hits the road on the heels of a tough stretch that included three games in eight days. The week took an unfortunate turn for the expansion club, which saw starters David Villa, Mix Diskerud, Jason Hernandez and Josh Williams sidelined by injuries. While NYCFC trudges through a five-game winless streak, Shaun Maloney and the Fire are trending up. The club responded to a 0-3 start with wins over Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union in their last two fixtures. Chicago carries momentum and fresh legs after nearly two weeks off, but NYCFC-despite its injury issues-is yet to lose a match by more than one goal.

FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids meet for second time in three weeks

FC Dallas travel to Dick's Sporting Goods Park looking to avenge a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Colorado Rapids two weeks ago in the tail end of this week's Viernes de Futbol doubleheader at 10 p.m. ET (UDN). Fabian Castillo's second career two-goal game helped FC Dallas rebound from their loss against Colorado with a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC in a game that was delayed over three hours due to weather. In the Mile High City, Gabriel Torres' second goal in as many matches wasn't enough as the Rapids fell to Seattle Sounders FC 3-1. Dallas will be poised to amend their loss against Colorado and stay near the top of the Supporters' Shield race, while the Rapids will look to replicate their performance against FC Dallas this season.

East Coast-West Coast rivalry rekindled as Red Bulls host Galaxy

A surging LA Galaxy trek cross-country to face an undefeated New York Red Bulls for the opening leg of Soccer Sunday's inaugural tripleheader at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes). The Red Bulls, now 3-0-2 following Friday's 2-0 win over San Jose, are the last MLS side without a loss. Newcomers Sacha Kljestan, Mike Grella, and Felipe Martins have joined Bradley Wright-Phillips and Lloyd Sam to give New York a well-balanced attack-something it will need to top LA. The Galaxy are kicking into gear after a pedestrian start to the season, securing wins versus Seattle and Sporting Kansas City in consecutive weeks. Although LA defeated New York, 4-0, in their lone matchup last season, it is yet to win at Red Bull Arena since the stadium opened in 2010. With both lineups likely at full strength come Sunday night, this match has the makings of a classic.

Toronto FC makes first visit to Sunshine State in matchup against Orlando City

Orlando City SC welcome a Toronto FC side making their first trip to the Sunshine State on MLS Soccer Sunday with an evening showcase at the Citrus Bowl at 7 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1, FOX Deportes, TSN). Orlando lost its first away game falling to Columbus Crew SC 3-0 last week. A two-goal performance from Toronto FC Designated Player Sebastian Giovinco wasn't enough as Toronto dropped their fourth consecutive match losing 3-2 to FC Dallas. Orlando City hope to win their first home game at the Citrus Bowl after dropping two consecutive heartbreakers in stoppage time against Vancouver Whitecaps FC and D.C. United.

Seattle Sounders FC host Portland Timbers in Cascadia Cup matchup

Seattle Sounders FC play host to archrival Portland Timbers to cap off MLS Soccer Sunday's tripleheader at 9:30 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1, FOX Deportes). Both clubs rebounded with wins on the road last week after losing the previous week. Seattle traveled to Colorado and came away with a 3-1 win thanks to a two-goal performance from Lamar Neagle and an Obafemi Martins golazo. The Timbers escaped Yankee Stadium with a 1-0 win over New York City FC behind Dairon Asprilla's first MLS goal and a string of big saves late in the game from goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey. Sounders FC are unbeaten in five regular season matchups at CenturyLink Field against Portland, going 3-0-2.

MLS National TV Schedule

Friday, April 24

Chicago Fire vs. New York City FC, 8 p.m. ET (UDN)

Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas, 10 p.m. ET (UDN)

Sunday, April 26

New York Red Bulls vs. LA Galaxy, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

Orlando City SC vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1, FOX Deportes, TSN)

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers, 9:30 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1, FOX Deportes)

Montreal Impact set for first leg of CONCACAF Champions League final

The stage is set for the CONCACAF Champions League final. On Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 2), Club América welcomes the Montreal Impact to renowned Estadio Azteca. The Impact are two matches away from capping off an improbable and historic run to the CCL final. Montreal can become the first Major League Soccer club to ever win the CONCACAF Champions League despite finishing last season with the fewest points in MLS. Real Salt Lake is the only other MLS club to appear in a Champions League final, but fell to Mexican side Monterrey 3-2 in the 2010-11 version of the tournament. Although leaving Azteca with a good result will be the Impact's toughest task yet, reinforcements are arriving in the form of Kenny Cooper, who signed with the club on April 12. Cooper brings 210 games of MLS experience and a much-needed boost to Montreal's injury-riddled attack.

Tottenham Hotspur to play MLS All-Stars

Major League Soccer announced last Wednesday that Tottenham Hotspur will face the MLS All-Stars in the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game. The annual showcase will be played July 29 at 9 p.m. ET at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids. The game will be televised live on FOX Sports 1, UniMás and Univision Deportes Network (UDN) in the United States, TSN and RDS in Canada. The game will also be broadcast around the globe to more than 100 countries via the League's international broadcast partners, Sky Sports in the UK, pan-European broadcaster Eurosport, Globosat in Brazil, and Abu Dhabi Media Company.

Founded in 1882, Spurs, as they are affectionately known, are a mainstay in the Barclays Premier League and regular participants in European competitions. The London-based club lifted the Football League Championship, now the Barclays Premier League championship, on two occasions (1951, 1961) as well as a host of domestic cups, including the FA Cup, which the club has won eight times.

Quotables

"I wanted to do something special for her. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for her. When I was in the dumps, she'd be one to pick me up. I didn't have a license for the longest time, so she'd drive me to practice like a school kid. Obviously the win is extremely important, but to score a goal for her on her birthday means a lot.''

New England Revolution forward Charlie Davies on celebrating his goal by revealing a "Happy Birthday Nina' t-shirt

Revolution had plenty in reserve in win (Boston Globe)

"The rehab process wasn't the worst part. The worst part was when I actually came back. I wasn't the same player. It took me probably an additional four to six months to get back into the groove to see the little spaces and gaps that I usually see on the field...It was frustrating me for a time. I actually thought about quitting soccer."

Houston Dynamo rookie midfielder Ben Lovejoy on persevering through injury to become an impact MLS player

Dynamo benefit from Lovejoy's resolve (Houston Chronicle)

"Closed my eyes, stuck my leg out and it ended up going in."

LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez on how he scored his 94th-minute game winner on Saturday

Galaxy uses a goal in stoppage time to beat Sporting KC, 2-1 (Los Angeles Times)

"For whatever reason right now, I honestly feel - I hate saying this, but I'm going to say it - I think we're getting quite unfortunate, unlucky. I have to believe that over the course of the season we'll get some luck on our side and this will all level out."

New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis on his team's five-game winless streak

Another late goal extends NYCFC's winless skid to five (New York Post)

"You have to move forward. It's the way you react. Everybody makes mistakes, so it's OK. It's one game. Not all the blame is on [Rafael Ramos.] We're a team, we win together and we lose together. What's more important right now is the reaction."

Orlando City SC midfielder Aurélien Collin on Rafael Ramos' red card and a 3-0 loss to Columbus Crew SC

Orlando City vows to learn from mistakes during ugly loss (Orlando Sentinel)

"When I look at Red Bull, I look at it as a tribe. Tribes live off the land-what's around them. From a Red Bull standpoint, how can we touch our community and live off it in such a way that we're embracing that community? Bringing in the right players, creating different ways to engage so that we finally create this identity as the New York Red Bulls. All of our decisions are dictated by that identity, by what we are as a tribe. I'm so excited by what's happening at this club and what we can achieve. There's a lot of energy here, and we'll keep feeding off each other."

New York Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis on establishing a new club identity and culture

Man with The Plan: Ali Curtiss task of revamping the Red Bulls (SI.com)

Sweet Tweets

Zac MacMath (@ZacMacMath): Always thinking of you Gabe and Eric. I know the @SonsofBen will never stop supporting like you did. #Family #Shertz

https://twitter.com/ZacMacMath/status/590155595371520000

Jermaine Jones (@JermaineJunior): It's nice flying back to Boston with 3 points in the bag!!! Thanks for having us Philly. #MLS #NERevs https://instagram.com/p/1rXUEUKGXm/

https://twitter.com/Jermainejunior/status/589957148106485760

Sebastian Velasquez (@TiaN_Futbol): Prayers Go Out To My Boy @TTaylor777 Great Player But Even Better Person Thanks For The Support, Family Stick Together Thru Tough Times []

https://twitter.com/TiaN_Futbol/status/589993204327518208

Jack Jewsbury (@JewsburyJ): Well that was fun!! Incredible presence by @timbersarmy tonight to have 400+ on hand in NYC!! https://twitter.com/JewsburyJ/status/589970475155070978

JJ Koval (@jjkoval): It's ok, Mexico. @JmoSmooth13 scored on Cal Poly this past weekend too.

https://twitter.com/jjkoval/status/588534126648680448

Blas Pérez (@superraton7): I found the real Mighty Mouse

https://twitter.com/superraton7/status/589881347188994048

Amobi Okugo (@amobisays): Never too high....never too low... Looking to turn things around at home #defyexpectations https://instagram.com/p/1q13nox5Fa/

https://twitter.com/amobisays/status/589884175215394816

Week Eight Game Previews

Friday, April 24

Chicago Fire vs. New York City FC, 8 p.m. ET (UDN)

- The Fire return to action after two weekends off, winning for a second consecutive match in their last outing, a 3-2 triumph against Toronto FC on April 4 at Toyota Park.

- Harry Shipp recorded a pair of assists in the win vs. TFC. He has three assists for the season and has played a part in three of the Fire's last four goals. He also scored the club's first goal of 2015 on March 22 at San Jose; he has a goal or an assist in four of the Fire's five goals this season.

- NYCFC saw their overall winless streak extended to five matches, and their winless streak at Yankee Stadium stretched to three games following their 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on Sunday.

Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas, 10 p.m. ET (UDN)

- Fabian Castillo scored his second career two-goal game in MLS, as FC Dallas snapped their three-game winless run with a 3-2 win against Toronto FC on Saturday at Toyota Stadium. Castillo's goal after just 29 seconds in the win vs. TFC was the quickest goal in FCD club history, and the 16th-fastest goal ever in MLS.

- Gabriel Torres scored for a second consecutive match, but the Rapids weren't able to build upon their first win of the year, falling 3-1 to Seattle Sounders FC at Dick's Sporting Goods Park over the weekend. Torres and Dillon Powers each have one goal and two assists this season; the pair has figured in every one of Colorado's six goals this season.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season, and the second time in three weeks. The Rapids put an end to their long winless and goalless streaks with a dominant 4-0 win vs. FC Dallas on April 10 at Toyota Stadium.

- FC Dallas won on their last trip to Dick's Sporting Goods Park, a 1-0 victory in the final meeting a year ago. The Rapids have won just one of their last four home matches against FCD. The Rapids' win in the first meeting this year was their first in Frisco since 2012, and ended a three-game FCD winning streak in the series.

Saturday, April 25

Columbus Crew SC vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET

- Kei Kamara scored his fourth goal of the season - tied for second in the MLS Golden Boot standings - and added his first assist of the season as Crew SC rolled to a 3-0 home win against Orlando City SC on Saturday.

- Union saw their brief two-game winless run come to an end in a 2-1 home loss to the New England Revolution on Sunday. Cristian Maidana scored Union's lone goal from a free kick, his first goal in MLS since May 31 of last season.

- Crew SC have a three-game winning streak alive vs. Union, all three victories coming a year ago. Union's last win in the series was a 3-0 victory June 5, 2013 at PPL Park.

- Crew SC have never lost to Union in Columbus. They have won five of six meetings there all-time, with one draw, including both matches in the Ohio state capitol a year ago.

New England Revolution vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m. ET

- The Revolution extended their undefeated streak to five matches, returning to their winning ways with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Philadelphia Union on Sunday afternoon. The Revolution conceded their first goal in 250 minutes, the fifth-longest shutout streak in MLS this season, in the win.

- RSL suffered their first defeat of the 2015 campaign, falling 1-0 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL were shut out at the attacking end for a second consecutive game.

- RSL has a seven-game undefeated streak alive in the series, the Revolution's last victory coming in 2009 in a 3-1 victory at Gillette Stadium. RSL has won six of the seven meetings since, with one draw, including victories each of the last three seasons in the lone meeting between the clubs.

- The Claret-and-Cobalt has won on each of their last three visits to Foxborough, since 2010. The Revolution have never won at Rio Tinto Stadium, their only victories in Utah having come at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the last in 2007.

Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. ET

- Ricardo Clark has scored goals in consecutive games for the fourth time in his MLS career after netting the Dynamo's goal in their 1-1 draw at D.C. United over the weekend. Each of Clark's last six goals have come in three pairs of back-to-back games.

- Sporting saw their four-game undefeated run put to an end in a 2-1 loss at the LA Galaxy on Saturday evening at StubHub Center. Krisztian Nemeth has scored the last two goals for SKC; Benny Feilhaber collected an assist, his fifth of the season to lead MLS.

- Each team won at the other's home ground in the two meetings a season ago. Sporting won 2-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium on June 6, then the Dynamo returned the favor with a 3-1 victory Aug. 29 at Sporting Park.

- The teams met three consecutive seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs from 2011-13, the Dynamo advancing in the first two meetings before SKC triumphed in the last. The 2011 and 2013 meetings were for the Eastern Conference Championship; both clubs find themselves in the Western Conference beginning this season.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. D.C. United, 10:30 p.m. ET

- Darren Mattocks scored his second goal of the season, as Whitecaps FC ended their brief two-game winless run with a 1-0 victory at Real Salt Lake. Mattocks has been involved in each of Vancouver's last three goals, over the last three matches.

- United stretched their undefeated run to four games with a second consecutive draw, playing to a 1-1 result with the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening at RFK Stadium.

- Since a 4-0 victory in the first meeting ever between the clubs, Aug. 13, 2011 at RFK Stadium, D.C United have not defeated Whitecaps FC. Vancouver has won two of the four encounters since, with two draws.

- The teams have not scored a goal in a meeting at BC Place since 2011, when Whitecaps FC took a 2-1 win. The last two matchups in British Columbia have ended in scoreless draws.

Sunday, April 26

New York Red Bulls vs. LA Galaxy, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

- The Red Bulls remain the only team in Major League Soccer without a defeat this season, improving their record to 3-0-2 with a 2-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday evening. It matches the longest undefeated start to a season in club history (they also went 3-0-2 to open 2007).

- Sacha Kljestan scored his first MLS goal since April 24, 2010, when he scored for Chivas USA, in the Red Bulls victory. Bradley Wright-Phillips - last year's MLS Golden Boot winner with 27 goals - recorded his third assist of the season on the Kljestan goal, tied for second-most in MLS this season.

- The Galaxy won their second consecutive game on the heels of a four-game winless run, defeating Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Saturday evening at StubHub Center, the winning goal scored deep in stoppage time by defender Omar Gonzalez off the substitutes' bench.

- The Galaxy took the lone meeting between the teams a season ago by a 4-0 scoreline, Sept. 28 at StubHub Center, their first victory vs. the Red Bulls since 2010. New York had won four of the five meetings in between, with one draw, including 1-0 wins in the only meeting in 2012 and 2013.

- The Red Bulls have won their last two home meetings with the Galaxy, after LA defeated New York 1-0 on Aug. 14, 2010, the first meeting ever between the clubs in Harrison.

Orlando City SC vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m. ET (FS1)

- Orlando City SC lost for the first time away from the Citrus Bowl, ending their two-game road swing with a 3-0 defeat at Columbus Crew SC on Saturday evening.

- The Lions have yet to win at home this season, following a dramatic draw with New York City FC in their first MLS match ever with a pair of losses (to Vancouver and D.C. United, the winning goal in each coming in stoppage time).

- Toronto FC saw their losing slide reach four games with a second consecutive 3-2 defeat, this time at FC Dallas on Saturday evening in the fifth match of their seven-game road swing to start the season.

- Sebastian Giovinco scored his first career two-goal game in MLS; he has three goals over the last two matches, and has been involved in each of TFC's last four goals.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers, 9:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

- Lamar Neagle had the third multiple-goal game of his MLS career, pacing Sounders FC to a 3-1 win against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening. Neagle's last two-goal game came May 11, 2013 vs. San Jose.

- The Timbers won their second match in their last three outings, Dairon Asprilla scoring his first MLS goal in a 1-0 win at New York City FC on Sunday afternoon.

- The teams had a wild season series a year ago. Sounders FC won two meetings, with one draw, as the clubs combined for 16 goals in the three games (Seattle scoring 10).

- The Sounders FC 4-2 victory in the final meeting last year, Aug. 24 at Providence Park, was just the second by the road team in the MLS league series between the teams. The Timbers have never won in Seattle in regular season play, though they did win there in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2013.

- Versions of the club have faced one another in the NASL, Western Soccer League, APSL/A-League/USL First Division and now MLS. Overall, the clubs have met 88 times in official competitions, Seattle winning 45 times, Portland winning 31, and 12 draws.

Check out the Major League Soccer Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from April 20, 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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central