MLS Game Capsules (Week 19)

MLS Communications

Friday, July 8

Philadelphia Union (7-2-9) vs. D.C. United (5-9-2)

(7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes)

The Philadelphia Union host D.C. United at Subaru Park to kick off Heineken Rivalry Week on Friday evening. The Union lead the all-time series 16-9-5 and have won 11 of the last 15 meetings since the start of 2016 season. The 11 wins are the second most in MLS by one team against a single opponent in that time frame (Real Salt Lake, 12 versus Colorado).
The Union’s stellar defense has yet to allow more than two goals in a game this season. However, their offense has also not scored more than two goals in a contest this year, joining Sporting Kansas City as the only teams to do so. In the last four home contests against D.C., Philadelphia has totaled 12 goals – an average of three a game.
Philadelphia’s Andre Blake has played in all 1,620 minutes this season and has saved 81.4 percent of the shots he’s faced, which leads the league. Blake also finds himself tied for fourth in saves (57), tied for second in clean sheets (seven) and has the best goals against average (0.72).
Taxi Fountas earned Week 18 MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire honors after he produced the first hat trick of his career in D.C.’s 5-3 win over Orlando City SC. In his first 10 MLS games, Fountas has 12 combined goals and assists (nine goals, three assists), which is tied for the most in MLS history by a player in his first 10 career matches. His nine goals are tied for the third-most by an MLS player in their first 10 contests.
Fountas’ third goal was assisted by Julian Gressel, who posted his seventh helper of the season. Gressel’s seven assists are the most by a defender in MLS this season and give him 58 in his career. The former Providence Friar needs three assists to post at least 10 helpers in four of his last five seasons.

LAFC (11-4-3) vs. LA Galaxy (8-6-3)

(10 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes)

This marks the 14th meeting of El Tráfico in MLS action, with the LA Galaxy holding a 6-2-5 series advantage of their crosstown rivals. The two clubs have met twice during the 2022 season, once in MLS action (a 2-1 LA Galaxy victory) and once in the round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup (a 3-1 Galaxy win).
In the previous 14 editions of this Heineken Rivalry Week showdown, LAFC forward Carlos Vela and former Galaxy standout Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the all-time series leaders in goals scored (eight), while Galaxy midfielder Julián Araujo is the all-time series assist leader with five.
LAFC continues their hold atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with 36 points (11-4-3) and are tied with Austin FC for the league-lead with 35 goals scored. The club leads the league with a plus-16 goal differential and is one of only three teams with a run differential of at least plus-10, along with Austin FC (plus-13) and NYCFC (plus-14).
LAFC forward Carlos Vela has three assists in his past two matches and leads the club with six assists on the season. Vela (six goals, six assists) is one of only two players in MLS with at least six goals and six assists this season, joining FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta (six goals, 10 assists).
The Galaxy have six wins over LAFC in MLS play, the most wins by any team over LAFC in league competitions (incl. playoffs).
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic has scored in four consecutive MLS matches and in five of his past six across all competitions (including U.S. Open Cup play). Over that six-game span, Jovelic has scored six times and added two assists in helping to rejuvenate the Galaxy offense.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7-8-3) vs. Minnesota United FC (7-8-3)

(10:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

In nine all-time MLS meetings, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Minnesota United FC have played to a 3-3-3 stalemate. Neither club has recorded the same result in consecutive meetings in this all-time series. Vancouver won the last matchup between the two clubs, a 2-1 victory at BC Place on October 27, 2021.
After losing six of its first eight games, the Whitecaps have made a remarkable turnaround, with just two losses in its last 10 games, going 6-2-2 over the span. Since May 8, Vancouver has collected 20 points, more than any other team in MLS in that time.
The Whitecaps utilized some late game magic in their 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC on Saturday, with an Andrés Cubas winner coming in the 89th minute. Four of Vancouver’s seven wins have come on goals scored in the 89th minute or later this season.
Emanuel Reynoso scored twice in Minnesota’s win over Real Salt Lake on Sunday, his second straight game with a brace (also vs. LA Galaxy on June 29). Reynoso is the second player in club history to score multiple goals in consecutive matches after Kevin Molino did so in three straight (incl. playoffs) in 2020.
Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair (62 saves) is one of only three MLS ‘keepers with at least 60 saves this season, joining RSL’s Zac MacMath (64) and San Jose’s JT Marcinkowski (64).

Saturday, July 9

New York City FC (8-4-5) vs. New England Revolution (6-5-7)

(1 p.m. ET, Univision / TUDN / Twitter - English audio)

New York City FC hosts their 20th regular season meeting against the New England Revolution on Saturday. The Revolution have built a 9-6-4 series record over the reigning MLS Cup champions since they first met in 2015, and they will look to win consecutive regular season games against NYCFC for the first since 2015.
Valentín “Taty” Castellanos recorded a brace in a 2-2 draw last time out against Atlanta United, with the second of his goals being his 50th career goal in MLS. He became the second player in NYCFC history to reach the half-centennial mark, with David Villa having been the first to do so on April 14, 2017, vs Seattle Sounders FC.
The Revolution drew their last game 2-2 at home to FC Cincinnati, extending their current unbeaten run to 10 games. This current streak is tied for third longest in the club’s history and just one short of the club record 11-game unbeaten run they have previously put together twice during the 2005 and 2019 MLS regular seasons.
Emmanuel Boateng entered the game at half time and registered his third assist of the season off Gustavo Bou’s fourth goal of the season. Boateng 1.15 combined goals and assists per 90 minutes is the most of any MLS player since joining the Revolution in 2021 – four goals and eight assists in 938 regular season and playoff minutes played.
Of the top 10 players making up the lead assist provider in MLS this season, Talles Magno is the youngest player among them at 20 years and 11 days old. His eight assists on the season are tied-third for most in the 2022 regular season, and Magno has cracked the top five despite playing the fewest minutes (1,317) of the current top five.

Seattle Sounders FC (8-7-2) vs. Portland Timbers (5-6-8)

(4:30 p.m. ET, FOX / FOX Deportes)

In the previous 32 editions of this Pacific Northwest rivalry, Seattle has emerged with a 14-11-7 series advantage, including victories in two of the three matchups in 2021. Portland won the last meeting between the two clubs, a 2-0 victory at then-CenturyLink Field on August 29, 2021.
Seattle enters the rivalry match on a high note, having lost just one of their last six matches dating back to May 29 and going 4-1-1 over the span. Forward Jordan Morris has scored in two of the last three matches for the club and is tied with Raúl Ruidíaz for the team lead with five goals apiece this season.
Ruidíaz has three goals in his last three meetings against the Timbers and seven goals and two assists in nine career games against Portland. His seven goals in the series history are tied with teammate Fredy Montero for the third-most of any player in the series. Portland’s Diego Chara has made the most appearances in the Portland-Seattle matchup, playing in 28 of the previous 32 matches.
The Timbers enter their match against Seattle on a season-long four-match unbeaten run (W2 D2). Portland has scored multiple goals in each of its last three matches after doing so just four times in its first 16 league games in 2022.
Portland came from 2-0 down in the final 30 minutes to earn a point at Nashville on Sunday. It marked the first time in the club’s MLS history that the Timbers earned a point on the road when trailing by multiple goals in the 60th minute or later, having lost each of the previous 56 such games.

Atlanta United FC (5-7-5) vs. Austin FC (10-4-4)

(7 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Atlanta United FC and Austin FC meet for the first time in series history.
Atlanta United forward Josef Martínez has scored in each of his last three home starts in MLS play. Martínez has contributed to 11 goals (8 goals, 3 assists) in his last nine MLS starts at Mercedes-Benz Stadium dating back to last September. Martínez has 99 career goals in the regular season and playoffs combined in 128 total matches. With his next goal, he would reach 100 combined regular season and playoff goals faster than any player in MLS history by a significant margin. The current mark is held by Bradley Wright-Phillips at 160 games.
Austin FC currently sits in second place in the Supporters’ Shield standings and is tied with LAFC for the league-lead with 35 goals scored this season, led by a team-high and Golden Boot presented by Audi leading 10 goals from Sebastián Driussi.
Driussi and Maxi Urruti both scored in Austin’s comeback win over Colorado on Monday, the third time this season that both players scored in the same match. No pair of teammates have scored in the same match more often than Driussi and Urruti this season (three other pairs have done so three times).
Austin FC has won three consecutive away matches for the first time in club history and are tied with the New York Red Bulls for the most road wins in MLS this season with six apiece.

Charlotte FC (7-10-2) vs. Nashville SC (7-5-6)

(7 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes)

Charlotte FC hosts the inaugural meeting between the MLS newcomers and Nashville SC in a Southeast showdown this Saturday. Charlotte is 2-2-1 against Western Conference opponents so far in 2022 while Nashville has yet to lose to an Eastern Conference opponent in five meetings and boast a 3-0-2 record against them.
Hany Mukhtar scored his ninth goal of the 2022 season last time out against the Portland Timbers, putting him tied for fourth in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race. Since the German made his MLS debut in 2020, only Raúl Ruidíaz (34) and Castellanos (35) have scored more than his 29 regular season goals.
Mukhtar’s ninth goal of this season was also his 50th regular season goal contribution since the 2020 season. He has now been involved in nearly half (49.02 percent) of Nashville’s 102 regular season goals.
The arrival of Andre Shinyashiki from the Colorado Rapids has been an injection of offensive production for Charlotte since May. He scored his fifth goal of the season against Houston Dynamo FC, surpassing his single season best of four in both 2021 and 2020. Shinyashiki’s goals have also secured vital points for Charlotte, with two being game winners and another bringing Charlotte level at the Columbus Crew on June 18.
Since interim head coach Christian Lattanzio took the reins at Charlotte FC, the MLS newcomers have put more focus on solidifying their defensive shape. Both Charlotte and Nashville SC rank within the top five in MLS for expected goals against (xGA) since June 1, with Charlotte ranked fifth with 3.88 xGA while Nashville are fourth with 3.7 xGA.

FC Cincinnati (7-7-4) vs. New York Red Bulls (9-5-5)

(7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

This is only the eighth time these sides have met since FC Cincinnati joined the league in 2019, but the New York Red Bulls have enjoyed most of these meetings with a 4-2-1 record over their hosts. They split their three-game series in 2021 evenly at 1-1-1 with both sides claiming 1-0 wins at each other’s home stadiums and playing out to a 0-0 draw in the one deadlock game between them.
Lewis Morgan has been an ever-present figure for the New York Red Bulls in 2022 and for his first two seasons in MLS with Inter Miami CF, scoring 15 goals and assisting 15 others across his time with both clubs. While neither ranks for best in the league since the 2020 season, Morgan has featured in more games than any other player in MLS at 75 and is one of 10 players to play over 6,000 minutes during that time.
John Tolkin registered the most interceptions of any MLS player during the month of June with 11. The New Jersey-native now sits tied with CF Montréal defender Rudy Camacho for most interceptions made so far in 2022 with 37. Tolkin is also the youngest player at 19 years and 340 days to register at least 30 interceptions so far this season.
FC Cincinnati midfielder and reigning MLS Player of the Month for June Luciano “Lucho” Acosta recorded his 10th assist of the 2022 regular season, becoming the outright leader in the assist standings and first to reach double digits this season. This is also the fourth time in the six seasons Acosta has played in MLS where the Argentine midfielder has reached double digit figures in assists.
Cincinnati’s dynamic offensive duo in Acosta and Brandon Vázquez are both approaching career milestones for both club and general MLS career. Acosta could make his 50th appearance for the club against the Red Bulls while Vazquez is set to make his 100th MLS career appearance since making his debut on April 22, 2017.

CF Montréal (9-7-2) vs. Sporting Kansas City (4-11-4)

(7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

CF Montréal welcome Sporting Kansas City for the first time at Stade Saputo since June 30, 2018. The last time these teams met was on March 30, 2019, when Sporting went on to win 7-1, which was the most goals scored and tied for the largest margin of victory in club history.
In the 7-1 win during the last meeting, Kansas City’s Johnny Russell added two goals and one assist against the Canadian side. Russell inches closer to several club milestones and currently sits just three goal contributions shy of passing Davy Arnaud (78) for the fourth-most in Sporting history.
Montréal will look to get their high-flying attack back on course after suffering a 4-0 defeat to the LA Galaxy on July 4. The club’s 32 goals are the fourth-most in MLS, which includes eight different players with multiple goals in 2022. Of those players is Mason Toye, who made his first start of the season on June 29 and posted his fourth career brace against the Seattle Sounders. Toye has scored eight goals in his last 11 starts, dating back to April 17, 2021.
The defensive pair of Rudy Camacho and Joel Waterman continue to rank among the league leaders in various categories. Waterman has completed the eighth most passes (850) this season while Camacho has recorded the sixth most (914). Additionally, Camacho’s 37 interceptions on the year are tied for the league lead with the New York Red Bulls’ John Tolkin.

Toronto FC (5-10-3) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (4-7-6)

(7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

The San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC face off for the first time since 2020 when they tied 2-2 at Avaya Stadium on February 29. San Jose hold the slight advantage in their all-time series record, sitting at 6-5-6 after 17 regular season meetings and riding a three-game unbeaten run over Toronto heading into this game (1-0-2 since 2018).
Jesús Jiménez has led the front line admirably for Toronto with eight goals through 18 games played. He sits tied-seventh for the top spot in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi standings with the third-lowest expected goals (xG) tally among players to score at least eight goals this season. For San Jose, Jeremy Ebobisse is tied for fourth in the standings with nine goals from 7.33 xG this season.
Jamiro Monteiro and Cristian Espinoza have both also outperformed their expected assists metrics. Combined, Espinoza (7) and Monteiro (6) have registered 13 assists on the season while only combining for 7.74 expected assists.
Among first-year MLS players, Jiménez’s combined 11 goals and assists are second only to D.C. United forward Taxiarchis “Taxi” Fountas for most goal contributions by an MLS newcomer. Jiménez’s eight goals are also only second to Fountas’s nine goals for most scored by an MLS newcomer so far this season.

Chicago Fire FC (4-9-5) vs. Columbus Crew (5-5-7)

(8 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Chicago Fire FC host the Columbus Crew in the 72nd all-time meeting between the two Eastern Conference foes. Chicago holds a 27-22-22 record, despite the Crew winning two of the three matches in 2021 – each by a score of 2-0.
The Fire return home where they have won each of their last two matches against Philadelphia and D.C. by a 1-0 margin. Chicago last won three-straight home matches from September 23 – October 11, 2020 and last recorded three-straight home shutout wins from June 10 – July 1, 2017.
Last Sunday against San Jose, Chicago’s Brian Gutierrez scored the first goal of his career in his 40th MLS match. The 19-year-old Gutierrez joined Jhon Durán as the only teenagers to score for the Fire this season, with Durán contributing the assist on his goal.
The Crew head to Chicago unbeaten in their last five matches (two wins, three draws) with a defense that has only allowed three goals in those matches. In order to extend that streak, Columbus will need to win in Chicago for the first time since July 15, 2015.
With the arrival of new Designated Player Juan “Cucho” Hernández, the Crew’s Lucas Zelarayán will look to benefit from their partnership. The midfielder is fourth in MLS in successful dribbles (47), tied for first in goals outside of the 18-yard-box (three) and tied for sixth in key passes (38).

Orlando City SC (7-7-4) vs. Inter Miami CF (6-7-4)

(8 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

This will be the eighth regular season meeting between these sides since they first met in 2020 and the first of the 2022 regular season between them. Orlando slightly edges the all-time series record between the Florida-based clubs with a 3-2-2 record over Miami, but the last two regular season games between these sides both ended in draws.
Mauricio Pereyra provided the assist for Facundo Torres’s goal against D.C. United last time out, bringing his season tally up to nine. Pereyra has assisted five different players this season for Orlando, including three of Ercan Kara’s seven goals in 2022, two of Alexandre Pato’s three, and two of Torres’s three.
Pereyra is one assist short of equaling his career-best of 10 from the 2021 regular season since joining Orlando in 2019. If he were to get an assist against Miami, he would reach the 10-assist mark 11 games quicker than he did last season.
Leonardo Campana saved a point for Miami with a goal in the 89th minute in Dallas last time out. The Ecuadorian international now sits on eight goals through 17 games played in 2022, with all eight goals coming in matches where Campana was either the only Miami player to score in that match or the first Miami player to score in a multi-goal game for the club.

Houston Dynamo FC (6-9-3) vs. FC Dallas (7-5-6)

(8:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Houston Dynamo FC aim to tie up the all-time series of the Texas Derby (13-14-16) when they host FC Dallas on Saturday evening. The Dynamo are unbeaten in their last eight home matches against Dallas, including a 3-2 victory in the last matchup at PNC Stadium on September 18, 2021. The two clubs met earlier this season on April 23, with Dallas winning 2-1 and scoring both goals in the 87th-minute or later.
Both teams enter the matchup on winless streaks as Dallas looks to snap a four-game skid, which is their longest of the season. Alan Velasco’s return to the starting lineup provided a big boost for Dallas in their last game against Inter Miami CF, in which he scored a 27th-minute free kick. Velasco now has two free kick goals, which is tied with Diego Rubio for the most in MLS this season.
Dallas’ Jesús Ferreira remains tied atop the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi standings with 10 goals on the year. The forward has had success against Houston in his career, totaling one goal and two assists in eight appearances.
Houston’s Fafa Picault recorded his third goal of the season in the club’s 2-1 defeat to Charlotte FC on Sunday. Picault has scored in three of his last four appearances against Dallas with two of those coming at PNC Stadium. Picault needs two goal contributions to reach 60 in his career (38 goals, 20 assists).
Another in-form Dynamo player is Darwin Quintero, who is now up to seven goals and two assists on the season after producing a goal contribution in his third-straight game against Charlotte on Sunday. With an additional goal contribution, the Colombian will record at least 10 goal contributions in four of his five MLS seasons with both Houston and Minnesota.

Real Salt Lake (8-5-5) vs. Colorado Rapids (5-8-4)

(10 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids meet for the 53rd time in series history, with RSL leading the all-time series 25-15-12. Salt Lake has won six of the past 10 meetings between the two clubs, recording a 6-2-2 record over the span.
Real Salt Lake has lost only one of its last 21 home MLS editions of the Rocky Mountain Cup dating back to September 2007 (W15 D5), including winning the last two. RSL’s 23 regular season wins over Colorado since the start of the 2007 season (D11 L10) are the most by any team against another in that time.
Jefferson Savarino had a goal and an assist in Real Salt Lake’s loss to Minnesota on Sunday, his second game with a goal and an assist in his three starts since returning to RSL. Savarino has been involved in all four of RSL’s goals since his first start back with the club on June 18.
Colorado is looking to snap a four-game winless streak dating back to May 28. Last week, the club received two first-half goals from Lalas Abubakar and Jonathan Lewis but were unable to hold on in the second half.
The Rapids are led offensively by Diego Rubio, who has a team-high seven goals in 15 games, while forward Michael Barrios leads the club with four assists this season.