Campeones Cup in Atlanta to crown North America's best team

• Campeones Cup in Atlanta to crown North America’s best team
• South American youngsters flood MLS in Secondary Transfer Window
• Toronto, Montreal in driver’s seat to book spot in Canadian Championship final
• Week 24 Notes

Top Things to Know in MLS This Week:
Campeones Cup kicks off Wednesday:
The annual clash pitting MLS Cup champions against LIGA MX champions features Atlanta United vs. Club América at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, August 14 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2 / Univision / TUDN / TSN / TVA Sports).

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Golden Boot Race heats up:
LAFC’s Carlos Vela leads MLS scoring with 23 goals, including 10 in his last 10 games, but Atlanta’s Josef Martinez is on his heels with 20 goals, including 15 in his past 10 games.
LAFC’s Vela hits history:
Vela’s combined 23 goals and 15 assists this year (38) have already tied an MLS single-season record (2015: Sebastian Giovinco with 22 goals, 16 assists), and he still has 10 more games to shatter it.
Atlanta’s Martinez matches more records:
Josef Martinez’s 15 goals in his last 10 games equals his own all-time record set over a 10-game span last year from June 2-July 28.
Heineken Rivalry Week is next week:
Some of the most compelling, raucous, and highly anticipated matchups of the season will bring together rival teams and their fan bases with bragging rights on the line during the most robust Heineken Rivalry Week in MLS history.
Campeones Cup in Atlanta to crown North America’s best team
In the second edition of Campeones Cup, the annual North American clash featuring MLS Cup champions against Liga MX champions, a dominating Atlanta United will host Mexican titans Club América at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday, August 14 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2 / Univision / TUDN / TSN / TVA Sports).
Tickets for the 2019 Campeones Cup are on sale via
www.Ticketmaster.com
.

• For more: www.CampeonesCup.com
  

Atlanta United are among the top three ranked teams in MLS, having outscored opponents 15-5 in their last five games. Against a LIGA MX rival at home this March, Atlanta’s clutch performer
Josef Martinez
, with 15 goals in his last 10 regular season games, scored

in the second leg of Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals to make Atlanta United the first team – MLS or LIGA MX – to defeat Monterrey in 2019.
Atlanta has one of the most advantageous homefield environments in North American sports. However, their high-powered offense could be stalled by Club América goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, a four-time FIFA World Cup participant and four-time Gold Cup champion, who after re-signing with the club last week, could make his first appearance for América in eight years. Former LA Galaxy forward
Giovani dos Santos
also could see his first full match against MLS competition since joining the LIGA MX side.
In addition to the excitement on the field, Campeones Cup is a centerpiece for collaborative efforts off the field, including a special focus on social responsibility to drive positive change.
Yesterday, MLS, Atlanta United, LIGA MX, Club América and the Latin American Association (LAA) unveiled a refurbished soccer space and hosted a clinic (conducted by Soccer in the Streets) at Sequoyah Middle School in metro Atlanta. Atlanta United players
Mo Adams
,
Andrew Carleton
, and
Tito Villalba
were joined by Club América’s
Paul Aguilar
,
Nicolás Benedetti
and
Carlos Vargas
.
Media Assets

• Photos are available here.
  
• Video assets, including player soundbytes, are available here.
  

*Note: The inaugural edition of Campeones Cup was played on September 19, 2018, at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, where LIGA MX champions Tigres UANL won 3-1 against MLS Cup champions Toronto FC.
South American youngsters flood MLS in Secondary Transfer Window
Clubs across MLS continue to sign young and dynamic players as the Secondary Transfer Window closed last week, with a total of 33 players averaging 24.48 years of age joining MLS clubs. That average age is in comparison to the weighted average age of 26.16 for all MLS players who have appeared in matches this season.
Among the newcomers are six players averaging 22.83 years of age signed to Designated Player contracts. Including these newcomers, the average age of all Designated Players in MLS is now 28.14 years old. New England Revolution 29-year-old forward
Gustavo Bou
has scored three goals in five appearances since coming to MLS from Club Tijuana and is the oldest of the six new Designated Players. Three newly signed DPs hail from Uruguay, including Los Angeles Football Club 19-year-old forward
Brian Rodríguez
from Club Atlético Peñarol, the same club that developed current LAFC star
Diego Rossi
. Minnesota United FC also signed Uruguayan 18-year-old
Thomás Chacón
, the first Young Designated Player in club history.
An additional 16 players averaging 25.5 years of age were signed using Targeted Allocation Money, including LA Galaxy 23-year-old forward
Cristian Pavón
who represented Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and started his first match with the club on Sunday. Also among the TAM signings is Ecuador National Team 20-year-old defender
Diego Palacios
, who joins LAFC after spending last season on loan with Willem II in Netherlands top flight Eredivisie.
Of the 33 newcomers, six were born in the United States, four each in Argentina and the Netherlands, and three in Uruguay. An additional six players were signed during this window who will join their respective clubs in 2020 including Inter Miami CF’s first signings in club history – 19-year-old South Americans
Julián Carranza
(Argentina),
Christian Makoun
(Venezuela) and
Matías Pellegrini
(Argentina).
Toronto, Montreal in driver’s seat to book spot in Canadian Championship final
Another all-MLS final for the Canadian Championship could be on the horizon as Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact gear up for the second leg of their respective semifinal matches on Wednesday. Should both clubs maintain their current leads, they will converge in the tournament title match in mid-September.
Argentine star
Ignacio Piatti
and the Impact head to Alberta to face Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC (9:30 p.m. ET, OneSoccer.ca). Piatti single-handedly lifted Montreal to a 2-1 win against Cavalry last week with a brace, and he is tied for the tournament golden boot lead with three goals overall.
Seven-time Canadian Championship victors Toronto FC, who have won the past three tournaments, hold a 2-0 lead over the USL Championship’s Ottawa Fury FC going into Leg 2 on Wednesday at BMO Field (7:30 p.m. ET, OneSoccer.ca). Toronto defender
Drew Moor
stole the spotlight in Leg 1 with a first-half
side volley goal
.
MLS Regular Season: Week 24 Notes
Wednesday, Aug. 14
Orlando City SC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. ET

• Orlando City SC gained a result for a second consecutive match, reaching a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday evening.
  
• Sporting weren’t able to build upon a first victory in three matches, falling 2-1 to Real Salt Lake at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening.
  
• Orlando City are undefeated on their home ground vs. Sporting KC, after a 2-2 draw in the last meeting in Orlando on May 13, 2017. OCSC took the first match between the clubs, a 3-1 win on Sept. 13, 2015.
  
• Sporting have won both meetings all-time in KC, including a 1-0 victory in the lone encounter between the clubs a year ago, on Sept. 8.
  

Minnesota United FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 8 p.m. ET

• Minnesota United FC saw their MLS club-record seven-game undefeated streak come to an end, falling 5-3 to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening. Ethan Finlay netted a pair of goals for MNUFC; he has three goals in the past two games.
  
• The Rapids won a second game on the trot, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Kei Kamara scored the game’s only goal in the 29th minute, leading the Rapids to the victory on June 8 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago and the Rapids won both, coming back for a 3-2 win on June 23 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, then taking a 2-0 win on Oct. 13 at TCF Bank Stadium.
  
• The teams met twice in Minnesota United’s inaugural campaign. They reached a 2-2 draw in the first encounter on March 18 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; MNUFC then claimed a 1-0 win on April 18 at TCF Bank Stadium.
  

Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10 p.m. ET

• Real Salt Lake won their second match in a row, defeating Sporting Kansas City 2-1 at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening. The win extended their current undefeated run to five games, dating back to July 13.
  
• Sounders FC rebounded to gain a 3-3 draw with the New England Revolution at CenturyLink Field on Saturday afternoon. Harry Shipp scored a pair of goals for Sounders FC, his first multiple-goal game since June 2014, when he scored twice for Chicago vs. Seattle.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Nicolás Lodeiro scored the game’s only goal in the 18th minute, leading Sounders FC to the victory on April 6 at CenturyLink Field.
  
• Real have won their past seven home games vs. Seattle, including a 2-0 win last June 2 in the last matchup at Rio Tinto Stadium. Sounders FC last won in league play in Sandy on May 28, 2011, a span of eight games (they did win there in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2012).
  
• Sounders FC have won eight of the past nine league meetings between the teams at CenturyLink Field, the lone RSL win coming on May 26, 2018, a 1-0 triumph.
  

LA Galaxy vs. FC Dallas, 10:30 p.m. ET

• The Galaxy had their slide reach three games, falling 2-1 to D.C. United at Audi Field on Sunday evening.
  
• FC Dallas rebounded for a third result in their past four games, defeating Minnesota United FC 5-3 at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening. Homegrown Player Brandon Servania scored the first two goals of his MLS career, in his 10th career appearance.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Reto Ziegler and Bryan Acosta netted goals eight minutes apart around the hour mark, as FC Dallas took a 2-0 win on March 9 at Toyota Stadium.
  
• FC Dallas have won the past five meetings between the teams. FC Dallas have won each of the last three meetings in Frisco, Texas, and now have a seven-game undefeated streak overall in the series (with six victories).
  
• FCD has won the last two meetings between the teams in Carson, Calif., coming on the heels of a nine-game home undefeated streak in the series for the Galaxy (dating back to 2009), having gone 7-0-2 over that stretch.
  

Portland Timbers vs. Chicago Fire, 11 p.m. ET

• The Timbers won for the third time in four games and extended their home undefeated streak to six matches, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 at Providence Park on Saturday evening. Sebastian Blanco scored his fourth goal of the season, and also added an assist, now with 10 for the year.
  
• The Fire won a second consecutive game and extended their undefeated streak to three matches, getting a late winner for a 3-2 victory against the Montréal Impact at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening. Bastian Schweinsteiger netted his first goal of the season, the game-winner in the 88th minute.
  
• The Timbers have never lost to the Fire in their history. The Timbers have won four of the nine meetings all-time, three of those in Portland.
  
• The teams have reached draws each of the past three seasons, including a 2-2 result last March 31 in Bridgeview, Ill., in the only meeting between the teams. They also reached a 2-2 draw in the last encounter at Providence Park on July 5, 2017.
  

Saturday, Aug. 17
New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution, 7 p.m. ET

• The Red Bulls return home off a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday evening. Cristian Casseres Jr. scored a goal, his third of the season, and added an assist, his fourth of the year.
  
• The Revolution gained a 12th result in their past 13 matches, reaching a 3-3 draw with Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday afternoon. Carles Gil scored a goal, his ninth of the season, and added an assist, his 10th – the fourth time in the last five games he’s had both a goal and an assist in the same game.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Cristian Penilla netted the game’s only goal in the 73rd minute, giving the Revolution the victory at Gillette Stadium on April 20.
  
• The visiting team has won just twice in the series over the past 12 seasons in league play. The Red Bulls won 3-2 on July 5, 2017 in Foxborough, their second win there in four seasons. When the Red Bulls won 2-0 at Gillette Stadium on June 8, 2014, it 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 have never won at Red Bull Arena in league play. Since the stadium opened in 2010, the Red Bulls have won 10 of 11 regular-season games there, with one draw. When the Revolution won 2-1 in Harrison in the first leg of the 2014 Eastern Conference Championship, it was their first win of any sort in New Jersey since 2007, ending a 10-game winless streak there in all competitions.
  

FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET

• FC Cincinnati made a dramatic start to their rivalry with Columbus Crew SC, gaining a 2-2 draw at Mapfre Stadium. Emmanuel Ledesma scored his fourth goal of the season, all coming over the last eight matches, while Darren Mattocks scored a third goal this year, now with a goal and an assist in the last two games.
  
• New York City FC fell to a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening. Héber netted his 10th goal in 16 appearances since coming to MLS, while Maximiliano Moralez contributed his 14th assist of the season, one off the MLS league lead.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season and in their histories. Héber scored a pair of goals and added an assist – and also netted an own goal – while Moralez scored a goal and contributed three assists, as NYCFC cruised to a 5-2 win on June 6 at Yankee Stadium.
  

Columbus Crew SC vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN)

• Crew SC extended their undefeated run to five games with a third draw in that time, playing to a 2-2 result with FC Cincinnati at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Gyasi Zardes scored for a second game in a row, now with nine on the season, while Pedro Santos scored his eighth of the season, his third in the last three games.
  
• TFC gained a second consecutive result on their home ground, reaching a 1-1 draw with Orlando City SC at BMO Field on Saturday evening. Patrick Mullins netted his first goal since coming to Toronto FC via trade from Columbus, his first of 2019.
  
• The teams met twice a year ago. They played to a 3-3 draw at Mapfre Stadium in the second meeting, on June 2. TFC has come away with points on their last two trips to Columbus, the 2-1 victory on May 10, 2017 their first win in Columbus since 2014, snapping a four-game Crew SC home undefeated streak there in the series in league play (2-0-2).
  
• Crew SC took the first meeting between the teams last year, a 2-0 win on March 3 at BMO Field in the league season opener for both teams. The Columbus win ended a two-game TFC winning streak at BMO Field in the series, the opening goal the first scored by Crew SC in 404 minutes in Toronto over all competitions.
  

Montreal Impact vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET (TVA Sports)

• The Impact return home following a two-game road skid, falling 3-2 to the Chicago Fire at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening. Saphir Taïder scored for a second consecutive game, now with nine goals on the season.
  
• Michael Barrios collected three assists in FCD’s 5-3 win vs. Minnesota United, equaling his MLS single-game career-high, set first June 3, 2017 vs. Real Salt Lake. Paxton Pomykal also recorded three assists in the win, the first multiple-assist game of his MLS career; both Barrios and Pomykal tied the FCD single-game record
  
• FC Dallas have won the past three meetings between the teams, including a 2-0 victory last June 9 at Toyota Stadium in their only matchup.
  
• FC Dallas won the last meeting in Montréal, a 2-1 win on July 22, 2017 at Stade Saputo. The Impact have won once in seven meetings all-time – a 2-1 win in 2015 in Montréal. FCD has won all four encounters at Toyota Stadium.
  

Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union, 8 p.m. ET

• Nemanja Nikolic netted his eighth goal of the season in the Fire’s 3-2 win vs. Montréal, his second goal in as many games. Dax McCarty scored his first goal of the season, his first in his three seasons with the Fire, his last coming Oct. 1, 2016 with the New York Red Bulls.
  
• The Union won their second game in a row, getting a late winner for a 2-1 victory vs. the Houston Dynamo at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday evening. Kacper Przybylko scored his 11th goal of the season, while Jack Elliott netted his second goal, the fifth in his three MLS seasons.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Marco Fabian scored early and Anthony Fontana netted a second-half goal as the Union won 2-0, July 20 at Talen Energy Stadium.
  
• The Union have won the last three meetings between the clubs, now having won four matchups in a row in Chester, Pa. The Union’s home win in 2016 snapped a seven-game winless streak overall in the league series.
  
• The Union won the last meeting in Bridgeview, Ill., a 4-3 victory on July 11, 2018. The Fire had won four home meetings in a row before that Union win. The Union win was the first for the visiting team in the series since 2013.
  

Minnesota United FC vs. Orlando City SC, 8 p.m. ET

• Rookie Hassani Dotson netted his third goal of the season in Minnesota United’s 5-3 defeat at FC Dallas. All three goals have come over the last 10 games (since June 2).
  
• Homegrown Player Benji Michel scored his second career goal in Orlando City’s 1-1 draw at Toronto FC; both goals have come in the last six matches.
  
• The teams have met twice in their MLS histories, and Minnesota United FC have won both. They took a 2-1 win last March 10 in Orlando in the only matchup between the clubs; MNUFC won the first meeting between the clubs, May 27, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium.
  

Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 8:30 p.m. ET

• Johnny Russell scored the SKC goal vs. Real Salt Lake directly from a free kick – his second this season (the first coming March 17). They are the first by a Sporting player since 2015 (when Benny Feilhaber scored vs. FC Dallas).
  
• The Quakes had their five-game undefeated streak put to an end, falling 2-1 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Vako Qazaishvili scored his eighth goal of the season, his seventh in the last nine matches (since June 26).
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Danny Hoesen netted a pair of goals before the break as the Quakes eased to a 4-1 win on April 20 at Avaya Stadium.
  
• The Quakes win ended a six-game Sporting undefeated streak in the series, their first win in the series since 2016.
  
• Sporting have won the past three meetings in Kansas City, including a 3-2 win on March 17, 2018 in the last matchup there. The last San Jose win at Children’s Mercy Park came in 2015, a 5-0 victory, which is the largest in the all-time series.
  

Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids, 9 p.m. ET

• The Dynamo return home looking to snap a four-game losing slide, following a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday evening. Christian Ramirez scored in his debut for the club, following his arrival via trade with Los Angeles FC, his fifth goal of the season.
  
• Diego Rubio netted a goal, his seventh of the season, and added an assist, his third of the year, in the Rapids’ 2-1 win against San Jose. Rubio has scored a goal in each of the last three games.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Alberth Elis netted a goal and added an assist and the Dynamo benefited from two own goals, taking a 4-1 win on March 30 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
  
• The Dynamo win was their first in Commerce City since 2008, ending an eight-game home undefeated streak for the Rapids in the series (5-0-3).
  
• The Dynamo won the last meeting between the clubs in Houston, a 2-0 win on June 9, 2018, which ended a two-game Rapids winning streak at BBVA Stadium.
  

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

• Favio Alvarez scored his third goal of the season in the Galaxy’s 2-1 loss at D.C. United, all three goals coming over the last 10 games, since May 29.
  
• Nicolás Lodeiro scored a goal, his fifth of the season, and added an assist, his 11th of the year, in Sounders FC’s 3-3 draw with New England. Lodeiro has three goals and three assists in six games since his return from international duty.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago, each posting dominant victories at home. Sounders FC claimed a 5-0 victory on Aug. 18 at CenturyLink Field, Sounders FC equaling the club’s record for margin of victory over its 10 MLS seasons, and the Galaxy equaling the biggest margin of defeat in their 23-year history (set twice previously). The Galaxy then won 3-0 on Sept. 23 in Carson.
  
• The Sounders FC win last year was their first against the Galaxy at CenturyLink Field in league play since 2014 (though Sounders FC did win twice at home in the MLS Cup Playoffs over that timeframe).
  
• The Galaxy win in the second meeting ended a three-game undefeated run for Sounders FC in Carson, with wins in two, over each of the previous two years. The win in Carson in the final meeting in 2016 was their first victory at the Galaxy since 2009, ending an 11-game winless streak there in league and MLS Cup play.
  

Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles Football Club, 10 p.m. ET

• Corey Baird netted both Real goals in the 2-1 win at Sporting Kansas City, now with three goals on the season; it was the first multiple-goal game of his MLS career.
  
• LAFC won for a third consecutive game, defeating the New York Red Bulls 4-2 at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday evening.
  
• Carlos Vela scored a goal and added a pair of assists, now leading MLS in both categories, with 23 goals and 15 assists. The 38 combined goals and assists are tied for the most in a single season in league history (with Sebastian Giovinco, 22 goals, 16 assists in 2015).
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Walker Zimmerman scored the game-winning goals two minutes into second-half stoppage time, giving LAFC a 2-1 win March 23 at Banc of California Stadium.
  
• LAFC have won all three league meetings between the teams. The teams met twice in LAFC’s inaugural league season, LAFC taking a 5-1 win on March 10 at Rio Tinto Stadium, as Diego Rossi tied an MLS record by playing a part in all five goals, with two goals and three assists, then LAFC won 2-0 on Aug. 15 at Banc of California Stadium.
  
• The teams also met in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, with Real pulling off an upset with a 3-2 win at Banc of California Stadium.
  

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. D.C. United, 10 p.m. ET (TSN)

• Whitecaps FC had their two-game undefeated run come to an end, falling 3-1 to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Saturday evening. Homegrown Player Theo Bair netted his first career goal in MLS, making his ninth appearance.
  
• D.C. United bounced back with a 2-1 win vs. the LA Galaxy at Audi Field on Saturday evening. Lucas Rodríguez netted his fifth goal of the season, his third over the last five matches, while Paul Arriola scored his fifth goal, his second in the last five.
  
• D.C. United have won the last four meetings, claiming a 3-1 win last July 14 in the opening of Audi Field in the last encounter.
  
• D.C. United have won the last two meetings at BC Place, and have taken points on their last four trips to British Columbia. The lone home win for Whitecaps FC in the series came in 2011.
  
• Whitecaps FC’s last victory in the series came June 29, 2013, a 1-0 win at RFK Stadium, their only win in three meetings played there. D.C. United took the other two both by 4-0 scorelines.
  

Sunday, Aug. 18
Portland Timbers vs. Atlanta United FC, 10 p.m. (FS1, FOX Deportes, TSN)

• Diego Valeri recorded a pair of assists in the Timbers’ 3-1 win vs. Vancouver, the 14th multiple-assist game of his MLS career. Valeri now has 14 assists for the season, equaling his MLS single-season career-high set in 2014.
  
• Atlanta United won their fourth game in the last five, a second win on the trot, defeating New York City FC 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
  
• Josef Martínez scored a pair of goals, setting the all-time MLS record with a 10th consecutive game with a goal. Martínez has 15 goals over the 10-game streak, dating back to May 24; he now has 20 goals for the season, his 70 goals the most ever of any player over their first seasons in MLS.
  
• The game is a rematch of 2018 MLS Cup, won by Atlanta United 2-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last Dec. 8, behind goals from Josef Martínez and Franco Escobar.
  
• The teams have played to a pair of draws in their two league meetings all-time, a 1-1 draw last June 24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and a 1-1 result May 14, 2017 at Providence Park.