MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 19 NEWS & NOTES
News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER’S 400-GAME CLUB WILL SEE ITS MEMBERSHIP ON THE RISE
The ranks of the players with the most experience in games played in MLS league history will be significantly swelled in the upcoming weeks, as the 400-game mark is likely to be passed by a trio of longtime campaigners.
Just five players in MLS history have played in 400 league games, with the all-time record holder Nick Rimando, who appeared in 514 regular-season matches over his 20-year MLS career.
Heading into this weekend, Dax McCarty of Nashville SC is on target to become the sixth, with 399 league appearances entering his club’s home match against D.C. United at Nissan Stadium – one of five clubs McCarty has suited up for in his 16 seasons in the league (along with FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire).
But two additional players should reach the 400-game plateau in the days ahead. The league’s all-time leading goalscorer, Chris Wondolowski is at 398 games played, going into the San Jose Earthquakes’ match vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at PayPal Park on Friday evening. The next match for the Quakes will be Tues., August 17 in San Jose, vs. Minnesota United FC.
As well, Drew Moor of the Colorado Rapids is at 397 league matches heading into Saturday’s match at Houston Dynamo FC. The Rapids also have two games next week: Tues., August 17 at LA Galaxy, and Sat. August 21 vs. Real Salt Lake at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
FIRE FC’S LUKA STOJANOVIC HITS FOR NOTEWORTHY EARLY BRACE
Luka Stojanović of Chicago Fire FC got his club off to the best possible start, netting a pair of goals in the opening eight minutes of the 2-1 win against the New York Red Bulls at Soldier Field last Sunday evening.
Stojanović became the fourth player in MLS history to net a brace inside the opening eight minutes of a match, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Remarkably, Stojanović became the second Fire player to perform the feat, joining David Accam, who did it against Orlando City SC on June 24, 2017.
The first to do it was Ross Paule of the Colorado Rapids, who scored goals in consecutive minutes on May 31, 1998 vs. Kansas City, the goals coming in the fifth and sixth minutes. Paule is one of 23 players in league history to score goals in back-to-back minutes, the all-time record.
FC DALLAS UNDEFEATED RUN IN FRISCO REACHING RECORD PROPORTIONS
FC Dallas is steadily moving up the ranks of the longest home undefeated streak in MLS history, following their 2-0 win in their first meeting ever with Texas rivals Austin FC at Toyota Stadium last weekend.
FCD has not lost at home now in 19 matches, dating back to August 16 of last year, when they played to a scoreless draw with Nashville SC in the second of two matches at Toyota Stadium to start the continuation of play in the 2020 season.
With a win or a draw Saturday evening vs. Sporting Kansas City in Frisco, FC Dallas will move into a tie for the seventh-longest home undefeated streak in league history. It will be the 10th home game of the season for FCD.
RAPIDS HOME SCORING STREAK COMES TO AN END WITH RARE COMPANY
The Colorado Rapids saw their bid for an MLS record come up a bit short, in their goalless draw with Sporting Kansas City at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park last Saturday.
The Rapids had scored in every MLS league match in Commerce City since Oct. 28, 2018, a stretch of 32 home games. The home scoring streak equaled the fifth-longest in league history, joining Miami Fusion FC, who scored in 32 straight games from April 4, 1998 to March 26, 2000. The record of 64 consecutive home games with a goal was set by D.C. United – a streak that began with the first home game in the club’s history, April 20, 1996 vs. the LA Galaxy at RFK Stadium, and continued to the final home game of the 1999 season.
MLS WEEK 19 – LOOK AHEAD
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Friday, August 13, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #242)
PayPal Park, San Jose, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (TSN; NBCS-BA)
REFEREE: Timothy Ford. AR1 (bench): Apolinar Mariscal; AR2 (opposite): Diego Blas; 4th: Elijio Arreguin; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: TJ Zablocki
MLS Career: 31 games; FC/gm: 20.8; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 6; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Earthquakes 8 wins, 39 goals … Whitecaps FC 9 wins, 38 goals … Ties 9
AT SAN JOSE: Earthquakes 5 wins, 19 goals … Whitecaps FC 1 win, 11 goals … Ties 6
· The Quakes extended their undefeated streak to seven games with a second victory in that time, defeating Los Angeles Football Club 2-1 at PayPal Park on Sunday afternoon. Eduardo López scored for a second consecutive game, now with five for the season, while Nathan scored his second goal in his first seven MLS appearances.
· Whitecaps FC stretched their undefeated run to five games with a fourth consecutive draw, playing to a 1-1 result with the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday afternoon. Ranko Veselinovic scored his first career goal in MLS, in his second season.
· The teams met three times a season ago. The Quakes won the first two: First, Shea Salinas scored the game-winner eight minutes into second-half stoppage time, giving the Quakes a wild 4-3 win during group play at the MLS is Back Tournament, then they got three second-half goals for a 3-0 win Oct. 7 in San Jose. The Whitecaps took a 2-1 win Oct. 24 at Providence Park in Portland.
· The win in the last meeting for Whitecaps FC ended a four-game winning streak for the Quakes in the series. The Quakes wins ended a five-game Whitecaps FC undefeated streak in the series in league and MLS Cup play in the first meeting, their first win vs. Vancouver since March 11, 2017.
QUAKES: Cristian Espínoza had assists on both San Jose goals, the third two-assist game of his MLS career. He has a goal and four assists over his last seven games, since the start of July.
WHITECAPS FC: Deiber Caicedo recorded his third assist of the season; he has two goals and two assists over the last seven games.
MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. LA GALAXY
Saturday, August 14, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #244)
Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minn.
4:30 p.m. CT (FOX / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson; 4th: Fotis Bazakos; VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 55 games; FC/gm: 27.4; Y/gm: 4.1; R: 11; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: MNUFC 0 wins, 6 goals … Galaxy 4 wins, 13 goals … Ties 2
AT MINNESOTA: MNUFC 0 wins, 2 goals … Galaxy 2 wins, 5 goals … Ties 1
· MNUFC extended their undefeated streak to five games with a third win in that time, defeating Houston Dynamo FC 2-0 at Allianz Field on Saturday evening. Robin Lod scored his sixth goal of the season, a second consecutive game with a goal and his fourth goal in the last five games, and Brent Kallman scored his second goal of the season.
· The Galaxy following a pair of victories with a draw, reaching a 1-1 result with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday afternoon. Kévin Cabral scored his second MLS goal for the Galaxy tally.
· The teams last met during the 2019 season. Jonathan dos Santos and Chris Pontius netted goals five minutes apart in the first half and Sebastian Lletget added a late one as the Galaxy held out for a 3-2 win March 16 at Dignity Health Sports Park; the teams reached a goalless draw April 24 at Allianz Field.
· The Galaxy have never lost to Minnesota United FC, now in six meetings between the teams all-time, with four wins. The Galaxy also won a Round One meeting in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2019, a 2-1 win in Saint Paul.
MNUFC: Emanuel Reynoso recorded his sixth assist of the season, a second consecutive game with an assist; he has a goal or an assist in each of his last five appearances, with one goal and four assists in that time. … Tyler Miller was credited with two saves in recording his sixth shutout of the season, fourth-most in MLS.
GALAXY: Efraín Álvarez recorded his first assist of the season, his first in an MLS league game since last Nov. 4.
CF MONTRÉAL vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Saturday, August 14, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #245)
Stade Saputo, Montréal, Qué.
8 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; MSG)
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Michael Barwegen; AR2 (opposite): Lyes Arfa; 4th: Silviu Petrescu; VAR: Carol Anne Chenard; AVAR: Adam Wienckowski
MLS Career: 186 games; FC/gm: 22.1; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 46; pens: 79
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: CFMTL 7 wins, 29 goals … Red Bulls 11 wins, 39 goals … Ties 2
AT MONTRÉAL: CFMTL 6 wins, 18 goals … Red Bulls 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 2
· CF Montréal fell to a 2-1 loss to D.C. United at Audi Field on Sunday evening. Zachary Brault-Guillard scored his second goal of the season, his second in three MLS campaigns.
· The Red Bulls went down to a 2-1 defeat by Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field on Sunday evening. Tom Barlow netted his first goal of the season for the Red Bulls.
· The teams met once a season ago. Tom Barlow scored a pair of goals as the Red Bulls took a 4-1 win Sept. 27 at Red Bull Arena.
· The Red Bulls win in the last meeting ended a three-game Montréal winning streak in the series. Montréal has won the past four league meetings at home, all by shutout; the Red Bulls have not scored in their last 398 minutes played in Québec. CFMTL has one win in 11 regular season meetings at Red Bull Arena, though they did win there in the 2016 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
CFMTL: Joel Waterman recorded his third assist of the season, his last coming on May 29.
RED BULLS: The goal scored was the latest in second-half stoppage time in Red Bulls history at 97’+, equaling the mark set by a Tim Cahill goal vs. NE, Oct. 5, 2013.
NEW YORK CITY FC vs. INTER MIAMI CF
Saturday, August 14, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #243)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
8 p.m. ET (YES; MyTV33, CW34 / UniMás 69)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Kieso; AR2 (opposite): Ryan Graves; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Alan Kelly; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 52 games; FC/gm: 23.8; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 6; pens: 15
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 2 wins, 4 goals … Inter Miami 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 0
AT NYCFC: First meeting.
· NYCFC stretched their undefeated run to five games with a second consecutive draw, reaching a 2-2 result with Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday evening. Santiago Rodríguez scored his second goal of the season, then Ismael Tajouri-Shradi netted his seventh of the year – both coming from Valentin Castellanos assists.
· Inter Miami extended their unbeaten streak to four games with a second win in that time, defeating Nashville SC 2-1 at DRV PNK Stadium on Sunday evening. Gonzalo Higuaín scored his eighth goal of the season, tied for seventh in the MLS Golden Boot standings, then Indiana Vassilev netted his first career goal in MLS for the game-winner, assisted by Federico Higuaín.
· The teams met twice during Inter Miami’s inaugural season and NYCFC won both. Ismael Tajouri-Shradi scored the game’s only goal as NYCFC took the victory July 20 during the MLS is Back Tournament, then Alejandru Mitrita and Lewis Morgan each scored a pair of goals, but Anton Tinnerholm netted the decider in a 3-2 NYCFC win Oct. 3, as all five goals came in the opening 43 minutes.
NYCFC: Thiago Andrade recorded his second assist in MLS; he has a goal and two assists over the last three games.
IMCF: Blaise Matuidi recorded his first assist of the season, the second of his MLS career, the first coming Oct. 3 of last year vs. NYCFC.
TORONTO FC vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Saturday, August 14, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #246)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.
8 p.m. ET (TSN4; WSBK TV38 / MyRITV)
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Logan Brown; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Fabrizio Stasolla; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Philippe Briere
MLS Career: 49 games; FC/gm: 22.5; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 8; pens: 9
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 10 wins, 43 goals … Revolution 13 wins, 54 goals … Ties 11
AT BMO FIELD: Toronto FC 6 wins, 27 goals … Revolution 3 wins, 21 goals … Ties 5
· Toronto FC gained a sixth result from the last seven games, coming back for a 2-2 draw with New York City FC at BMO Field on Saturday evening. Alejandro Pozuelo scored his first goal of the season for the leveler; Richie Laryea also added his second of the season, coming from Pozuelo’s third assist of the year.
· The Revolution stretched their undefeated streak to six games with a fifth win in that time, defeating the Philadelphia Union 2-1 at Gillette Stadium on Sunday evening. Gustavo Bou netted his 11th goal of the season for the game-winner, pulling into a tie for the MLS Golden Boot with Raúl Ruidíaz of Seattle Sounders FC.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Yeferson Soteldo scored a goal and added an assist as TFC took a three-goal lead after just 24 minutes, holding out for a 3-2 win July 7 at Gillette Stadium.
· TFC is undefeated in the last five meetings between the clubs, over the last two seasons. The TFC wins in the last two meetings have been the first time the away team has won in the series since Sept. 13, 2015, when New England won 3-1 in Toronto. TFC has won the last four encounters in Toronto.
TFC: Ifunanyachi Achara recorded his first assist of the season, making his second consecutive appearance, both off the substitutes’ bench. … Ralph Priso collected his second assist of the season and his MLS career; he has a goal and two assists for the year, all in the last five games.
REVOLUTION: Matt Polster scored his first goal with the Revolution, his first in an MLS league match since scoring Aug. 5, 2017 while with the Chicago Fire. … Tommy McNamara recorded his third assist of the season, equaling his second-highest single-season total in his MLS career.
HOUSTON DYNAMO FC vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
Saturday, August 14, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #249)
BBVA Stadium, Houston, Texas
7:30 p.m. CT (QuestTexas 55; Altitude)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo 10 wins, 43 goals … Rapids 13 wins, 46 goals … Ties 10
AT HOUSTON: Dynamo 6 wins, 27 goals … Rapids 4 wins, 22 goals … Ties 5
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Robert Sibiga; VAR: Rosendo Mendoza; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 371 games; FC/gm: 24.4; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 86; pens: 98
· Dynamo FC went down to a second consecutive reversal, dropping a 2-0 decision to Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Saturday evening.
· The Rapids came away with a sixth result from their last seven games, playing to a scoreless draw with Sporting Kansas City at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Michael Barrios set up a pair of goals as the Rapids scored three before the break on their way to a 3-1 win May 15 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
· The Rapids won the last visit to Houston, a 2-1 win on Decision Day (Nov. 8) last year, a second consecutive trip where they took points at BBVA Stadium. The Rapids win in the first meeting this year was their first at home in the series since 2017.
DYNAMO FC: Adalberto Carrasquilla made his MLS and Dynamo FC debut, coming on for the final 25 minutes.
RAPIDS: William Yarbrough was not called upon to make a save in recording his eighth shutout of the season, tied for the league lead (with Joe Willis, NSH).
FC DALLAS vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Saturday, August 14, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #250)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
8 p.m. CT (FCDTV / Estrella KMPX-29; Bally Sports KC+)
REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Jeffrey Greeson; AR2 (opposite): Eric Weisbrod; 4th: JC Griggs; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 158 games; FC/gm: 22.7; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 28; pens: 35
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 28 wins (1 shootout), 107 goals … Sporting 25 wins (2 shootout), 95 goals … Ties 13
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 16 wins (0 shootout), 61 goals … Sporting 10 wins (2 shootout), 34 goals … Ties 5
· FC Dallas extended their undefeated run to four games with a third win in that span, defeating Austin FC 2-0 at Toyota Stadium in the first-ever meeting of the Texas clubs. Ryan Hollingshead scored his second goal of the season and Jesús Ferreira hit for his second, both coming on assists by Szabolcs Schön.
· Sporting came away with a result for the seventh time in the last eight games, playing to a goalless draw with the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Paxton Pomykal and Jesús Ferreira scored early in each half as FCD took a 2-1 win July 31 at Children’s Mercy Park, their third consecutive win in the series.
· FCD has come away with points from the last five meetings in Kansas City, winning four, the club’s first wins there since 2011. SKC had won five of the seven meetings in between, with two draws.
· FC Dallas have won the last two meetings at Toyota Stadium. Sporting last won in Frisco on Oct. 21, 2018, a 3-0 win, their first in Frisco since 2011; FC Dallas had a five-game home undefeated streak in the series put to an end.
FCD: Nkosi Tafari recorded his second assist of the season and his MLS career, both coming in the last two games. … FC Dallas is carrying an 18-game league undefeated streak at Toyota Stadium into the SKC match – one game shy of the club record home unbeaten run set 8/29/2015-9/3/2016.
SPORTING: Tim Melia was credited with three saves in recording his third shutout of the season.
REAL SALT LAKE vs. AUSTIN FC
Saturday, August 14, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #251)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
8 p.m. MT (KMYU-12; KNVA [CW Austin])
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Andrew Bigelow; AR2 (opposite): Corey Rockwell; 4th: Alyssa Nichols; VAR: Victor Rivas; AVAR: Chantal Boudreau
MLS Career: 103 games; FC/gm: 23.8; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 39; pens: 23
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.
· Real fell to a 3-2 loss to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Saturday evening. Damir Kreilach scored his eighth goal of the season, now in a tie for seventh in the MLS Golden Boot standings, and Albert Rusnák scored his fourth of the year.
· Austin FC weren’t able to build upon a first victory in four games, falling to a 2-0 defeat by FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium in the first meeting ever between the Texas clubs.
· The teams are meeting for the first time this season and in their histories. The teams are also scheduled to meet Oct. 2 at Q2 Stadium.
REAL: Jonathan Menéndez recorded his first career assist in MLS, making his fourth appearance. … Pablo Ruiz collected his third assist, his last coming May 29.
ATXFC: Sebastian Driussi made his Austin FC and MLS debut, coming on as a substitute for the final 29 minutes.
ATLANTA UNITED vs. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB
Sunday, August 15, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #252)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
4 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes; TSN)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Marcos de Oliveira; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 177 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 53; pens: 71
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 1 win, 8 goals … LAFC 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 0
AT MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM: ATLUTD 1 win, 5 goals … LAFC 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0
· ATLUTD won for the first time since May 15, defeating the Columbus Crew 3-2 at Lower.com Field on Saturday evening. Ezequiel Barco scored a pair of goals in the opening 35 minutes to send Atlanta on their way, then Marcelino Moreno converted a penalty kick for the game-winner, his third consecutive game with a goal.
· LAFC suffered a second reverse in a row, dropping a 2-1 decision to the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Sunday afternoon.
· The teams have met twice all-time, and both have been goalfests. Miguel Almíron scored two goals and set up another as ATLUTD took a 5-0 win in the first meeting ever between the clubs, April 7, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Then the teams combined for six goals in an 18-plus minute burst as LAFC claimed a wild 4-3 win July 26, 2019 at Banc of California Stadium.
ATLUTD: George Bello collected his second assist of the season, the first coming May 29; it was the third of his MLS career.
LAFC: Cristian Arango made his LAFC and MLS debut, starting and playing 68 minutes in a forward role.
CHICAGO FIRE FC vs. COLUMBUS CREW
Sunday, August 15, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #248)
Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
5 p.m. CT (TSN; WGN-TV; Bally Sports OH)
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): Ian McKay; AR2 (opposite): Eric Boria; 4th: Natalie Simon; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Peter Balciunas
MLS Career: 76 games; FC/gm: 26.4; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 9; pens: 24
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Fire 26 wins (1 shootout), 93 goals … Crew 21 wins (0 shootout), 105 goals … Ties 22
AT FIRE: Fire 16 wins (0 shootout), 53 goals … Crew 6 wins (0 shootout), 41 goals … Ties 3
· The Fire made it three games without loss, defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 at Soldier Field on Sunday evening. Luka Stojanovic scored two goals in the opening eight minutes of the game, his fourth and fifth of the season.
· The Crew fell to a 3-2 defeat by Atlanta United at Lower.com Field on Saturday evening. Jonathan Mensah and Pedro Santos each netted their second goals of the season.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Gyasi Zardes nabbed both goals as the Crew took a 2-0 win June 19 in the final MLS league match at Historic Crew Stadium.
· The Fire are undefeated in their last seven home meetings with the Crew, with two wins and five draws, the Crew’s last win at the Fire coming in 2015. The teams reached a 2-2 draw there in the last meeting, Sept. 12 at Soldier Field. The Crew have a 11-game home undefeated streak alive in the all-time series. The Fire last won in Columbus on June 22, 2013.
FIRE: Chinonso Offor recorded the first assist of his MLS career, making his 18th appearance of the season.
CREW: Lucas Zelarayán collected his third assist of the season, his second in the last four games.
NASHVILLE SC vs. D.C. UNITED
Sunday, August 15, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #253)
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
6 p.m. CT (MyTV30; NBCS-Wash / TeleXitos)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Cameron Blanchard; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Ted Unkel; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 143 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 20; pens: 42
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Nashville SC 1 win, 1 goal … D.C. United 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0
AT NISSAN STADIUM: Nashville SC 1 win, 1 goal … D.C. United 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0
· Nashville SC saw their nine-game undefeated streak come to an end with a first loss since June 18, falling 2-1 to Inter Miami CF at DRK PNK Stadium on Sunday evening. CJ Sapong scored his sixth goal of the season, his third in the last four games.
· D.C. United extended their undefeated run to four games with a third victory in that time, defeating CF Montréal 2-1 at Audi Field on Sunday evening. Ola Kamara netted his 10th goal of the season for the game-winner, now in a three-way for third place in the MLS Golden Boot standings; Andy Najar scored his first goal for the club since Sept. 29, 2011.
· The teams met once in Nashville SC’s inaugural season. Daniel Rios scored the game’s only goal midway through the second half as Nashville SC took the win Sept. 23 at Nissan Stadium.
NASHVILLE SC: Hany Mukhtar collected his fifth assist of the season, his third in the last four games. … CJ Sapong has been involved in six of Nashville SC’s last 10 goals, with four goals and two assists.
UNITED: Julian Gressel recorded his fourth assist of the season, his third in the last seven games. … Antonio Alfaro collected the first assist of his MLS career, in his 40th appearance over four seasons.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Sunday, August 15, 2021 (Week 19, MLS Game #254)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
7 p.m. PT (FS1 / FOX Deportes; TSN)
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Kathryn Nesbitt; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 278 games; FC/gm: 22.9; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 44; pens: 87
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 10 wins, 42 goals … Sounders FC 13 wins, 48 goals … Ties 7
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 7 wins, 28 goals … Sounders FC 5 wins, 25 goals … Ties 3
· The Timbers put an end to a three-game winless skid, defeating Real Salt Lake 3-2 at Providence Park on Saturday evening. Dairon Asprilla scored his fourth goal of the season and added an assist, while Yimmi Chará netted his second of the season, with a goal and two assists over the last three games. Felipe Mora scored the game-winner, his fourth goal in the last five games.
· Sounders FC return to action after a weekend off from league play, reaching a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas at Lumen Field on Aug. 4. Fredy Montero scored his fourth of the season, his second in the last three games.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Raúl Ruidíaz and Fredy Montero scored 16 minutes apart in the second half to give Sounders FC a 2-1 win May 9 at Providence Park.
· The visiting team has won seven of the last nine meetings in the league series, a string of six consecutive away team victories snapped in the final two meetings in 2020, a 1-0 Timbers win in Portland on Sept. 23 and a 1-1 draw at Lumen Field on Oct. 22.
· The Sounders have won four of the last five league matches in Portland, the win in 2018 their first win in Portland since 2014. When the Timbers took a 4-1 win on June 28, 2015, the three-goal victory equaled Portland’s largest margin of victory against the Sounders since 1977.
· The Timbers have come away with points from the last four matches in Seattle, winning three – their only wins ever in Seattle in MLS regular season games (Sounders FC were 7-0-3 leading up to the first win), though the Timbers won at home in the MLS Cup Playoffs meeting between the clubs.
· The teams met in 2018 in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Timbers winning in a dramatic penalty shootout in the Western Conference Quarterfinals after ending 4-4 on aggregate. The Timbers won the first leg 2-1 at Providence Park, then Sounders FC won 3-2 in extra time, sending the tie to the decider. It was a second win in a playoff series for the Timbers, also winning the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals.
· The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers have met 112 times in all competitions, the most between two U.S.-based clubs, the second-most in U.S./Canadian soccer history. Since their first meeting in 1975 in the old North American Soccer League, Seattle has won 55 times and Portland has won 42, with 15 draws. In MLS league play, Sounders FC have won 13 matches, the Timbers have won 10, and seven have been draws.
TIMBERS: Sebastian Blanco recorded his second assist, both coming in the last five games. … Marvín Loría collected his fourth assist, his second in the last five games.
SOUNDERS FC: Joao Paulo claimed his sixth assist, his first since June 19, one of seven players tied for third place in the MLS assist standings.
