West Coast Battle Charts Course to 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game - this Week in MLS

Published on July 28, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

The Los Angeles Galaxy travel to CenturyLink Field tonight for a heated contest with Seattle Sounders FC, kicking off a busy week of MLS matches leading up to the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on August 6. How fitting it is then that eight MLS All-Stars could potentially take the field in Seattle (ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes at 10:00 p.m. ET), including Landon Donovan, Omar Gonzalez and Robbie Keane for the Galaxy, and Osvaldo Alonso, Clint Dempsey, Chad Marshall, Obafemi Martins and DeAndre Yedlin for hosts Seattle. The Sounders led the league in All-Star selections with five.

The rare Monday night match is only the start as thirteen more MLS games will take place through Sunday. Midweek, Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls will be in search of important playoff points as they tangle in the Beehive State (July 30 on ESPN2 at 9:00 p.m. ET). The LA Galaxy will see out their week against another team from the Cascadia contingent when they host a resurgent Portland Timbers on Saturday, August 2 (NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET).

We Have Liftoff

Amidst the hectic week of matches, activities around the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game will start on Friday, August 1 with the opening of the MLS Experience at Pioneer Courthouse Square presented by adidas in downtown Portland.

On Sunday, August 3 at 4:30 p.m. PT, MLS Experience at Waterfront Park presented by AT&T will play host to The Flaming Lips Concert presented by AT&T and Samsung Galaxy S ® 5 Active €žÂ¢ with opening act Radiation City. The concert is free and open to the public and will be live streamed on www.MLSsoccer.com/concert.

Bill Yoachim of Vancouver Wins MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest presented by Wells Fargo

MLS WORKS on Friday announced Vancouver Whitecaps FC nominee William "Bill" Yoachim as the $10,000 Grand Prize winner of the 2014 MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest presented by Wells Fargo.

Yoachim has dedicated his life to advocating on behalf of Aboriginal youth and working to improve life conditions for future generations. As Executive Director of Kw'umut Lelum Child and Family Services and an elected member of Chief and Council for Snuneymuxw First Nation, he is also the co-founder and a key organizer of the annual Hope and Health movement, an event put on in partnership with Whitecaps FC that utilizes soccer to inspire hope and health across VI Coast Salish communities and the community at large.

The Hope and Health initiative was a natural extension of Yoachim's passion for soccer and desire to bring the community together in an event that fosters hope and health, over tragedy and despair, despite many challenges faced by Indigenous people.

National MLS Broadcasts

Monday, July 28

Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2)

Wednesday, July 30

Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:30 p.m. ET (TSN, RDS2)

Real Salt Lake vs. New York Red Bulls, 9:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

Friday, August 1

Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union, 8:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN, TSN2)

Saturday, August 2

LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers, 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC, TSN)

Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC, 5:00 p.m. ET (TSN, RDS)

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, TSN2)

Sunday, August 3

Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United, 8:00 p.m. ET (UDN)

AT&T Goal of the Week (Week 20)

With this evening's Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy game rounding out Week 20, voting will be posted to MLSsoccer.com tomorrow.

Sweet Tweets

@ikeopara - July 22 - Ike Opara, Sporting Kansas City

An #askfeilhaber would be wayyyyyy more entertaining than #askzusi #right?

@BigAfrika88 - July 24 - CJ Sapong, Sporting Kansas City

That carry-out @ChipotleTweets #clutch [cid:image004.png@01CFAA8A.048EF440]

@gbaum30 - July 24 - Andy Gruenebaum, Sporting Kansas City

@gzusi fun fact about Mr. Zusi: I offer him a starburst, any color, he wants yellow #safe #worstdecisionever #havethemall

@Ddwyer14 - July 25 - Dom Dwyer, Sporting Kansas City

Such an intense game of mafia after the team meal! 2hour seshhh, Clearly @MattBesler isn't happy being killed #Angry[cid:image005.png@01CFAA8A.048EF440]

@Tim_Cahill - July 26 - Tim Cahill, New York Red Bulls

No hard feelings mate @JackWilshere all in the spirit of the game. That's the @MillwallFC @Everton in me mate pic.twitter.com/mLkVAsyStQ

@amobisays - July 26 - Amobi Okugo, Philadelphia Union

NORMAN!!!! The man for the weekend... @uber for the win #seaisle pic.twitter.com/BXY3xdPrAM

@D6MERIT - July 26 - Jay DeMerit, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Retirement... #VanCitysummers http://instagram.com/p/q8J0fxSYcH/

@GilesBarnesReal - July 27 - Giles Barnes, Houston Dynamo

Addicted to lost ...

"@yedlinny - July 27 - DeAndre Yedlin, Seattle Sounders FC

Portland fans: "it's not over, it's not over" [cid:image006.png@01CFAA8A.048EF440] [cid:image007.png@01CFAA8A.048EF440] .... Uh... It's 4-0 in the 76th.. But you're right it's not over.. #goodtry

@raygaddis - July 27 - Ray Gaddis, Philadelphia Union

The #Cosbyshow on Sunday's the best.

@DaxMcCarty11 - July 28 - Dax McCarty, New York Red Bulls

The most well protected side view mirrors in the world right here in NYC! pic.twitter.com/rtrdaC0vbr

Quotables

"He was fantastic - threatening and quality. The two goals were world-class. The final ball to him was fantastic. It's what we want from him. He gave a fantastic performance, and he also worked very hard on the defensive end. Just a great night from him."

Real Salt Lake head coach Jeff Cassar on the performance of youngster Olmes Garcia

"It was a beautiful evening. It was great to have my family and friends in town and cap it off with a wonderful performance from the guys."

Colorado Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni on being honored by the Rapids and getting a win over Chivas USA

"If my family thrives then I thrive as well. My eldest daughter [Noelle, 2] is happy, my wife [Maria] is happy, and we've got two wonderful boys. Even though it's a lot of work, it's just something that makes me happy, coming home to the family. I think that's a big part of being settled."

Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted on how his family impacts him settling in with Vancouver

"For me, from a personal point of view, they were kind of all Arsenal fans or Red Bulls fans, so it was the best of both worlds for me. I wasn't surprised (that many Arsenal fans showed up). I knew they were going to come from everywhere."

New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry on the amount of Arsenal and Red Bulls fans at Red Bull Arena for their friendly

"I feel like we've set a standard in this league. Teams know what they're going to get when they play us. The fact that we stay true to our identity and we still have success on the road speaks volumes about what we do here. It's definitely something I think other teams are trying to measure up to. We're the measuring stick for the league."

Sporting Kansas City forward C.J. Sapong on the success Sporting has had on the road this season

"It was always an interesting option, but it was one I never took up. Having spoken to the people from New York City, listened to their ideas, their vision and the challenges of setting up a new team from scratch and the timing for me personally, it was just a great match. It was an easy decision for me to make."

NYCFC midfielder Frank Lampard on what impacted his decision to come to New York and NYCFC

"You could always see it as a player that he'd be involved with the club at some capacity. Seeing him still in the Claret-and-Cobalt is natural, I think."

RSL defender Nat Borchers on seeing former RSL teammate, Andy Williams, in a coaching capacity

"To be playing with people like them? Please. I thought that only happened in FIFA."

LA Galaxy forward Bradford Jamieson IV on getting to play alongside teammates Donovan, Keane and Gonzalez

"Re-signing in Kansas City doesn't mean I'm afraid to go play somewhere else. I really believe that I can get better playing here."

Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler on why he chose to stay with Sporting Kansas City

Week 21 Game Previews

Monday, July 28

Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 10 p.m. (ESPN2)

"¢ Sounders FC matched their club record with their sixth consecutive victory at CenturyLink Field in their last match, a 2-0 win against arch-rival Portland Timbers on July 13. They also won six home games in a row last July 28-Sept.13.

"¢ In his first MLS match back following his return from the FIFA World Cup and the U.S. national team, Clint Dempsey scored his ninth goal of the season to send Sounders FC on their way against Portland. It was Dempsey's first league goal since April 26, which concluded a four-game span where he scored seven goals.

"¢ Robbie Keane scored his third goal over the last two matches in the Galaxy's 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City last Saturday that put a stop to their undefeated run after eight games. It was the Galaxy's first defeat in league play since May 17, going 5-0-3 over the streak.

"¢ When the teams played to a 1-1 draw last Sept. 21 at StubHub Center, Sounders FC scored for the first time vs. the Galaxy in five meetings in Carson in league and MLS Cup play, since the 2010 season.

"¢ The Galaxy last won in Seattle in 2011, a 1-0 regular season victory. The teams played to a 1-1 draw at CenturyLink Field in the last of three meetings between the teams Sept. 27 of last year.

Wednesday, July 30

D.C. United vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the third time this season, each winning once previously. Nick DeLeon and Perry Kitchen scored second-half goals to lead United to a 2-1 win at BMO Field; on March 22, TFC's Jermain Defoe scored the game's only goal on the hour mark also at BMO Field.

"¢ TFC gained a win and a draw on their two trips to RFK Stadium last year, the victory just the club's second all-time vs. United (first since 2010). TFC had a two-game home winning streak in the series ended in the last meeting.

"¢ D.C. United won their third game in a row in their last league match, a 3-0 home win vs. Chivas USA on July 20. United last won three games in a row from Sept. 15-23, 2012.

New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.

"¢ The Revolution lost their eighth game in a row in the 2-1 home loss to the Columbus Crew on Saturday evening. The Revolution club record is nine losses in a row, set in both 1997 and '98; it's the longest losing slide in MLS since Toronto FC lost nine games in a row at the start of the 2012 season.

"¢ Panamanian international Gabriel Torres scored his first goal of the season to cap the Rapids' 3-0 home win vs. Chivas USA on Friday evening. His last goal in MLS league play came last Oct. 19, when he scored twice vs. Vancouver.

"¢ The Revolution defeated the Rapids in 2012 in the last meeting in Foxborough, their first win in the all-time series since the 2007 season.

"¢ The Revolution haven't won in Colorado in a decade, since a 2-1 win June 15, 2002, the Rapids winning 2-1 last July 17 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in the only meeting between the teams.

Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:30 p.m. (TSN)

"¢ The Fire conceded a season-high five goals in their last league match, a 5-1 defeat by the San Jose Earthquakes on July 23. The Fire last allowed five goals in a game in a 5-2 loss at New York in the final game of the 2013 season; the club record was set in a 6-2 loss to Columbus in 2003.

"¢ Whitecaps FC reached their third consecutive draw, returning home for a 2-2 tie with FC Dallas on Sunday evening at BC Place. Whitecaps FC now have 10 draws in 20 matches this season, second-most in MLS (the Fire have 11 in 19 league games).

"¢ Darren Mattocks scored a goal for a third consecutive match in the draw with FC Dallas, the longest goalscoring streak of his three-season MLS career.

"¢ Each team is undefeated at home in the all-time series between the clubs. The Fire have won once, with one draw, at Toyota Park - a 1-0 win in 2012 in the last Bridgeview encounter. Whitecaps FC have won both meetings all-time in Vancouver, including a 3-1 win last July 14 at BC Place in the only meeting of the season.

Real Salt Lake vs. New York Red Bulls, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

"¢ Bradley Wright-Phillips scored for a fifth consecutive game in New York's last league game, a 1-1 draw with San Jose on July 19. Wright-Phillips leads the MLS Golden Boot standings with 17 goals; he has eight goals in his last eight games, and has 16 of his goals over the last 13 games (since April 23).

"¢ Olmes GarcÃ-a scored a pair of goals in a game for the second time in his MLS career - his first goals in more than a year - to lead Real to a 3-1 win against Montréal on Thursday evening. GarcÃ-a had last scored in league play last July 13.

"¢ The Red Bulls claimed a 4-3 victory in the only meeting between the teams a year ago, July 27 at Red Bull Arena. The victory snapped a six-game Real Salt Lake undefeated streak alive in the series, including three consecutive wins. The last Red Bulls victory had come April 18, 2009, at the old Giants Stadium.

"¢ RSL has never lost to New York at home in regular season play. Real have won the last four meetings at Rio Tinto Stadium; they have four wins in eight meetings all-time, with four draws. But the Red Bulls did win the Eastern Conference Championship in Sandy in 2008.

Friday, Aug. 1

Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union, 8 p.m. (NBCSN)

"¢ Sporting won their fifth consecutive game away from home with a 2-1 victory against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday evening. It matches the club's longest road winning streak and is the longest in MLS since 2005, when San Jose won five straight away games. The MLS record is seven road wins in a row, set in 1997 by the LA Galaxy and in 1999 by D.C. United.

"¢ Sebastien Le Toux scored his eighth goal of the season, converting a penalty kick in stoppage time to give Union a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire in their last match, July 19. Le Toux has scored five goals in the last six games, five of those coming as a starter since he was installed into the lineup by new manager Jim Curtin.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Cristian Maidana's goal quickly answered a late Dom Dwyer and gave Union a 2-1 win, May 14 at Sporting Park.

"¢ Union have won just once in five all-time matches against Sporting at PPL Park, that win coming June 23, 2012. SKC won on their two visits to Chester last year; the first two meetings at PPL Park ended in draws.

Saturday, Aug. 2

LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers, 2:30 p.m. (NBC)

"¢ The teams are meeting for the third time this season, having drawn twice. On May 11, Robbie Keane scored in stoppage time, but Diego Valeri scored even later, leaving the teams with a 1-1 tie at Providence Park. On July 4, an own goal in the 86th minute gave the Galaxy the equalizer in a 2-2 draw at StubHub Center.

"¢ The Galaxy have never lost to the Timbers in Carson, winning the first three meetings there all-time before the teams played to draws in each of the last two matches.

"¢ For the second consecutive week, Diego Valeri scored a late game-winner, this time netting in the 82nd minute to give the Timbers a 3-2 victory at Montréal on Sunday evening. Three of Valeri's five goals have come in the 77th minute or later to give the Timbers points.

Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC, 6 p.m. (TSN)

"¢ The teams are meeting for the first time this season in league play, but the Impact claimed the Canadian Championship by defeating TFC 2-1 on aggregate in the final. The teams reached a 1-1 draw at BMO Field, before Felipe's stoppage-time winner gave the Impact the title June 4 at Stade Saputo.

"¢ It was the second consecutive season the Impact defeated Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship, winning 6-2 on aggregate in the semifinals the year previous (TFC advanced in a semifinal meeting in 2012). Since coming to MLS, the Impact have not won in Toronto, with two losses and three draws in five meetings in all competitions at BMO Field.

"¢ The Impact had their losing skid extended to five games in a late 3-2 loss to Portland on Sunday evening at Stade Saputo. It's the club's longest in their three seasons since coming to MLS.

"¢ Dominic Oduro has two goals and three assists in eight games for Toronto FC since coming to the club from Columbus at the beginning of June. He set up the lone TFC goal in the 2-1 loss to Sporting KC on July 26.

New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution, 7 p.m.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Goals from Eric Alexander and Peguy Luyindula gave the Red Bulls a famous 2-0 win, June 8 at Gillette Stadium.

"¢ The first meeting victory was the first for New York in New England since 2002. The Revolution had won 13 of 19 meetings in league and MLS Cup play since that previous New York win.

"¢ The Revolution haven't won in New Jersey since 2007, now winless on their last nine trips to face the Red Bulls. New York had won the last four league meetings at Red Bull Arena before the teams reached a 2-2 draw in their last meeting last year, Oct. 5.

"¢ Revolution defender A.J. Soares scored his second goal of the season in his club's 2-1 loss to Columbus on July 26, their eighth consecutive defeat. Soares has matched his single-season career high for goals in MLS, also done in 2012; he now has six career league goals.

Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew, 8:30 p.m.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Ethan Finlay and Jairo Arrieta scored first-half goals to lead the Crew to a 2-0 win, May 24 at Crew Stadium. The Fire did defeat the Crew 4-2 in extra time in a U.S. Open Cup fifth-round match, June 25 at Toyota Park.

"¢ The Crew haven't won at Toyota Park since the 2006 season. In the 12 meetings in all competitions since in Bridgeview, the Fire have won seven, with four draws, including a victory in the lone Bridgeview meeting a season ago.

"¢ The Crew have won back-to-back games on the heels of a seven-game winless run, getting a late winner from Ethan Finlay for a 2-1 win at New England on July 26. Federico HiguaÃ-n also scored for Columbus, his first goal since May 17.

Colorado Rapids vs. Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Joao Plata and Javier Morales scored on either side of halftime to lead Real to a 2-1 win, May 17 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

"¢ The home team has not lost in the Rocky Mountain Cup series since 2007, when RSL knocked off Colorado 1-0 in Commerce City to close out their playoff hopes.

"¢ Nick LaBrocca put an end to a long goal drought when he netted for the Rapids in their 3-0 win vs. Chivas USA on July 26 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. It was LaBrocca's first league goal since last July 17; he has scored at least one goal in each of his last seven MLS seasons.

"¢ Javier Morales had two assists in RSL's 3-1 win against Montréal on July 25, his first assists since May 17. Morales finished the weekend with seven assists this season, eighth-most in MLS this year; it was the ninth time in his MLS career he had multiple assists in a game.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

"¢ The Earthquakes return to league play after putting an end to their five-game winless streak in emphatic fashion with a 5-1 defeat of the Chicago Fire on July 23 at Buck Shaw Stadium. It was the most goals in a game for the Quakes since a 5-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake in 2012, one goal shy of the club record set on two occasions (last in 1999).

"¢ Yannick DjalÃ" scored one goal and set up two others in the Quakes' 5-1 win, by far his biggest single-game performance in 12 league appearances with the club this season.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Obafemi Martins scored the game's only goal in the eighth minute for a Sounders FC victory May 17 at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC also claimed a U.S. Open Cup fifth-round encounter between the teams, winning in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

"¢ The Earthquakes have won the last three meetings at Buck Shaw Stadium, including victories in both games in Santa Clara last year. The last Sounders FC away win in the series came July 31, 2010, a 1-0 victory.

Sunday, Aug. 3

Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United, 8 p.m. (UDN)

"¢ The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Chris Rolfe and Fabian EspÃ-ndola scored on either side of halftime to pace United to a 2-0 victory May 21 at RFK Stadium.

"¢ The United victory in the first meeting snapped a five-game Dynamo winning streak in the series in league play. The Dynamo have never lost to D.C. United in Houston, winning nine of 10 meetings there all-time in league and cup play (with one draw).

"¢ The Dynamo saw their winless streak extended to eight games in their last league match, a 2-2 home draw with Toronto FC on July 19. It's the longest stretch without a win for the Dynamo since their club-record 10-game streak set in the 2010 season.

"¢ Eddie Johnson scored a goal for a second consecutive game - both by penalty kick - in United's 3-0 win vs. Chivas USA on July 20 in their last match. Luis Silva also scored for a second consecutive game; he has five goals in United's last five contests.

Chivas USA vs. FC Dallas, 10 p.m.

"¢ Chivas USA have followed up a four-game winning streak - matching the longest in club history - with back-to-back losses, falling 3-0 at the Colorado Rapids last Friday evening as Erick Torres saw his six-game goalscoring streak come to an end.

"¢ FC Dallas extended their undefeated streak to six games at the weekend, playing to a 2-2 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.

"¢ The teams are meeting for the third time this season, with FC Dallas winning once, a 3-1 victory on March 22 at Toyota Stadium behind goals from Fabian Castillo, Je-Vaughn Watson and Michel. A late goal from Fabian Castillo answered a Marky Delgado strike to pull FCD back into a 1-1 draw, May 17 in Frisco.

"¢ Chivas USA haven't won in Frisco since 2009, when they defeated FC Dallas 2-0. Since then, FCD is 3-0-4 at home vs. Chivas. The 3-1 Chivas USA win in Carson last season was their first vs. FC Dallas at home since the 2009 season.

Major League Soccer Stories from July 28, 2014

• Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
• West Coast Battle Charts Course to 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game - this Week in MLS - MLS
• Hays Announced as the Official Recruitment Partner - New York City FC
• Andrew Dykstra out for the Remainder of the Season - D.C. United
• Real Salt Lake Update - Real Salt Lake
• New York Red Bulls Sign Defender Damien Perrinelle - Red Bull New York
• Chicago Fire Host Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Columbus Crew in MLS Action - Chicago Fire FC
• Revolution Hosts "Kids Night Out" on Wednesday - New England Revolution
• New York Red Bulls Loan Defender Connor Lade to New York Cosmos - Red Bull New York
• Bradford Jamieson IV Reflects on a Historic Week in Young Career - LA Galaxy
• Timbers Claim Three Points on the Road against Montreal Impact - Portland Timbers

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.