MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 13 NEWS & NOTES
News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer
CREW COMEBACK WAS REALLY ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
Columbus Crew head coach Caleb Porter was absolutely right. When his team came back from an early two-goal deficit – while also a man down – for a 2-2 draw against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on July 9, it was an historic achievement.
Just seven times in MLS history has a team overcome a deficit of two goals while also playing a man down, coming back to get at least one point from the match, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last occasion was during the MLS is Back Tournament last July when D.C. United went down to Toronto FC 2-0, and then while a man down scored two goals to grab a 2-2 draw. Just once has a team won after going down two goals and a man – the Chicago Fire doing it May 24, 2000 for a 4-3 win against the Dallas Burn.
But the Crew were the first team to perform the feat while playing an away match. Of the first five occasions, in each instance the home team overcame the two-goal and man disadvantage to gain a result (the MLS is Back Tournament was played in a neutral site at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando).
TIMBERS’ DIEGO VALERI TICKS OFF ANOTHER MILESTONE IN CAREER ASSISTS
With his assist in the Portland Timbers match at Austin FC on July 1, Diego Valeri recorded the 90th assist of his MLS league career.
Valeri becomes just the 10th player in MLS history to reach 90 career league assists, now just one behind MLS Original Cobi Jones for ninth place on the all-time list. With 85 career league goals in MLS, Valeri is just one of three players in MLS history to have reached at least 80 goals and 80 assists for their careers, joining the only two to reach the century mark in both totals: Landon Donovan (145 goals, 136 assists) and Jaime Moreno (133 goals, 102 assists).
SOUNDERS FC UNDEFEATED RUN ENTERING FURTHER RECORD STATUS
While setting the all-time MLS record for the longest undefeated streak from the start of a season, Seattle Sounders FC are moving up the charts in the longest runs without loss in league history.
Dating back to the final matches of the 2020 season, Sounders FC have now gone 15 consecutive league games without defeat – tied for the seventh-longest undefeated streak in MLS history. The all-time record is 19 consecutive matches without a loss, set first by Columbus Crew SC from 2004 over the start of the 2005 season, then equaled by FC Dallas in 2010, the only club to go 19 consecutive league games undefeated in a single season, before Toronto FC also tied the mark over a year-long span from 2019-2020.
The 13 games without defeat from the start of the season is also now tied for the ninth-longest undefeated run contained wholly within a single league campaign, which Sounders FC also did during the 2017 MLS season. Just one team has gone more than 15 consecutive games without a loss in a single season in league history – FC Dallas in 2010, with the record-tying 19-game undefeated streak.
THREE SUBSTITUTES ALL SCORE ON D.C. UNITED’S HISTORIC NIGHT
In D.C. United’s 7-1 win against Toronto FC on July 3 at Audi Field, three substitutes came off the bench to score goals. It marked just the third time in MLS history three substitutes scored in a game.
Yamil Asad, Ola Kamara and Griffin Yow all came off the substitutes’ bench to net goals, among the five substitutions made by United head coach Hernán Lozada. They were among seven different goalscorers to tally for United – the first time there were that many goalscorers for a team in a single game, in 6,308 MLS regular season games all-time.
On the first two occasions, all three available substitutes scored goals – for the New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on May 21, 2016, and for the Philadelphia Union on May 4, 2019 at home vs. the New England Revolution.
MLS WEEK 13 – LOOK AHEAD
ATLANTA UNITED vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #162)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
5 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes; TSN)
REFEREE: Victor Rivas. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Jonathan Bilinski; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Diego Blas
MLS Career: 25 games; FC/gm: 23.6; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 4; pens: 10
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 4 wins, 16 goals … Revolution 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 2
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 3 wins, 12 goals … Revolution 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 0
· Atlanta United reached a second draw in the last three games, playing to a 2-2 result with Nashville SC at Nissan Stadium on July 8. Jackson Conway scored his first goal in MLS and for ATLUTD for the late equalizer, after Anton Walkes netted his second goal in five games.
· The Revolution had their five-game winning streak at Gillette Stadium put to an end, falling 3-2 to Toronto FC on July 7. Carles Gil scored his second goal of the year, directly from a free kick, and Adam Buksa hit for his fifth of the season.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Carles Gil converted a penalty kick early in the second half to snap a 1-1 tie and the Revolution took a 2-1 win May 1 at Gillette Stadium – their first victory ever vs. ATLUTD. Atlanta United had won four of the first six meetings, with two draws.
· ATLUTD have won all three meetings at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a 2-1 win in 2018, and 7-0 victory on Sept. 13, 2017, in a match that equaled the all-time MLS margin of victory, the most goals ever scored in a single game by an expansion team.
ATLUTD: Jake Mulraney collected his third assist of the season, his first since back-to-back games May 9-15. … Marcelino Moreno recorded his second assist of the season, the third of his MLS career.
REVOLUTION: Tommy McNamara collected an assist for a second consecutive game. … Emmanuel Boateng recorded his first assist of the season, his first since joining the Revolution.
NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. INTER MIAMI CF
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #163)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
7 p.m. ET (MSG; MyTV33 / UniMás 69)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Adam Wienckowski; AR2 (opposite): Ryan Graves; 4th: Kevin Broadley; VAR: Luis Guardia; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 114 games; FC/gm: 23.5; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 35; pens: 36
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Red Bulls 1 win, 5 goals … Inter Miami 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0
AT RED BULLS: Red Bulls 0 wins, 1 goal … Inter Miami 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0
· The Red Bulls extended their undefeated streak to three games, reaching a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union at Red Bull Arena on July 7. Patryk Klimala scored his second goal since coming to MLS; he has a goal and two assists in the last two games, involved in each of the Red Bulls’ last three goals.
· Inter Miami fell to a 1-0 loss to CF Montréal in their last match, July 3 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale in a CFMTL home game.
· The teams met twice in Inter Miami’s inaugural season, each winning at the other’s ground. The Red Bulls claimed a 4-1 win at Inter Miami CF Stadium on Sept. 23, then Inter Miami took a 2-1 win at Red Bull Arena on Oct. 7.
RED BULLS: The Red Bulls extended their home undefeated streak to five games, following four consecutive victories.
IMCF: Inter Miami have acquired U.S. youth international Indiana Vassilev on loan from Aston Villa FC of the English Premier League.
CF MONTRÉAL vs. FC CINCINNATI
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #164)
Stade Saputo, Montréal, Qué.
7:30 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; WSTR – Star 64)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Kevin Klinger; 4th: Malik Badawi; VAR: Carol Anne Chenard; AVAR: TJ Zablocki
MLS Career: 172 games; FC/gm: 27.6; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 25; pens: 40
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: CFMTL 0 wins, 2 goals … FCC 3 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0
MONTREAL HOME GAME: CFMTL 0 wins, 1 goal … FCC 2 wins, 3 goals … Ties 0
· CF Montréal won their second consecutive game and extended their undefeated streak to five matches, defeating New York City FC 2-1 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on July 7. Mason Toye converted a penalty kick for his fourth goal of the season, while Romell Quioto netted his second.
· FC Cincinnati extended their undefeated streak to four matches, reaching a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium on July 9. Edgar Castillo opened the scoring after just 26 seconds – tying the 14th-fastest goal from the start of a game in league history – and Luciano Acosta scored his third of the season, his second in the last three games.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Jürgen Locadia scored in the 70th minute then Gustavo Vallecilla netted the winner in the 86th minute as FCC took a 2-1 win May 22 at DRV PNK Stadium.
· The teams had last met in 2019 during FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season – and FCC won both matchups. Allan Cruz and Fatai Alashe scored goals on either side of halftime as FC Cincinnati took a 2-1 win on May 11 at Nippert Stadium, then Cruz scored the game’s only goal after 28 seconds for the win Sept. 14 at Stade Saputo. It equaled the earliest the only goal of a game was scored for a 1-0 win in MLS history.
CFMTL: Djordje Mihailovic collected an assist for a third consecutive game, now with four for the season, the longest streak of games with assists in his MLS career.
FCC: Luciano Acosta had at least one goal and one assist in the same game for the seventh time in his MLS career. … Isaac Atanga recorded his second career assist, in his seventh appearance.
PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. D.C. UNITED
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #165)
Subaru Park, Chester, Pa.
7:30 p.m. ET (PHL17; NBCS-Wash / TeleXitos)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Matthew Franz; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 48 games; FC/gm: 23.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 6; pens: 14
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Union 15 wins, 51 goals … D.C. United 8 wins, 32 goals … Ties 5
AT UNION: Union 10 wins, 24 goals … D.C. United 3 wins, 11 goals … Ties 0
· The Union came back for a ninth result in the last 10 games, playing to a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on July 8. Sergio Santos scored his second goal of the season for the 85th-minute leveler.
· D.C. United set a club record in their 26-year history, scoring seven goals in a 7-1 win against Toronto FC at Audi Field on July 3. It was the 10th time in MLS history seven or more goals were scored by a team in a single team – with seven different goalscorers, it marked the first time there were that many for a team in a single game, in 6,308 regular season games all-time.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Kacper Przybylko netted the game’s only goal in first half stoppage time as the Union took the victory May 23 at Audi Field.
· The Union are undefeated in the last nine meetings between the teams, over the past five seasons, winning seven in a row before a draw in the second meeting in 2020, with a 25-7 edge in goals. The Union have won the past seven meetings in Chester, Pa., over the last five seasons, including a 4-1 victory in the last meeting there last Aug. 29; they are undefeated in four visits all-time to Audi Field, with three wins and a draw.
UNION: Olivier Mbaizo recorded his first assist of the season, the fourth of his MLS career in his fourth season.
UNITED: Griffin Yow collected two assists, the first two of his MLS career, along with scoring his first goal in 2021, the third of his career (in 17 appearances). … Andy Najar recorded a pair of assists, the second two-assist game of his MLS career – the first coming May 4, 2011 vs. Seattle. … Kevin Paredes scored the first goal of his MLS career, coming in his 24th appearance over two seasons. … Ola Kamara had at least one goal and one assist in the same game for the fifth time in his MLS career, the second time this season (also: May 29 vs. Inter Miami).
TORONTO FC vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #166)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.
7:30 p.m. ET (TSN; FOX35 Plus / LionNation TV)
REFEREE: Marcos de Oliveira. AR1 (bench): Andrew Bigelow; AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson; 4th: Jon Freemon; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 48 games; FC/gm: 25.0; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 4; pens: 14
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 8 wins, 28 goals … Orlando City 4 wins, 15 goals … Ties 2
TORONTO HOME GAME: Toronto FC 4 wins, 16 goals … Orlando City 1 win, 7 goals … Ties 2
· TFC put an end to their six-game losing skid, defeating the New England Revolution 3-2 at Gillette Stadium on July 7. Yeferson Soteldo netted his first career MLS goal and added his first assist in the league, Kemar Lawrence netted his first of the year and Tsubasa Endoh also added his first, as TFC opened up a 3-goal lead in the opening 24 minutes.
· Orlando City SC are coming off a 3-1 defeat by Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on July 7. Andrés Perea scored his first career goal in MLS for the OCSC tally.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and Orlando City has won both. Tesho Akindele scored the game’s only goal in the 12th minute as Orlando City SC took the win in their home game at Exploria Stadium on May 22, then Akindele opened the scoring after 49 seconds and Junior Urso netted the 84th-minute winner as OCSC took a 3-2 win June 19 in Orlando in a TFC home game.
· Toronto FC had won eight of the first 12 meetings all-time, with two draws. All four OCSC wins have now come in Orlando. TFC has won four of the six meetings all-time at BMO Field, without defeat; Orlando City’s lone result in Toronto came in a goalless draw on Sept. 28, 2016.
TFC: Alejandro Pozuelo collected his second assist of the season, both coming in the last five games. … Auro Jr. recorded his second assist of the year, both in the last four games.
OCSC: The result marked the first time Orlando City have fallen in back-to-back regular season matches since August 23-31 of the 2019 MLS season.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #167)
Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
7:30 p.m. ET (Bally Sports OH; YES)
REFEREE: Ramy Touchan. AR1 (bench): Eric Boria; AR2 (opposite): Claudiu Badea; 4th: Danielle Chesky; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Ian McKay
MLS Career: 44 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 4.3; R: 7; pens: 5
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Crew 6 wins, 25 goals … NYCFC 5 wins, 26 goals … Ties 4
AT COLUMBUS: Crew 4 wins, 18 goals … NYCFC 1 win, 14 goals … Ties 3
· The Crew came back for a third consecutive draw, playing to a 2-2 result with FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on July 9. Down two goals after 24 minutes and down a man to a red card, Lucas Zelarayán scored just before halftime before Miguel Berry netted the equalizer for his first career goal in MLS.
· NYCFC had their two-game winning streak put to an end, falling 2-1 to CF Montréal at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on July 7. Keaton Parks netted his second goal of the season, a second consecutive game with a goal.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Lucas Zelarayán scored both goals directly from free kicks, over the final 13 minutes of the game, leading the Crew to a 2-1 win May 22 at Red Bull Arena. Zelarayán became the sixth player in MLS history to score two goals directly from free kicks in the same game.
· The win in the first meeting ended a four-game NYCFC home winning streak in the series; the first Zelarayán free kick goal ended a 404-minute shutout streak for the Crew at NYCFC, dating back to Oct. 22, 2017 in a game played at CitiField in Queens. NYCFC have won once all-time in Columbus, a 3-2 win there in 2017.
CREW: Lucas Zelarayán recorded his first assist of the season, his first in league play since back-to-back games last Sept. 19-23.
NYCFC: Luis Barraza was credited with two saves in making his MLS and NYCFC debut between the posts.
NASHVILLE SC vs. CHICAGO FIRE FC
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #169)
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
7:30 p.m. CT (MyTV30; WGN-TV)
REFEREE: Lukasz Szpala. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Cameron Blanchard; 4th: Tori Penso; VAR: Kevin Stott; AVAR: Matthew Nelson
MLS Career: 1 game; FC/gm: 27.0; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 1; pens: 0
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Nashville SC 0 wins, 1 goal … Fire 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 1
AT NASHVILLE: Nashville SC 0 wins, 1 goal … Fire 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 1
· Nashville SC extended their undefeated streak to four games with a second draw in that time, playing to a 2-2 result with Atlanta United at Nissan Stadium on July 8. Jalil Anibaba scored his first goal of the season, set by Hany Mukhtar, then Mukhtar converted a penalty kick for his fourth of the season.
· Fire FC won their second game on the trot and extended their undefeated run to three games, defeating Orlando City SC 3-1 at Soldier Field on July 7. Boris Sekulic and Robert Beric each netted their second goal of the season, then Chinonso Offor scored his first career goal in MLS for the late capper.
· The teams met once in Nashville SC’s inaugural season. Nashville’s Daniel Rios and the Fire’s Boris Sekulic traded goals in the first half, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw Oct. 31 at Nissan Stadium.
NASHVILLE SC: Hany Mukhtar recorded a goal and an assist in the same game for the third time in his MLS career.
FIRE FC: Álvaro Medran collected a pair of assists, the second time in the last three games he’s had two assists; he has five assists over the last three matches. Medran is now one of four players tied for third place in the MLS assist standings with five for the season. … Przemyslaw Frankowski recorded his second assist of the season, his first coming in the opening game of the season on April 17.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #170)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
7 p.m. MT (Altitude; NBCS-BA)
REFEREE: Rosendo Mendoza. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Jeffrey Swartzel; 4th: Elton Garcia; VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.; AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
MLS Career: 20 games; FC/gm: 24.1; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 2; pens: 4
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 23 wins (2 shootout), 87 goals … Earthquakes 30 wins (1 shootout), 95 goals … Ties 17
AT COLORADO: Rapids 15 wins (1 shootout), 50 goals … Earthquakes 13 wins (0 shootout), 40 goals … Ties 8
· The Rapids stretched their home undefeated streak to five games, defeating Minnesota United FC 2-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 7. Braian Galván scored his first goal of the season and his second in MLS, then Andre Shinyashiki hit for his second of the year.
· The Quakes return to action after coming back for a 2-2 draw with Minnesota United FC in their last match, July 3 at Allianz Field. Cade Cowell scored for a second consecutive game, his fourth of the season, while Benji Kikanovic scored his first MLS goal for the late equalizer.
· The teams met twice a season ago. In the first meeting, Chris Wondolowski (163 career MLS league goals) and Kei Kamara (129 career MLS league goals) each tallied, as the teams ended in a 1-1 draw in San Jose on Sept. 5. In the return match, the Rapids took a 5-0 win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Sept. 23.
· The Quakes are undefeated in the six meetings all-time at PayPal Park, winning four of those, and are undefeated in their last 10 home meetings with the Rapids, since a defeat Aug. 25, 2012. The Colorado goal in the 2019 meeting was their first at San Jose since May 18, 2013, snapping a span of 692 scoreless minutes for the Rapids in the Bay Area.
· The Rapids are undefeated in the past nine meetings with the Quakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the last San Jose win in Commerce City coming in 2013. The Rapids have won five times, with four draws. The Rapids’ win at home on Oct. 13, 2016, ended a 14-game overall winless streak in the series.
RAPIDS: Kellyn Acosta recorded his first assist of the season, his first since last Sept. 23. … Michael Barrios collected his fourth assist of the season; he has three goals and four assists over the last seven games.
QUAKES: Shea Salinas collected his second assist of the season, his first coming in the opening match of the season April 16. … Cristian Espinoza recorded his third assist in 2021.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. LA GALAXY
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #171)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
8 p.m. MT (TSN; SpecSN)
REFEREE: Ismir Pekmic. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 3 games; FC/gm: 32.0; Y/gm: 2.0; R: 0; pens: 0
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps FC 8 wins, 25 goals … Galaxy 13 wins, 38 goals … Ties 5
VANCOUVER HOME GAME: Whitecaps FC 4 wins, 17 goals … Galaxy 4 wins, 16 goals … Ties 4
· Whitecaps FC had a two-game undefeated run come to an end in a 4-0 loss to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 7 in a VWFC home game.
· The Galaxy won for the third time in four games, defeating FC Dallas 3-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 7. New signings Rayan Raveloson and Kévin Cabral each scored their first goals in MLS, and Ethan Zubak netted his first of the season.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Efraín Álvarez scored the game-winner in second-half stoppage time, giving the Galaxy the 2-1 victory June 23 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
· Whitecaps FC have won three of the last five meetings in Carson. The Galaxy’s lone win at BC Place over the last seven seasons came April 5, 2019, a 2-0 win. The ‘Caps have won twice with three draws over that span.
· There has been a shutout in 15 of the past 19 meetings between the teams, dating back to 2013, including three scoreless draws.
WHITECAPS FC: Cristián Gutiérrez was named to the Canada squad for the Concacaf Gold Cup. He will remain with Whitecaps FC unless called upon by Canada for the tournament.
GALAXY: Sebastian Lletget recorded his third assist of the season, his second in the last four games. … Samuel Grandsir collected his second assist, both coming in the last three games.
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #172)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (My13/KCOP / Estrella TV; KMYU-12)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 127 games; FC/gm: 21.7; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 24; pens: 34
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: LAFC 6 wins, 15 goals … Real 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 0
AT BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM: LAFC 2 wins, 4 goals … Real 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0
· LAFC won their second game on the trot, defeating Austin FC 2-0 at Q2 Stadium on July 7. José Cifuentes scored for a second consecutive game, his fourth goal of the season, and Diego Rossi also added his fourth of the year.
· Real won for the first time in four games, rolling to a 4-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in a Vancouver home game. Damir Kreilach hit for a brace for the second time this season vs. Whitecaps FC, now with seven goals for the season, tied for third in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. José Cifuentes scored the game’s only goal as LAFC took the win July 3 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
· The teams met twice a season ago, splitting the two encounters, both played at Rio Tinto Stadium. Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram and Albert Rusnák all scored as Real took a 3-0 win on Sept. 9, their first win in five meetings in the series in league play. LAFC then took a 3-1 win on Oct. 4.
· The teams also met in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2018, with Real pulling off an upset with a 3-2 win at Banc of California Stadium. The teams met in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup in 2019, LAFC taking a 3-2 win in Sandy.
LAFC: Carlos Vela collected his fifth assist of the season, a second consecutive game with an assist. The five assists have come over the last seven games; he’s now tied for third place in the MLS assist standings. … Tomás Romero was credited with four saves in recording his third shutout in four starts to open his MLS career.
REAL: Albert Rusnák scored his second goal of the season, both from penalty kicks; he has two goals and an assist in the last four games. … Anderson Julio scored his third goal of the season, his first since netting both RSL goals in the season-opening win at Minnesota United. … Aaron Herrera recorded his fifth assist of the season, one of four players tied for third place in the MLS assist standings. … David Ochoa was credited two saves in recording his second shutout of the season and his MLS career.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. FC DALLAS
Saturday, July 17, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #173)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
7:30 p.m. PT (KPDX; FCDTV / Estrella KMPX-29)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Nick Uranga; AR2 (opposite): Apolinar Mariscal; 4th: Brandon Stevis; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 50 games; FC/gm: 27.4; Y/gm: 4.1; R: 9; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 8 wins, 32 goals … FC Dallas 8 wins, 38 goals … Ties 7
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 6 wins, 16 goals … FC Dallas 1 win, 10 goals… Ties 3
· The Timbers fell to a second defeat in a row, dropping a 4-1 decision to Austin FC at Q2 Stadium on July 7. Jeremy Ebobisse scored his second goal of the season for the Timbers goal, both coming in the last three games.
· FC Dallas had their two-game undefeated run snapped, falling 3-1 to the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 7. Franco Jara scored the FCD goal, his second of the season.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. FC Dallas got goals from four different players as they took a 4-1 win May 1 at Toyota Stadium, their first meeting in league play since 2019.
· The teams met last year in an epic match in the MLS Cup Playoffs in Round One at Providence Park. Ricardo Pepi the equalizer for FC Dallas in second half stoppage time to leave the teams at 1-1, then FC Dallas won the penalty shootout 8-7, the 15 penalties converted (all in the first 15 attempts) the most in a penalty shootout in MLS history.
· The Timbers have won once in 13 league visits all-time to Toyota Stadium, in 2014. When FC Dallas won 3-1 at Portland on April 13, 2016, it was their first victory ever at Providence Park; the Timbers had won four of the first six league meetings there with two draws. The Timbers won the last meeting in Portland, by the game’s only goal June 20, 2019.
TIMBERS: Diego Valeri collected his second assist of the season, his first coming May 1, the 90th of his MLS league career, the 10th player to reach that total in league history. … Marvín Loría recorded his second assist of the season; he has a goal and an assist over the last four games.
FCD: Jesús Ferreira collected his third assist of the season, a third consecutive game with an assist, the longest streak of his MLS career.
MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Sunday, July 18, 2021 (Week 13, MLS Game #174)
Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minn.
1 p.m. CT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes; TSN)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Eric Weisbrod; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Kieso; 4th: Matthew Thompson; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Diego Blas
MLS Career: 137 games; FC/gm: 24.2; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 18; pens: 51
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: MNUFC 0 wins, 4 goals … Sounders FC 6 wins, 17 goals … Ties 1
AT MINNESOTA: MNUFC 0 wins, 2 goals … Sounders FC 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 1
· Minnesota United FC had their seven-game undefeated streak – tied for the second-longest in the club’s MLS history – put to an end in a 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on July 7.
· Sounders FC extended their season-opening undefeated streak to 13 games – the longest to open a season in MLS history – with a 2-0 win against Houston Dynamo FC at Lumen Field on July 7. Raúl Ruidíaz scored his 10th goal of the season – tied for the league lead with Javier Hernández of the LA Galaxy – and Kelyn Rowe scored his first goal since joining the club.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Raúl Ruidíaz scored a pair of goals and Fredy Montero scored a goal and added his assist in his return to the club, as Sounders FC took a 4-0 win in the season opener for both clubs, April 16 at Lumen Field.
· Sounders FC are undefeated in seven league meetings all-time with MNUFC. Sounders FC won the first four meetings between the teams all-time, with an 11-3 advantage in goals. Seattle has won all four matchups in Seattle.
· The teams also faced off last year in a dramatic Western Conference Final at Lumen Field. MNUFC held a 2-goal lead with a quarter-hour remaining, but Sounders FC stormed back with three goals, capped by a Gustav Svensson goal in stoppage time, for a 3-2 win and a place in 2020 MLS Cup.
MNUFC: D.J. Taylor made the first start of his MLS career, playing into stoppage time in defense.
SOUNDERS FC: Brad Smith and Fredy Montero each collected their third assists of the season, each with a second over the last three games. … Alex Roldan recorded his third assist of the season; he has a goal and an assist in the last two league games. … Stefan Cleveland was credited with three saves in recording his third shutout in eight starts this season.
