LAFC sets off on historic start in myriad ways - Week 7 News & Notes

LAFC SETS OFF ON HISTORIC START IN MYRIAD WAYS
In just their second season in MLS, the Los Angeles Football Club have made a habit of getting off to blazing starts. This year’s opening is already the best yet.
LAFC has scored 19 goals in their first six games of the season – the most of any club through the opening six games in MLS history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. LAFC owns two of the top four starts through six games, netting 16 goals in that span to start its history a year ago, which equaled the third-best ever.
The LAFC start has come most recently on the strength of big back-to-back road wins – a 5-0 defeat of the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on March 30, and a 4-0 win against D.C. United at Audi Field last Saturday afternoon. The nine-goal differential is the largest of any club in league history over consecutive away matches.
MOST GOALS, FIRST SIX GAMES

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau
Over the past three matches, since late in the first half of their comeback win vs. Real Salt Lake on March 23 at Banc of California Stadium, LAFC has scored 11 goals without conceding a single one. The 11 consecutive goals are tied for the sixth-longest run of uninterrupted goals in MLS history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
MOST UNINTERRUPTED GOALS

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau
With 16 points for the season following the win at D.C. United, LAFC is tied for the third-best record in MLS history after the opening six matches of a season. Two teams have taken maximum points from the opening six games – the 1996 LA Galaxy and 2012 Sporting Kansas City.
BEST RECORD, FIRST SIX GAMES OF SEASON

LAFC’S CARLOS VELA ADDS TO TEAM’S PROWESS WITH OWN HISTORIC START
As part of his club’s unprecedented offensive start to the season, Carlos Vela of the Los Angeles Football Club has also been pouring in goals at an historic clip.
Vela has scored seven goals through the opening six games, after netting one in the win at D.C. United, and was named the MLS Player of the Month for March. The seven goals in the first six games is tied for third-most of any player through that stretch to start the season.
MOST GOALS, FIRST SIX GAMES OF SEASON

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau
Vela netted a hat trick – his first in MLS – in the 5-0 win vs. San Jose on March 30. Then at D.C. United, Diego Rossi collected a triple.
It marked the seventh time in MLS history a team had recorded hat tricks in back-to-back games (three of those coming from the same player) – and the first time any team had ever performed the feat in a pair of road games. No team has ever had hat tricks in three consecutive games.
HAT TRICKS IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES, ONE TEAM

Vela has also moved into the league’s all-time most frequent goalscorers, in his second season in MLS. Through his first 34 career league appearances, Vela has scored 21 goals.
His average of .65 per goals per 90 minutes already ranks ninth all-time in league history, among all played with at least 20 goals scored.
GOALS PER 90 MIN.

Minimum: 20 goals
ANOTHER MLS SHOWPIECE MAKES ITS BOW AS ALLIANZ FIELD OPENS
A new cathedral for MLS will open this weekend, when Minnesota United FC inaugurate Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn., in their 2019 home opener vs. New York City FC.
Since MLS kicked off in 1996, the league has seen 17 stadiums constructed from the ground up to house MLS teams during the league’s existence. Two opened just last year, when the Los Angeles Football Club kicked off play at Banc of California Stadium, and D.C. United made Audi Field their new home.
A look at the opening matches in MLS stadiums built from the ground up during MLS history. When opening their newly-constructed stadiums, teams have won 13 and tied four in the 17 contests:

• Columbus Crew Stadium: 05/15/1999 – Columbus 2, New England 0 (24,741)
  
• The Home Depot Center: 06/07/2003 – LA Galaxy 2, Colorado 0 (27,000)
  
• Pizza Hut Park: 08/06/2005 – FC Dallas 2, MetroStars 2 (16,750)
  
• Toyota Park: 06/11/2006 – New England 3, Chicago 3 (12,941)
  
• Dick’s Sporting Goods Park: 04/07/2007 – Colorado 2, D.C. United 1 (18,086)
  
• BMO Field: 04/28/2007 – Toronto FC 1, Kansas City 0 (20,148)
  
• Rio Tinto Stadium: 10/09/2008 – Real Salt Lake 1, New York Red Bulls 1 (20,008)
  
• Red Bull Arena: 03/27/2010 – New York Red Bulls 1, Chicago 0 (24,572)
  
• PPL Park: 06/27/2010 – Philadelphia 3, Seattle 1 (18,755)
  
• Sporting Park: 06/09/2011 – Sporting KC 0, Chicago 0 (19,925)
  
• BBVA Compass Stadium: 05/12/2012 – Houston 1, D.C. United 0 (22,039)
  
• Stade Saputo: 06/16/2012 – Montreal 4, Seattle 1 (17,112)
  
• Avaya Stadium: 03/22/2015 – San Jose 2, Chicago 1 (18,000)
  
• Orlando City Stadium: 03/05/2017 – Orlando City 1, New York City FC 0 (25,527)
  
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium: 9/10/2017 – Atlanta United 3, FC Dallas 0 (45,314)
  
• Banc of California Stadium: 04/29/2018 – Los Angeles FC 1, Seattle 0 (22,000)
  
• Audi Field: 7/14/2018 – D.C. United 3, Vancouver 1 (20,504)
  

SPORTING’S GIANLUCA BUSIO CONTINUES TO PILE UP YOUTHFUL RECORDS
Sporting Kansas City youngster Gianluca Busio added to the historic start to his career when he netted his club’s tying goal in the 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium last Sunday afternoon.
Scoring for a second consecutive game, Busio became the youngest ever to score in back-to-back matches, outpacing Jozy Altidore by a few weeks after he scored in consecutive matches in 2006.
When he was signed in 2017, Busio was then the second-youngest player to ink an MLS contract. Busio scored his first career goal last Oct. 17, the second-youngest player to score a goal in MLS history (at 16 years, 142 days). Busio is also the second-youngest player in league annals to record an assist, and third-youngest to start a game.
YOUNGEST GOALSCORERS, CONSECUTIVE GAMES

MLS WEEK 7 – LOOK AHEAD
CHICAGO FIRE
vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Friday, April 12, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #66)
SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.
7:30 p.m. CT (TSN; ESPN+)
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Ismir Pekmic; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 243 games; FC/gm: 23.1; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 41; pens: 73
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Fire 2 wins, 11 goals … Whitecaps FC 5 wins, 13 goals … Ties 2
AT CHICAGO: Fire 2 wins, 5 goals … Whitecaps FC 1 win, 1 goal … Ties 2

• The Fire gained a result for a second consecutive match, reaching a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon. CJ Sapong scored his third goal of the season, while Nemanja Nikolic added his first of the year.
  
• Whitecaps FC had their winless start to the campaign continue with a fourth loss in five starts, dropping a 2-0 decision to the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday evening.
  
• Whitecaps FC won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 3-2 victory on July 7 at BC Place. The Whitecaps have won all four matches vs. the Fire at home, scoring 12 goals (allowing six).
  
• Whitecaps FC have been shut out on four of their five trips all-time to Bridgeview, Ill., last in a 4-0 Fire win July 1, 2017. When the ‘Caps won 1-0 there on March 14, 2015, it was their only win ever at SeatGeek Stadium, as Octavio Rivero put an end to a 355-minute goalless drought there with the game’s lone goal.
  

FIRE:
Jeremiah Gutjahr
collected his first professional assist, in his second MLS appearance. …
Aleksandar Katai
had his first assist of the season. …
Dax McCarty
recorded his first assist of the year.
WHITECAPS FC:
Whitecaps FC had their overall goalless streak extended to 216 minutes with the loss at the Galaxy, their attacking shutout streak at BC Place now at 189 minutes played.
MONTREAL IMPACT
vs. COLUMBUS CREW SC
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #67)
Stade Saputo, Montréal, Qué.
1 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; STOhio)
REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Fotis Bazakos; VAR: Christina Unkel; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 119 games; FC/gm: 22.4; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 26; pens: 28
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Impact 6 wins, 27 goals … Crew SC 9 wins, 29 goals … Ties 3
AT MONTRÉAL: Impact 5 wins, 16 goals … Crew SC 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 1

• The Impact reached a second consecutive goalless draw at midweek, against D.C. United at Audi Field. The teams combined for one shot on goal for the match, equaling the second-lowest in a game in MLS history, the sixth time there has been one shot on target or less.
  
• The Impact are making their home season bow for 2019, after starting the year with six away matches. The Impact have a four-year undefeated streak in home openers, with a 3-1-3 record in their first home match over their MLS history.
  
• Crew SC won their second game on the trot, both by shutout, defeating the New England Revolution 1-0 at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Zack Steffen was credited with two saves in keeping the clean sheet, extending his personal shutout streak to 444 minutes, now the second-longest in Crew club history (behind his 525-minute stretch set last year).
  
• The teams split their two meetings a year ago, each winning on their home ground. Gyasi Zardes scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in stoppage time, to give Crew SC a 3-2 win on March 10 at Mapfre Stadium, then the Impact eased to a 3-0 win on Oct. 6 at Stade Saputo.
  
• The Impact victory ended a three-game Crew SC winning streak and five-game undefeated streak in the series, their first victory vs. Columbus since April 9, 2016, a 2-0 win in Montréal. Crew SC have won seven of the 10 meetings all-time in Columbus, with two draws; the lone Impact win there came in 2015.
  

IMPACT:
Evan Bush
was not credited with making a single save in recording his second consecutive shutout.
CREW SC:
Josh Williams
scored his first goal since Oct. 22, 2017 – when he scored three goals in a four-game span. …
Federico Higuaín
recorded his third assist of the season, his second in as many games.
HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #68)
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
2 p.m. CT (Univision)
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Ian McKay; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal; VAR: Caleb Mendez; AVAR: Alicia Messer
MLS Career: 272 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 97; pens: 103
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo 12 wins, 34 goals … Earthquakes 8 wins, 28 goals … Ties 3
AT HOUSTON: Dynamo 8 wins, 21 goals … Earthquakes 2 wins, 10 goals … Ties 1

• The Dynamo return to action after a weekend off, winning for a third consecutive match in their last game, a 4-1 victory against the Colorado Rapids at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 30. Memo Rodríguez scored for a third consecutive game, with four goals over that span, while Alberth Elis scored for a second game in a row.
  
• The Quakes snapped their four-game losing run to open the season, gaining a 3-0 win against the Portland Timbers at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening. Cristian Espinoza scored his second goal of the season and added his first assist in MLS to pace the San Jose win, which put an end to a 12-game winless streak dating back to last Aug. 29.
  
• The Dynamo took a 3-2 victory in the last meeting between the teams, last Sept. 29 at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Quakes have won once at BBVA Compass Stadium in seven meetings, a 1-0 win in 2015. The Dynamo have won two of the five meetings between the teams (with one draw) at Avaya Stadium, the last meeting there a 2-2 draw last April 14.
  
• The two teams have shared a pitched rivalry since the Earthquakes returned to the league in 2008, after the Dynamo moved to Houston from San Jose in 2006. The Dynamo have won 11 meetings and the Quakes seven, with three draws.
  

DYNAMO:
Mauro Manotas
collected his second assist of the season, his second in as many games. … The Dynamo were the recipients of two own goals by the Rapids – the 14th time in MLS history multiple own goals occurred in the same match, the sixth time in league annals one team put multiple goals into their own net. (Remarkably, of those six occasions, three have been performed by the Rapids.)
QUAKES:
Shea Salinas
scored his first goal in MLS play since July 1, 2017, a span of 43 appearances. …
Danny Hoesen
scored his first goal of the season; he led the Quakes with 12 goals scored in 2018. …
Daniel Vega
was credited with five saves in recording his first shutout in MLS, in his fifth appearance. …
Chris Wondolowski
missed a match for the first time since June 25, 2016, ending his consecutive appearance streak at 91 matches, tied for seventh-longest all-time (and tied for third-longest for a field player).
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. TORONTO FC
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #69)
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.
1 p.m. PT (TSN; JOEtv / YouTube [SEA])
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Apolinar Mariscal; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Kevin Stott; AVAR: Rene Parra
MLS Career: 139 games; FC/gm: 22.5; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 32; pens: 63
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 8 wins, 20 goals … Toronto FC 3 wins, 12 goals … Ties 2
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 4 wins, 12 goals … Toronto FC 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 1

• Sounders FC were to have played the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park at midweek, but the match was postponed due to extreme, unsafe weather conditions. The game has been rescheduled for Sept. 7.
  
• In their last match played, Sounders FC remained undefeated on the season with a fourth win in five outings, getting the game’s lone goal from Nicolas Lodeiro for a win against Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field on Saturday evening.
  
• Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei was credited with four saves in recording his second shutout in a row and third of the season (in five starts) in Sounders FC’s win vs. Real Salt Lake. It was also the 103rd goalkeeper win of Frei’s career, now in sole possession of eighth place all-time in MLS league play.
  
• Toronto FC had their winning streak to open the season put to an end, but still remained undefeated on the year, reaching a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon. Jozy Altidore scored for a third consecutive match, also adding his first assist of the year.
  
• The teams met once a season ago, with Sounders FC taking a 2-1 win on May 9 at BMO Field. Sounders FC have now come away with points on their past four league visits to Toronto, dating back to 2011.
  
• TFC have won two of the past three meetings between the teams at CenturyLink Field, including a 1-0 win there in 2017 in the last matchup in Seattle.
  
• The teams also met in consecutive MLS Cup Finals in 2016 and 2017, both times at BMO Field. Sounders FC won on penalty kicks following a goalless draw in 2016 MLS Cup, then TFC took a 2-0 victory in 2017. It marked the third time in MLS history the same teams had met in back-to-back MLS Cups.
  

SOUNDERS FC:
Cristian Roldan
collected his first assist of the season, his last coming on Decision Day last year (Oct. 28), the final of his career-high nine assists in 2018.
TFC:
Nick DeLeon
recorded a pair of assists, the second two-assist game of his MLS career. The first came April 14, 2012 – in his fifth professional match, while with D.C. United (DeLeon made his 184th appearance last weekend). …
Jozy Altidore
had a goal and an assist in the same game for the sixth time in his MLS career. …
Alejandro Pozuelo
had his second assist, a week after becoming the third player in MLS history to record two goals and one assist on his league debut. …
Jonathan Osorio
netted his first goal of the season, after scoring a career-high 10 goals last season.
MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #70)
Aliianz Field, St. Paul, Minn.
4 p.m. CT (ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Mike Kampmeinert; AR2 (opposite): Felisha Mariscal; 4th: Rubiel Vazquez; VAR: Silviu Petrescu; AVAR: Peter Balciunas
MLS Career: 106 games; FC/gm: 24.4; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 17; pens: 39
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: MNUFC 1 win, 3 goals … NYCFC 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 0
AT MINNESOTA: MNUFC 1 win, 2 goals … NYCFC 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0

• MNUFC put an end to a brief two-game losing slide, defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 at Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening. Romario Ibarra netted his second goal of the season, while Abu Danladi netted his first.
  
• The game will be the opening of Allianz Field, MNUFC’s new home stadium. The club returns home having won three of five games on the road to start the year – already matching the most away wins in a season in their MLS history.
  
• NYCFC is still looking for a first win on the season with a fourth draw in their opening five games, following a goalless draw with the Montréal Impact at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Sean Johnson was credited with one save in recording his second shutout of the season.
  
• The teams have met twice all-time, each winning on their home ground. MNUFC won the lone matchup between the clubs last year, a 2-1 victory on Sept. 29 at TCF Bank Stadium; New York City FC won the first meeting between the teams, a 3-1 victory on June 29, 2017, at Yankee Stadium.
  

MNUFC:
Ángelo Rodríguez
collected his first assist of the season, his second in MLS. …
Romain Metanire
recorded his second assist of the season, both coming in the last three games.
NYCFC:
NYCFC had their goalless streak extended to 208 minutes, now the fourth-longest scoring drought in club history (the club record is 267 minutes, recorded in the club’s first season in 2015).
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. ATLANTA UNITED
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #71)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
7:30 p.m. ET (NBCS-Bos; FS-South)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Kyle Atkins; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Kieso; 4th: Matthew Franz; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 6 games; FC/gm: 24.7; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 1; pens: 1
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 0 wins, 2 goals … ATLUTD 2 wins, 10 goals … Ties 2
AT NEW ENGLAND: Revolution 0 wins, 1 goal … ATLUTD 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 2

• The Revolution weren’t able to build upon a first win of the season in five starts, falling 1-0 to Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Atlanta United return to league play after a weekend off, their last match a 2-0 defeat by Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium, which extended their season-opening winless run to four games (0-2-2).
  
• Atlanta United have never lost to the Revolution in their history, with two victories and two draws all-time. Both wins have come at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a 2-1 win last Oct. 6, 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.
  
• The teams have played to a pair of draws at Gillette Stadium, a 1-1 result there last May 30, and a goalless draw Sept. 30, 2017.
  

REVOLUTION:
The Revolution were shut out at the attacking end for a third time this season, tied for most in MLS (along with New York Red Bulls and New York City FC).
ATLUTD:
Atlanta United saw their winless streak extended to five games in league play, dating back to the final game of the 2018 season, matching the club’s longest in MLS play (also: Sept. 30, 2017-March 3, 2018). … Atlanta United were also shut out for a second consecutive game on the road, the only team in MLS this season not to score in an away game.
FC DALLAS vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #72)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
7 p.m. CT (FCDTV; KPDX)
REFEREE: Marcos de Oliveira. AR1 (bench): Jeffrey Greeson; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Victor Rivas; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Kevin Terry
MLS Career: 19 games; FC/gm: 24.9; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 3; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 7 wins, 35 goals … Timbers 6 wins, 26 goals … Ties 7
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 6 wins, 25 goals … Timbers 1 win, 11 goals … Ties 4

• FC Dallas had their two-game winning streak put to an end, falling 2-1 to the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday evening. Reto Ziegler scored FCD’s lone goal directly from a free kick, his second direct free kick in his two MLS seasons.
  
• The Timbers saw their losing run reach four games, still winless on the new season, following a 3-0 defeat by the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams reached a pair of draws in league play a year ago, a 1-1 result on March 24 at Toyota Stadium, and a goalless draw on Sept. 29 at Providence Park. The Timbers are undefeated in the past four regular season meetings between the teams (with three draws), following a four-game FCD winning streak in the series.
  
• The Timbers have won once in 11 league visits all-time to Toyota Stadium, in 2014, though the last two matchups there have ended in draws. 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 teams also met in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs last year, the Timbers taking a 2-1 win at Toyota Stadium on their way to an eventual appearance in MLS Cup.
  

FCD:
Michael Barrios
made his 92nd consecutive league appearance, now in sole possession of the longest uninterrupted appearance by an outfield player (and the sixth-longest overall in MLS history). Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman’s streak of 93 games from 2002-05 is next; the all-time record for a field player is held by Chris Klein (141; 2005-09). Barrios was tied with New York Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere, and San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski, but Wondolowski missed the Quakes’ win vs. Portland. …
Reto Ziegler
has taken two shots this season, and both have ended in goals (one penalty kick, one direct free kick). Ziegler has scored on each of his last five attempts at goal (dating back to last Sept. 1).
TIMBERS:
The Timbers’ winless streak was extended to six games dating back to the final match of the 2018 league campaign, two games shy of the longest winless run in the club’s MLS history. … The four-game losing streak is one game shy of the club’s record in MLS, set July 7-28, 2012.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. D.C. UNITED
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #73)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
7 p.m. MT (Altitude; FloSports)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 82 games; FC/gm: 23.8; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 29; pens: 48
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 13 wins (1 shootout), 53 goals … D.C. United 20 wins (2 shootout), 70 goals … Ties 10
AT COLORADO: Rapids 10 wins (0 shootout), 33 goals … D.C. United 7 wins (1 shootout), 25 goals … Ties 4

• D.C. United saw their brief winless run reach two games, playing to a scoreless draw against the Montréal Impact at Audi Field at midweek. The teams combined for one shot on goal for the match, equaling the second-lowest in a game in MLS history, the sixth time there has been one shot on target or less.
  
• The Rapids were to have played Seattle Sounders FC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park at midweek, but the match was postponed due to extreme, unsafe weather conditions. The game has been rescheduled for Sept. 7.
  
• In their last match played, the Rapids suffered a third loss in a row as their winless start to the season continued, falling 4-3 to Orlando City SC at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday evening. Kei Kamara netted a goal for a second consecutive match, now in sole possession of fifth place on the all-time MLS league goalscoring list with 115.
  
• Cole Bassett netted a goal and added an assist in the Rapids loss; he last year became the youngest player in Rapids club history to score a goal, aged 17 years, 92 days when he scored his first professional goal in the season finale.
  
• United are undefeated in the last eight meetings in the series, with four victories and four draws, dating back to May 14, 2011, following a 2-1 win in the last meeting, last July 28 at Audi Field.
  
• United won 1-0 on their last visit to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Aug. 19, 2017, the first for United in Commerce City, Colo., since 2010, and their first victory in Colorado since 2000. United have a five-game undefeated streak alive in Washington, with three wins and two draws; the Rapids’ last win there also came in 2010 at RFK Stadium, their first triumph in the nation’s capital since 1999.
  

RAPIDS:
Benny Feilhaber
had his first assist since coming to the Rapids. His last in MLS play came last Oct. 6, with Los Angeles FC. …
Kellyn Acosta
had his second assist of the season. …
Nicolas Mezquida
netted his first goal since coming to the Rapids. His last MLS goal was last Sept. 1, while with Vancouver.
UNITED:
Bill Hamid
was credited with one save in keeping the clean sheet vs. Montréal, his fourth of the season, tied for the MLS league lead (with Zack Steffen, CLB).
REAL SALT LAKE vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #74)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
7 p.m. MT (KMYU-12; YouTube [ORL] / My65)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Nick Uranga; AR2 (opposite): Frank Anderson; 4th: Ismir Pekmic; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 146 games; FC/gm: 24.0; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 44; pens: 54
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Real 0 wins, 4 goals … Orlando City 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 2
AT SALT LAKE: Real 0 wins, 1 goal … Orlando City 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0

• Real Salt Lake went down to their fourth consecutive defeat, falling 1-0 to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday evening. The four-game losing run is tied for third-longest in the club’s history.
  
• Orlando City claimed a second win in three games in dramatic fashion, coming back from a one-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes for a 4-3 victory against the Colorado Rapids at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Nani scored a pair of goals – his first in MLS, including the game-winning penalty kick a minute before the end of regulation time – and also added an assist, his fourth in MLS, tied for the league lead.
  
• Orlando City SC have never lost to Real Salt Lake in four meetings all-time, winning the last two, once at each ground. OCSC won the lone meeting between the clubs a year ago, a 3-1 victory May 6 at Orlando City Stadium.
  
• Orlando City won the last meeting between the teams at Rio Tinto Stadium, winning by the game’s only goal June 30, 2017.
  

REAL:
The club-record losing streak is 10 games, set Aug. 10-Oct. 5, 2005. RSL also had a five-game losing skid May 21-June 18, 2005.
OCSC:
Nani
became the 11th player in Orlando City’s MLS history to have three goals and assists combined in one match, equaling the club record. …
Tesho Akindele
netted his second goal of the year, his first coming in the season opener March 2. …
Chris Mueller
scored his second goal of the campaign, his first also coming in the season opener March 2. …
Joao Moutinho
collected his second assist of the season, both coming in the last three games, the first two assists of his MLS career.
LA GALAXY vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #75)
Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (SpecSN; PHL 17)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Adam Wienckowski; AR2 (opposite): TJ Zablocki; 4th: Joseph Dickerson; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 72 games; FC/gm: 24.5; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 26; pens: 14
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Galaxy 7 wins, 25 goals … Union 1 wins, 10 goals … Ties 3
AT GALAXY: Galaxy 4 wins, 14 goals … Union 1 wins, 5 goals … Ties 1

• The Galaxy won their third game in a row, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-0 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday evening. Zlatan Ibrahimović scored his fourth goal of the season, his third in the past two games, and added his first assist of the season.
  
• The Union won their third game of the season, defeating FC Dallas 2-1 at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday evening, netting the tying and game-winning goals after the 85th minute.
  
• The Galaxy won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 3-1 victory on July 21 at Talen Energy Stadium. The Galaxy now have a six-game undefeated streak alive in the series, having outscored the Union 18-6 over that time.
  
• The Galaxy have won seven of the 11 meetings all-time between the teams, with three draws. The Galaxy have won four of the six meetings all-time at Dignity Health Sports Park; the lone Union victory in the series came on July 4, 2012, a 2-1 win in Carson, Calif. The Union have never defeated the Galaxy at home, losing three times with two draws in five all-time meetings in Chester, Pa.
  

GALAXY:
Zlatan Ibrahimović
had at least one goal and one assist in the same game for the fifth time in MLS (in 30 career appearances). …
Daniel Steres
scored his second goal of the season, his first coming in the opening match of the year March 2. His single-season career-high is three goals, coming in 2017. …
Rolf Feltscher
collected his second assist of the season, both coming in the last three games. …
David Bingham
was credited with five saves in recording his first shutout of the season, his first since keeping back-to-back clean sheets last Sept. 23-29.
UNION:
Cory Burke
netted his first goal of the season, his first since Decision Day last year (Oct. 28), when he hit for the last of his 10 goals on the season. …
Alejandro Bedoya
scored his first of the year, his first since last Oct. 6. … Ilsinho recorded his first assist of the season, his first since last June 23. … The Union have allowed just 13 total attempts at goal over the last three games, one off the all-time MLS record for fewest shots against over a three-game span (Sporting KC, 12, May 21-June 2, 2016).
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. FC CINCINNATI
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #76)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (YouTube TV / KMVD; WSTR – Star 64)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Chris Wattam; AR2 (opposite): Michael Barwegen; 4th: Timothy Ford; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Cameron Blanchard
MLS Career: 104 games; FC/gm: 25.5; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 16; pens: 28
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting

• LAFC remained undefeated on the season through six matches, winning their third game in a row, defeating D.C. United 4-0 at Audi Field on Saturday afternoon. LAFC have won back-to-back games on the road with a goal differential of plus-9 (after the 5-0 win at San Jose last weekend), an all-time MLS best.
  
• Diego Rossi netted a hat trick, his first in MLS, a week after Carlos Vela netted a triple at San Jose. It was the seventh time in MLS history a team had hat tricks in back-to-back games, the first time ever they came in back-to-back road games.
  
• FC Cincinnati gained a fourth result in six games to start their MLS history, reaching a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City at Nippert Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
  

LAFC:
Carlos Vela
scored his league-leading seventh goal of the season, tied for the third-most of any player after six games in MLS history. … Vela also added an assist, his fourth of the season, the second consecutive game with at least one goal and one assist, the seventh time he’s done that in 34 career MLS appearances, and the third time this season. …
Adama Diomande
collected his third assist of the season, his second in as many games. …
Latif Blessing
recorded his third assist, his first since back-to-back games March 10-17. …
Tyler Miller
was credited with three saves in keeping a clean sheet for a second consecutive match. He extended his shutout streak to 235 minutes, now the LAFC club record (in the club’s second season).
FCC:
Darren Mattocks
scored FCC’s lone goal, his first with club, converting the club’s first penalty kick.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Sunday, April 14, 2019 (Week 7, MLS Game #77)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
6 p.m. CT (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Peter Manikowski
MLS Career: 78 games; FC/gm: 22.4; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 18; pens: 21
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sporting 21 wins (2 shootout), 71 goals … Red Bulls 21 wins (2 shootout), 67 goals … Ties 13
AT KC: Sporting 15 wins (2 shootout), 43 goals … Red Bulls 9 wins (1 shootout), 33 goals … Ties 5

• Sporting extended their undefeated streak to four games, coming back for a 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Gianluca Busio scored his second goal of the season, his second in as many league games.
  
• The Red Bulls went down to a third consecutive defeat, falling 2-1 to Minnesota United FC at Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening. It’s the first time the Red Bulls have lost three games in a row since May 3-14, 2017.
  
• The Red Bulls won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 3-2 victory on July 14 at Red Bull Arena, their first win vs. Sporting since 2014, ending a three-game winless run in the series.
  
• Sporting won the last meeting between the teams in Kansas City, a 2-0 victory on May 3, 2017, at Children’s Mercy Park, which ended a five-game winless streak for Sporting in the series on their home ground, their first win in Kansas City since 2011.
  
• Sporting have come away with points on four of their last six visits to Red Bull Arena since 2012, winning three.
  

SPORTING:
Gianluca Busio
became the youngest player in MLS history to score goals in back-to-back games (aged 16 years, 314 days).
RED BULLS:
Cristian Casseras
scored his first MLS goal, making his fifth career league appearance.