Career milestones set to be broken after 2019 season kickoff

CAREER MILESTONES SET TO BE BROKEN AFTER 2019 SEASON KICKOFF
Some major movement among the all-time MLS leaders will come in the next few weeks as records leaguewide start to tumble.
On Sunday,
Jeff Larentowicz
of Atlanta United played in the 392nd regular season game in his MLS career, moving into a tie for fifth place all-time.
The all-time leader is
Nick Rimando
of Real Salt Lake – who stands to be the first player in MLS history to play in 500 league contests around the midpoint of the season. Rimando last week announced the 2019 season – his record 20th in Major League Soccer – will be his last.
In addition, Rimando’s teammate,
Kyle Beckerman
will make his 500th appearance in MLS competition (regular season and MLS Cup Playoffs combined) with his next match played for Real Salt Lake.
MLS ALL-TIME INDIVIDUAL LEADERS – GAMES PLAYED

With his next assist,
Sacha Kljestan
of Orlando City SC will move into a tie for eighth place on the all-time list, alongside Cobi Jones. Kljestan is the active leader in career assists.
MLS ALL-TIME INDIVIDUAL LEADERS – ASSISTS

As
Chris Wondolowski
remains one goal away from tying the all-time MLS goalscoring record, others are also making their way up the all-time goalscoring leaderboard.
Kei Kamara
scored last weekend in his debut for the Colorado Rapids, goal No. 113 in league play in his MLS career. That puts Kamara just a single goal behind Ante Razov for a tie for fifth place on the career list.
In addition,
Bradley Wright-Phillips
of the New York Red Bulls needs just two goals to tie Jason Kreis for seventh place on the all-time list.
MLS ALL-TIME INDIVIDUAL LEADERS – GOALS SCORED

RECORD FALLS YET AGAIN FOR COLDEST GAME EVER IN MLS
For the third year running, the record for the coldest game in MLS history has been set. Last Saturday, the gametime temperature at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. was 18 degrees for the Colorado Rapids-Portland Timbers match – the coldest recorded in league annals.
Each of the past two seasons, the record coldest temperature was previously set when the expansion class of 2017 faced off at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., as Minnesota United FC played host to Atlanta United, first on March 12, 2017, then on March 31, 2018.
Here’s a look at the coldest matches known at kickoff in MLS history:

GALAXY’S ÁLVAREZ MOVES ONTO LIST OF YOUNGEST WITH ASSISTS IN DEBUT
Making his MLS debut – the youngest player ever in LA Galaxy history – 16-year-old
Efraín Álvarez
recorded an assist on his club’s first goal, becoming the fifth-youngest to register an assist in league history.
Álvarez is a Homegrown product of the LA Galaxy Academy, and last year became the youngest player in USL history to play in a match at 15 years old, scoring 12 goals in 17 appearances.
Álvarez is now one of two 16-year-olds to record assists over the last two seasons. Sporting KC Homegrown product
Gianluca Busio
notched an assist last Aug. 4 in a match vs. Houston, his second appearance in league play.
YOUNGEST PLAYER TO RECORD AN ASSIST (MLS LEAGUE GAMES)

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau
FC CINCINNATI MAKE HISTORY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE WITH OPENING GOAL
For just the second time across the entirety of Major League Soccer history, a team scored on its first attempt at goal when FC Cincinnati played their inaugural game in the league.
FCC scored its first league goal after just 13 minutes, when
Leonardo Bertone
hammered home a loose ball on the club’s first shot to give his side the lead against Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday evening.
Amazingly, the only previous time in MLS history a team scored on its first shot also came in Seattle, when Sounders FC netted a goal 11 minutes into their opening match against the New York Red Bulls in 2009, as
Fredy Montero
hit the back of the net on the team’s first shot in a 3-0 victory.
No other team in league history – including the Original 10 teams in the league’s inaugural season of 1996 – scored on their first attempt at goal.
GOALS ON TEAM’S FIRST SHOT (MLS HISTORY)

MLS WEEK 2 – LOOK AHEAD
CHICAGO FIRE
vs. Orlando City SC
Saturday, March 9, 2019 (Week 2, MLS Game #13)
SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.
12 noon CT (ESPN+; YouTube TV / My65)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): Apolinar Mariscal; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Peter Manikowski
MLS Career: 74 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 16; pens: 20
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Fire 3 wins, 16 goals … Orlando City 2 wins, 9 goals … Ties 4
AT CHICAGO: Fire 2 wins, 12 goals … Orlando City 2 wins, 6 goals … Ties 1

• The Fire opened their 2019 season with a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park. CJ Sapong scored for the Fire in his debut for the club after his arrival from the Philadelphia Union just before the start of the season.
  
• Orlando City SC stormed back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw with New York City FC in their season opener at Orlando City Stadium. Chris Mueller scored directly from a free kick before Tesho Akindele scored his first goal for the club with a 75th-minute equalizer.
  
• The Fire have a three-game winning streak vs. Orlando City SC, winning both meetings a year ago, a 2-1 victory May 26 at Orlando City Stadium, and a 4-0 victory Sept. 16 in Bridgeview.
  
• The Fire undefeated streak vs. Orlando City is even longer – now three seasons long. Orlando City’s last win vs. Chicago came Sept. 19, 2015, a 1-0 win at Bridgeview; the Fire have won three meetings since, with three draws.
  

FIRE:
Bastian Schweinsteiger
attempted 84 passes – completing 90.5 percent of them – in Chicago’s opener. According to Opta, since the start of last season, Schweinsteiger is one of 13 players with 2,000-plus passes, ranking sixth in accuracy completing 86.2 percent of them.
OCSC:
Chris Mueller’s
goal was the first directly from a free kick by an Orlando City player since Sept. 24, 2016, when Julio Baptista scored vs. D.C. United. …
Nani
recorded an assist in his MLS debut, five minutes after coming on as a 70th-minute substitute. …
Dom Dwyer
recorded an assist on Orlando City’s second goal, his first since Sept. 27, 2017, when he had two assists (and scored a goal) vs. New England. … According to Opta, Chris Mueller had created five chances for Orlando on opening day, as many as the rest of his teammates combined. … Orlando City SC has lost 14 consecutive road games, tied for the second-longest away losing streak in MLS history. Only Sporting Kansas City (May 31-June 26, 1999) has a longer streak in league history (16 games).
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. COLUMBUS CREW 
SC
Saturday, March 9, 2019 (Week 2, MLS Game #14)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
2 p.m. ET (NBCS-Bos; STOhio)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; AR2 (opposite): Logan Brown; 4th: Rubiel Vazquez; VAR: Alan Kelly; AVAR: Gjovalin Bori
MLS Career: 69 games; FC/gm: 24.5; Y/gm: 2.7; R: 24; pens: 12
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 23 wins (1 shootout), 88 goals … Crew SC 36 wins (4 shootout), 110 goals … Ties 13
AT NEW ENGLAND: Revolution 15 wins (0 shootout), 49 goals … Crew SC 16 wins (3 shootout), 44 goals … Ties 6

• The Revolution came from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas in their season opener at Toyota Stadium. Carles Gil scored the New England goal on his MLS debut.
  
• Crew SC started off the new campaign with a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Mapfre Stadium. Gaston Sauro scored the lone Columbus goal, his first in five MLS seasons.
  
• Crew SC won the second meeting between the teams a season ago, a 1-0 win at Gillette Stadium on May 19, their second victory in the last three seasons in Foxborough.
  
• The teams reached a 1-1 draw in their lone meeting last year in Columbus, on April 21; the Crew now have a five-game undefeated streak at home in the series between the clubs, the Revs’ last win at Mapfre Stadium coming in 2013.
  

REVOLUTION:
Antonio Delamea
recorded an assist, the second of his MLS career, his first since April 22, 2017. …
Jalil Anibaba
also collected an assist, his first since June 30 of last season. Anibaba has had three assists over the last four seasons, since recording a career-high four in 2015 with Sporting KC. … According to Opta, the Revolution only attempted 297 passes on opening weekend. Last season, they had six games in which they attempted fewer than 300 passes, the second-most in the league (Vancouver, 7).
CREW SC:
Federico Higuaín
assisted on the Crew SC goal, the 59th of his MLS career, now two behind Robert Warzycha for the club’s all-time leadership.
FC DALLAS vs. LA GALAXY
Saturday, March 9, 2019 (Week 2, MLS Game #15)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
2:30 p.m. CT (Univision)
REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): TJ Zablocki; 4th: Joseph Dickerson; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Adam Garner
MLS Career: 115 games; FC/gm: 22.4; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 26; pens: 26
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 27 wins (1 shootout), 103 goals … Galaxy 33 wins (1 shootout), 124 goals … Ties 12
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 20 wins (0 shootout), 65 goals … Galaxy 9 wins (0 shootout), 52 goals … Ties 7

• FC Dallas began the new season with a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution at Toyota Stadium. Michael Barrios scored FCD’s goal.
  
• The Galaxy won their season opener in dramatic fashion, coming back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 win against the Chicago Fire at Dignity Health Sports Park. Daniel Steres scored the equalizer from an assist by Efraín Álvarez – the fifth-youngest player to record an assist in MLS history. Zlatan Ibrahimović then netted the game-winner in the 80th minute.
  
• FC Dallas have won the last four meetings between the teams, including both matches a year ago, both by 3-2 scorelines – May 12 at Toyota Stadium, and May 30 in Carson. FC Dallas have won each of the last two meetings in Frisco, and now have a six-game undefeated streak overall in the series (with five victories).
  
• FCD has won the last two meetings between the teams in Carson, 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.
  

FCD:
Dominique Badji
collected the assist on the FC Dallas goal, his second since coming to the club via trade from Colorado – his first came in the final regular season match of 2018, vs. his former club. … According to Opta, FC Dallas had 65.7 percent of possession on Opening Day, the most of any team. It was the most possession they have had in an MLS match since August 8, 2010 when they had 68.7 percent against Philadelphia.
GALAXY:
At age 16 years, 256 days,
Efraín Álvarez
became the youngest player to play in a game in Galaxy club history (the previous youngest was
Jack McBean
, at 16 years, 312 days when he made his debut in 2011. …
Zlatan Ibrahimović
has scored a goal in 16 of his 28 appearances for the Galaxy since his arrival.
HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. MONTREAL IMPACT
Saturday, March 9, 2019 (Week 2, MLS Game #16)
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
4 p.m. CT (TVA; KUBE 57
REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Kyle Atkins; AR2 (opposite): Chris Wattam; 4th: Ted Unkel; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 128 games; FC/gm: 25.4; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 32; pens: 37
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 27 wins (1 shootout), 103 goals … Galaxy 33 wins (1 shootout), 124 goals
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo 6 wins, 17 goals … Impact 6 wins, 20 goals … Ties 1
AT HOUSTON: Dynamo 6 wins, 15 goals … Impact 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 1

• The Dynamo claimed a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake in their MLS season opener at BBVA Compass Stadium. Mauro Manotas hit for the equalizer midway just after the hour mark.
  
• The Impact rebounded from an early deficit to capture a 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium to open their new campaign. Ignacio Piatti scored his first goal of the year for the leveler from an assist by Saphir Taïder, then Taïder netted the game-winner just before the halftime break.
  
• The visiting team has never won in the six-year history of the series between the clubs, after the Impact won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 1-0 win on June 2 at Stade Saputo. The road team has come away with points just once – after a 1-1 draw in Houston in 2011.
  
• The Dynamo have won the past six meetings between the teams in Houston in all competitions, including in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2013, last with a 3-1 win on July 5, 2017. The Impact have won all six meetings in the series at Stade Saputo.
  

DYNAMO:
Mauro Manotas
has scored goals in four consecutive league matches, dating back to the end of last season. …
Adam Lundkvist
recorded his second assist in MLS in his second season, his first coming last Oct. 12. …
Maynor Figueroa
collected an assist in his Dynamo debut, his last in MLS coming July 1, 2017 while with FC Dallas. … At midweek, the Dynamo suffered a 2-0 loss to Tigres UANL of Mexico in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal at BBVA Compass Stadium. The second leg is March 12 in Monterrey.
IMPACT:
Saphir Taïder
scored a goal and added an assist in the same game for the second time in MLS, the first coming last Oct. 6 vs. Columbus. …
Zakaria Diallo
recorded an assist in his first appearance (and first start) in MLS for the Impact.
REAL SALT LAKE 
vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Saturday, March 9, 2019 (Week 2, MLS Game #17)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
4 p.m. MT (TSN1; KMYU-12)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Victor Rivas; VAR: Younes Marrakchi; AVAR: Peter Balciunas
MLS Career: 102 games; FC/gm: 25.5; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 16; pens: 26
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Real 7 wins, 22 goals … Whitecaps FC 9 wins, 27 goals … Ties 4
AT SALT LAKE: Real 6 wins, 15 goals … Whitecaps FC 1 wins, 6 goals … Ties 3

• Real kicked off their new campaign with a 1-1 road draw with the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium. Albert Rusnák scored RSL’s first goal of the season.
  
• Whitecaps FC suffered a 3-2 loss to Minnesota United FC in their 2019 season opener. A pair of defenders netted the two Vancouver goals in Erik Godoy and Doneil Henry.
  
• The teams split their season series last year, each winning on their home ground. Real Salt Lake took a 2-0 win April 7 at Rio Tinto Stadium, then Whitecaps FC claimed a 2-1 win April 27 at BC Place. It was the third consecutive season the teams have split their two meetings, each with a home victory.
  
• The ‘Caps have won the last six meetings at BC Place, dating back to 2014. RSL have won the last three meetings at Rio Tinto Stadium.
  

REAL:
Corey Baird
assisted on the opening RSL goal, after recording five assists (with eight goals) while winning MLS Rookie of the Year honors in 2018. … RSL is 5-1-8 all-time in home openers, the one defeat coming last March 10 in a 5-1 loss to Los Angeles FC at Rio Tinto Stadium. … According to Opta,
Everton Luiz
was a part of 23 duels on Opening Day. His duel success rate of 34.8 percent was the lowest of any of the six players with at least 20 duels.
WHITECAPS FC:
Doneil Henry
scored his first goal in MLS play since May 31, 2014, while with Toronto FC, the third of his MLS career. …
Yordy Reyna
collected an assist on the Whitecaps FC opening goal; he had 11 assists last season, tied for second-most in a single season in the club’s MLS history. …
PC Giro
recorded his second career assist in MLS, his first coming in his league debut May 17, 2017 with Orlando City. …
Hwang Inbeom
collected an assist in his MLS debut.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. MINNESOTA UNITED
 FC
Saturday, March 9, 2019 (Week 1, MLS Game #18)
Avaya Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
5 p.m. PT (NBCS-CA; FS-North)
REFEREE: Marcos de Oliveira. AR1 (bench): Jeffrey Greeson; AR2 (opposite): Adam Wienckowski; 4th: Alex Chilowicz; VAR: Kevin Stott; AVAR: Eduardo Mariscal
MLS Career: 17 games; FC/gm: 24.7; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 2; pens: 4
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Earthquakes 4 wins, 10 goals … MNUFC 0 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0
AT SAN JOSE: Earthquakes 2 wins, 6 goals … MNUFC 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 0

• The Quakes fell 2-1 to the Montréal Impact in their 2019 season opener at Avaya Stadium. Magnus Eriksson gave San Jose the lead after just 11 minutes.
  
• MNUFC won their season opener for the first time in the club’s MLS history, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-2 at BC Place. The victory was the first on the road for Minnesota United since March 10, 2018, snapping a 15-game away winless streak.
  
• Darwin Quintero opened the scoring for MNUFC, converting a penalty kick, then assisted on the next two goals, from Francisco Calvo and Romario Ibarra. It’s the fourth time in his MLS career Quintero has been involved in three goals in a game (in 28 appearances).
  
• The Quakes have won all four meetings all-time between the teams, winning both encounters a year ago – a 3-2 win March 3 at Avaya Stadium in the season opener for both teams, and a 3-1 win May 12 at TCF Bank Stadium.
  
• The Quakes won both meetings in MNUFC’s inaugural campaign, a 1-0 win on April 29 in Minneapolis, and a 3-2 triumph Oct. 22 in San Jose.
  

QUAKES:
Vako Qazaishvili
recorded an assist on the Quakes’ opening goal, his first since last Aug. 29. …
Anibal Godoy
was also credited with an assist on the San Jose goal, his last coming Aug. 4 of last season.
MNUFC:
Romario Ibarra
scored his fourth goal in MLS, in 10 league appearances, his last coming Sept. 22, 2018 when he scored a pair vs. Portland. … According to Opta,
Darwin Quintero
created six chances in the MNUFC opener, providing two assists. There have only been four other instances of a Minnesota player creating six chances in a single match. Quintero is the only player to do so twice.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
Saturday, March 9, 2019 (Week 1, MLS Game #19)
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.
7 p.m. PT (JOEtv / YouTube TV; Altitude
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Felisha Mariscal; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal; VAR: Fotis Bazakos; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 269 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 96; pens: 102
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 17 wins, 46 goals … Rapids 5 wins, 25 goals … Ties 2
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 10 wins, 26 goals … Rapids 2 wins, 9 goals … Ties 1

• Sounders FC started off their new season with a 4-1 win against expansion outfit FC Cincinnati at CenturyLink Field. Jordan Morris scored two goals for the Sounders, the second two-goal game of his league career, his first goals in MLS since Aug. 5, 2017 after missing the entirety of last season with a knee injury.
  
• The Rapids reached a dramatic 3-3 draw with the Portland Timbers in a wild season opener at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. In a game played in a driving snowstorm – the gametime temperature was 18 degrees, the coldest ever for an MLS league match – the Rapids first went a man down then twice came back from a goal down to gain the draw, the final equalizer scored by rookie Andre Shinyashiki in stoppage time.
  
• Sounders FC have won the last four meetings between the teams, over the last two seasons, including both meetings a year ago – a 2-1 win on July 4 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, and a 4-0 victory Sept. 29 at CenturyLink Field.
  
• Those victories came after a three-game winning streak for the Rapids in the series, including wins in both meetings in 2016. The Rapids winning streak had come on the heels of a five-game Sounders FC winning streak in the series, over the 2014 season and first two meetings in 2015.
  
• Sounders FC have won five of the past six meetings in Commerce City in both league and MLS Cup Playoffs competition, dating back to 2014. The Rapids had a two-game winning streak at CenturyLink Field before Sounders FC wins there the last two years – Colorado’s only wins ever in Seattle.
  

SOUNDERS FC:
Raúl Ruidíaz
scored his first goal of the season; he has scored in each of the last four league matches (with six goals in that time), dating back to last Sept. 29, and now has goals in each of last six appearances in all competitions. …
Nicolas Lodeiro
collected a pair of assists, now five consecutive league matches with assists (with nine over the stretch, dating back to Sept. 29). It was the eighth multiple-assist game of Lodeiro’s MLS career, with three coming in the last five games. …
Kelvin Leerdam
scored his second career goal in MLS, his first coming July 23, 2017, in his second appearance.
RAPIDS:
Kei Kamara
scored his first goal of the season, now with 113 for his MLS career, one behind Ante Razov for fifth place on the all-time leaderboard. …
Benny Feilhaber
scored his first goal since coming to the Rapids, his first since last July 22, the last of his three goals with Los Angeles FC. …
Kellyn Acosta
recorded an assist on the opening goal; his last assist came in the Decision Day season finale last year, against his former club in FC Dallas. …
Dillon Serna
had an assist on the first Colorado goal, his first in an MLS game since July 1, 2017 (a span of 30 games). …
Tim Howard
saved a penalty kick, his first in an MLS league game since Oct. 16, 2016, which also came vs. Portland (vs. Fanendo Adi).
NEW YORK CITY FC vs. D.C. UNITED
Sunday, March 10, 2019 (Week 1, MLS Game #20)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
3 p.m. ET (YES; FloSports)
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Rubiel Vazquez; VAR: Silviu Petrescu; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 37 games; FC/gm: 26.6; Y/gm: 4.4; R: 6; pens: 14
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 4 wins, 17 goals … D.C. United 4 wins, 14 goals … Ties 1
AT YANKEE STADIUM: NYCFC 3 wins, 11 goals … D.C. United 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 1

• NYCFC reached a 2-2 draw with Orlando City SC at Orlando City Stadium in their 2019 season opener. Goals from Ebenezer Ofori and Alexander Ring gave NYCFC a two-goal lead by halftime.
  
• D.C. United started off their new season with a 2-0 win against defending MLS Cup champions Atlanta United at Audi Field. Paul Arriola netted the opener just before halftime from an assist by Luciano Acosta, then Acosta netted the second just before the hour mark.
  
• D.C. United won the last meeting between the teams a year ago, a 2-1 win Oct. 21 at Audi Field, their third consecutive home victory in the series. NYCFC owns the only win by the road team in the series – a 2-0 triumph May 8, 2016 at RFK Stadium.
  
• The teams reached a 1-1 draw last Sept. 8 in the lone meeting at Yankee Stadium, the first time D.C. United took points there. NYCFC had won the first three encounters in the Bronx.
  

NYCFC:
New York City FC have never lost a home opener, now 3-0-1 in their first matches of the season at Yankee Stadium. …
Alexandru Mitrita
collected an assist in his MLS debut, starting and playing the full match. …
Jonathan Lewis
collected an assist, his first since last July 29. … The goal was the second for
Ebenezer Ofori
in his MLS career, his first coming last April 11 vs. Real Salt Lake.
DC UNITED:
Luciano Acosta
scored a goal and added an assist for the sixth time in his MLS career, the second time in the last three league matches. …
Wayne Rooney
collected an assist, his first in league play since last Sept. 29. … Acosta and Rooney combined for 22 of United's 37 goals over the final 20 games in the 2018 season. …
Junior Moreno
recorded his third assist in 20 MLS appearances, his last coming last Aug. 19. … Lucas Rodríguez notched an assist in his United and MLS debut. …
Bill Hamid
was credited with two saves in recording the shutout, the only one from the opening weekend. … According to Opta,
Russell Canouse
had seven tackles (five won) against Atlanta United, both tied for the the most of any MLS player on opening weekend.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Sunday, March 10, 2019 (Week 1, MLS Game #21)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
2 p.m. CT (FS-KC; PHL 17)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Nick Uranga; AR2 (opposite): Brian Poeschel; 4th: Rosendo Mendoza; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 143 games; FC/gm: 24.0; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 43; pens: 51
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sporting 5 wins, 18 goals … Union 6 wins, 22 goals … Ties 5
AT KC: Sporting 3 wins, 11 goals … Union 2 wins, 9 goals … Ties 3

• Sporting opened their new season with a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles FC at Banc of California Stadium. Krisztian Nemeth scored the SKC goal, giving his side an early lead.
  
• The Union went down to a 3-1 defeat by Toronto FC in their season opener at Talen Energy Stadium. Marco Fabian netted the Union goal in his MLS debut, converting a penalty kick.
  
• The Union won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 2-0 win Sept. 23 at Talen Energy Stadium, their third consecutive home win in the series.
  
• The Union have taken points on four of their past five trips to face SKC, with two wins and two draws, including a 1-1 draw in their last meeting at Children’s Mercy Park, July 6, 2017.
  

SPORTING:
Krisztian Nemeth
scored his first goal since last Sept. 15 in netting SKC’s opening goal of the season. Nemeth has one goal in each of the last three seasons since his return to the league, after netting 10 goals in 2015 in his MLS campaign. …
Johnny Russell
collected an assist, his first in MLS league play since last Oct. 17, when he had the last of his 10 assists for the season.
UNION:
Andre Blake
saved a penalty kick in the first half, the third saved penalty of his MLS career (from 16 total attempts).
ATLANTA UNITED 
vs. FC CINCINNATI
Sunday, March 10, 2019 (Week 1, MLS Game #22)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
5 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes; TSN4)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Brian Dunn; 4th: Joseph Dickerson; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 135 games; FC/gm: 22.5; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 31; pens: 62

• Atlanta United went down to defeat to open the season for the third time in their three-year MLS history, falling 2-0 to D.C. United at Audi Field. The defending MLS Cup champions were the only team not to score a goal over the opening weekend of the season.
  
• FC Cincinnati started their MLS history with a 4-1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. Leonardo Bertone scored the club’s first-ever league goal, giving FCC the lead after just 13 minutes.
  
• Atlanta United have faced a new expansion team once in their history – a 5-0 win against Los Angeles FC last April 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
  

ATLUTD:
Jeff Larentowicz
made the 392nd appearance of his MLS league career, tied for third-most all-time.
FCC:
Przemyslaw Tyton
recorded five saves, tied for the MLS league lead after the first week.
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Sunday, March 10, 2019 (Week 1, MLS Game #23)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
4:30 p.m. PT (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Corey Rockwell; 4th: Alex Chilowicz; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Michael Kampmeinert
MLS Career: 240 games; FC/gm: 23.1; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 40; pens: 71
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: LAFC 0 wins, 1 goal … Timbers 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 1
AT BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM: LAFC 0 wins, 0 goals … Timbers 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 1

• LAFC won their season opener for a second consecutive year, claiming a dramatic 2-1 win against Sporting Kansas City at Banc of California Stadium. Diego Rossi netted in the opener for a second year running, pulling LAFC level early in the second half – then Adama Diomande hit for the game-winner deep in stoppage time.
  
• The Timbers reached a 3-3 draw with the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in a wild season opener. The game was played in a steady snowfall and kickoff temperature was 18 degrees – the coldest ever for an MLS league match. Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco netted goals for the Timbers, who also benefitted from an own goal.
  
• The teams met twice in league play in LAFC’s inaugural season. The Timbers claimed a 2-1 win on May 19 at Providence Park; the teams also reached a goalless draw July 15 at Banc of California Stadium.
  
• The teams also met in the U.S. Open Cup, LAFC winning their semifinal matchup 3-2 in Los Angeles.
  

LAFC:
The Diomande goal marked the third time in LAFC’s short history they’ve scored the game-winner in stoppage time. …
Eduard Atuesta
recorded an assist, the third of his MLS career, first since last Aug. 15. …
Jordan Harvey
collected an assist, his second with LAFC, his first coming last Aug. 15. … According to Opta,
Carlos Vela
completed seven dribbles against Sporting Kansas City, the most of any player on the league’s opening weekend. Only two other players completed at least five.
TIMBERS:
Diego Valeri
added an assist, the 15th time in his MLS career he had at least one goal and one assist in the same game. … According to Opta, Valeri had nine key passes against Colorado, the most of any player in the league on opening weekend. Minnesota's Darwin Quintero (six) is the only other player who had more than five. …
Sebastian Blanco
has scored eight goals in the last 11 matches in league and MLS Cup play for the Timbers.