Western Showdown Saturday on NBCSN
Published on September 16, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
A battle of Western Conference powers highlights this week's Major League Soccer action as the LA Galaxy host the league-leading Seattle Sounders FC Saturday night at the StubHub Center (10:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN). It's the penultimate meeting of the season between the two clubs, and if the Galaxy hope to repeat as Supporters' Shield winners, Bruce Arena's men need three points to keep within striking distance of Seattle.
Both teams have the maximum of three Designated Players, with Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and Mauro Rosales representing the Sounders and Landon Donovan, Omar Gonzalez and Robbie Keane on the Galaxy. This week will determine whether Donovan is cleared to play after suffering an ankle injury in LA's 2-2 tie with D.C. United last Saturday in Washington.
The Galaxy, who defeated the Sounders 4-0 the last time the two clubs met (May 27), trail Seattle by five points in the Western Conference standings. The Sounders, winners of five straight and eight of their last nine games, also lead Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls by one point (with one game in hand) in the battle for the Supporters' Shield, which goes to the team with the most regular season points. The MLS Cup final will be hosted by the finalist who had the best regular season record.
Week 30 National Broadcasts
Friday, September 20
Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Saturday, September 21
Montreal Impact vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 2:00 p.m. ET (TSN, UDN, RDS)
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Sunday, September 22
New York Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas, 5:00 p.m. ET (UniMas)
Quotables
"I relish the opportunity to be part of a global organization, and also to use my experience to create a first class club for New Yorkers and one in which they will always have a voice. This is a tremendously exciting time for all involved and interested in soccer in New York."
Tom Pernetti after recently being named chief business officer of the New York City Football Club
"The players know when they play in Columbus they have 100 percent support behind them. It carries them, gives them energy, gives them confidence. And the other thing is then your opponent hasn't won here and knows the difficult situation as well. It is a psychological game at the end of the day."
USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann on the intimidating atmosphere provided at Crew Stadium following USA's World Cup Qualifying win over Mexico
"I'm a big, strong athlete. I'm fast and an aerial threat as well so you can look for me to play a No. 9 role and help this team out. Hopefully I'm another weapon TFC can use."
Bright Dike following the trade that sent him from the Portland Timbers to Toronto FC in exchange for the recently acquired Maximiliano Urruti
"With the circumstances of this year, I think it's even more special to be rewarded at a time when you're just getting back into it after a long layoff, to see someone having confidence in your abilities, it's very positive for me moving forward."
Philadelphia Union defender Michael Lahoud on his recent call-up to the Sierra Leone national team and a return to his home country after more than 11 years
"It's just been great for me to have somebody to talk to and that I can trust. Just having that person here for support is a great thing for me."
Maximiliano Urruti on having fellow Argentinian, Diego Valeri help him adjust to MLS, life in Portland
Sweet Tweets
@NickRimando - September 10 - Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake
QUALIFIED #BRAZIL2014 #USMNT #RSL http://instagram.com/p/eGs0FxqY1v/
@Brad_Davis11 - September 10 - Brad Davis, Houston Dynamo
Celebrate!! pic.twitter.com/TfotHEBF4x
@korykindle - September 11 - Kory Kindle, Colorado Rapids
#NeverForget the unforgettable American tragedy that took place 12 years ago.
@aberr22 - September 11 - Austin Berry, Chicago Fire
Big thanks to those who made the trek here. Not good enough from us but move on to Sat w/ same implications in front of home crowd #playoffs
@ChrisKonopka414 - September 13 - Chris Konopka, Toronto FC
I'd like to thank everyone at the @PhilaUnion for all the support over the past 2 yrs! I'll always look forward to coming back! #PhillyLove
@AtibaHarris - September 14 - Atiba Harris, Colorado Rapids
Thank you to the great support from @C38sg and all the fans that showed up tonight!!! U guys are 1st class #OneClub #Rapids
Playoff Scenarios
D.C. United, Toronto FC and Chivas USA have been eliminated.
MLS Week 30 Previews
Friday, September 20
Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids, 10 p.m. (NBCSN)
- Vicente Sánchez scored his first MLS goal as the Rapids extended their undefeated streak at Dick's Sporting Goods Park to seven games, coming back for a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on Saturday.
- The Timbers had their winless streak on the road extended to eight games in a 1-1 draw at Chivas USA on Saturday evening, although Diego Valeri scored for a second consecutive game. The Timbers haven't lost at Jeld-Wen Field in 11 league matches, since April 6.
- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Fredéric Piquionne, Will Johnson and Ryan Johnson scored in a 3-0 Timbers victory at home on June 23; a pair of goals from Will Johnson in the second half overcame a two-goal Rapids lead to leave the teams in a 2-2 draw on March 30 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
- The win in the last meeting was only Portland's second win in the all-time series. The Rapids have won four of the seven meetings all-time, with one draw.
Saturday, September 21
Montreal Impact vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 2 p.m. (TSN, RDS, UDN)
- The Impact saw their three-game winning streak at Stade Saputo come to a crashing halt as the Columbus Crew scored two late goals for a 2-1 victory on Saturday afternoon.
- Marco Di Vaio extended his lead atop the MLS Golden Boot standings with his 18th goal in the loss to Columbus. He has scored seven goals over the last five matches, since Aug. 17.
- Whitecaps FC continued their three-game road swing as their winless streak away from BC place was extended to six games in a scoreless draw at San Jose on Saturday. Down the stretch, five of Vancouver's final eight games will be on the road.
- The teams have met just once all-time in MLS play - a 2-0 Whitecaps FC victory last March 10, the first MLS game ever for the Montréal Impact. The teams did meet in this year's Canadian Championship final, the Impact advancing on away goals after a pair of draws, a scoreless result May 15 at Stade Saputo, and a 2-2 draw May 29 at BC Place.
Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 4 p.m.
- Toronto FC were officially eliminated from playoff contention following their 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. TFC has never reached the MLS Cup Playoffs in its seven-year history; among all MLS teams all-time, only Montréal and Portland have also never played in the postseason.
- Sporting return to action after a week off, winning a second consecutive match and third in a row at home in a 3-0 victory against Columbus on Sept. 7.
- The teams are meeting for the third time this season, each winning once. Soony Saad scored a pair of goals in a 3-0 Sporting win, July 13 in Kansas City; Robert Earnshaw scored a pair of first-half goals to lead Toronto FC to a 2-1 victory March 9 at BMO Field.
- Toronto FC had not won in the series since a 1-0 win April 26, 2009 at BMO Field before their victory in the first meeting this year. SKC had a seven-game undefeated streak in between.
Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m.
- The Crew snapped their road losing streak after a club-record seven games in their 2-1 come-from-behind victory against Montréal on Saturday afternoon.
- Mike Magee remained in second place in the MLS Golden Boot standings, scoring his 16th goal of the season as the Fire snapped a three-game winless run with a 3-2 come-from-behind home win vs. New England on Saturday evening.
- The teams are meeting for the third time in league play this season, and the Fire have won the first two. Jeff Larentowicz scored in the 83rd minute to give the Fire a 1-0 win on April 20 at Toyota Park, then Dilly Duka and Mike Magee netted goals two minutes apart in a 2-1 Chicago win June 22 in Columbus.
- The teams also played in a weather-delayed U.S. Open Cup fourth-round match at Toyota Park, the Fire taking a 2-1 victory on June 13.
New England Revolution vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
- Kelyn Rowe scored his fourth goal over the last four games, but the Revolution suffered a second consecutive defeat in a 3-2 loss at the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
- D.C. United saw their winless streak reach six games, but scored multiple goals in a game for the third time this year in league play in snatching a late 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy on Saturday at RFK Stadium.
- The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Dimitry Imbongo and Diego Fagundez scored in the second half to lead the Revolution to a 2-1 come-from-behind win July 27 at RFK Stadium; the teams reached a scoreless draw June 8 at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution win in the last meeting snapped a four-game winless streak vs. United.
- The teams also met in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal, United getting goals from Dwayne De Rosario, Lionard Pajoy and Chris Pontius for a 3-1 win on June 26.
Houston Dynamo vs. Chivas USA, 8:30 p.m.
- The Dynamo put an end to their four-game winless run, Ricardo Clark scoring the game's only goal in a victory at Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
- Chivas USA were officially eliminated from playoff consideration despite holding the Portland Timbers to a 1-1 draw at StubHub Center on Saturday evening.
- The Dynamo won the only meeting between the teams a year ago, a 1-0 win in Carson. When Chivas USA defeated Houston 3-0 on July 23, 2011, it was the Red-and-White's first league victory against the Dynamo since 2006 (a span of 12 games).
- This is the first meeting between the clubs at BBVA Compass Stadium. Chivas USA ended their history at Robertson Stadium winless all-time in league play (0-7-2).
Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9 p.m.
- Real Salt Lake had their winning run snapped after two games, as Seattle Sounders FC took over first place in the Western Conference and the MLS overall table with a 2-0 victory on Friday evening at CenturyLink Field.
- RSL were shut out for just the fifth time this season, and the first since April 27, in the loss in Seattle.
- The Earthquakes extended their home undefeated streak to 14 games after their scoreless draw with Vancouver on Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium.
- The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and Real have won both previous. Alvaro SaborÃo scored twice in the game's final 10 minutes to give Real a 2-0 victory on March 3 at Buck Shaw Stadium, then Javier Morales, Ned Grabavoy and Robbie Findley scored in a 3-0 RSL home win on June 1.
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
- Lamar Neagle scored for a third consecutive game as Sounders FC took over the lead in the chase for the Supporters' Shield, as well as the Western Conference, following their 2-0 win against Real Salt Lake in a top-of-the-table clash Friday at CenturyLink Field.
- Sounders FC have won five games in a row, matching the club-record winning streak in MLS, and they are undefeated in their last 13 home games (10-0-3).
- Robbie Keane netted his 13th goal of the season, fourth-most in the league in his 17th game, and his sixth goal in the last five games in the Galaxy's 2-2 draw at D.C. United on Saturday. Keane also added his 11th assist, sitting in third place in the MLS standings.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. The Galaxy scored four first-half goals - the most conceded by Sounders FC in their history - on their way to a 4-0 win May 26 in Carson. Sounders FC haven't scored vs. the Galaxy in their last four meetings in Carson in league and MLS Cup play.
- The teams met a year ago in the Western Conference Championship, the Galaxy winning 4-2 on aggregate, including a 3-0 win at The Home Depot Center in the first leg.
Sunday, September 22
New York Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas, 5 p.m. (UniMas)
- The Red Bulls claimed sole possession of the lead in the Eastern Conference following their third consecutive victory, a 2-0 win against Toronto FC on Saturday at Red Bull Arena. Thierry Henry scored for a second consecutive match.
- FC Dallas saw their undefeated run come to an end after three games in a 2-1 loss at Colorado on Saturday evening.
- FC Dallas won the lone meeting between the clubs a season ago, a 2-1 win in Frisco, their first victory against the Red Bulls since 2009.
- FC Dallas have never won at Red Bull Arena. FCD last won at New York on May 24, 2006, a 2-1 win; the Red Bulls are 4-1-0 at home vs. FC Dallas since.
Major League Soccer Stories from September 16, 2013
- Sounders FC News & Notes - Seattle Sounders FC
- Eastern Conference Roundup - Columbus Crew SC
- Weekly Update: D.C. United - New England Revolution
- Impact Takes on Earthquakes in San Jose in CONCACAF Champions League - Club de Foot Montreal
- Timbers Development Update - Portland Timbers
- Melia Returns with Official Game - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
- Juan Toja Gains U.S. Permanent Resident Status - New England Revolution
- Sporting KC Welcomes Real Esteli to Sporting Park on Tuesday - Sporting Kansas City
- Western Showdown Saturday on NBCSN - MLS
- Obafemi Martins Named MLS Player of the Week - Seattle Sounders FC
- Seattle Sounders FC Forward Obafemi Martins Voted MLS Player of the Week - MLS
- Chicago Fire Return to Buckeye State to Challenge Columbus Crew - Chicago Fire FC
- Red Bulls to Host NYPD-FDNY Battle on the Pitch at Red Bull Arena - New York Red Bulls
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