MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 18 NEWS & NOTES

News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer

MORALEZ, NYCFC STREAKING TOWARD NEW HEIGHTS

As New York City FC have steamed to a club-record undefeated run, Maximiliano Moralez has had a two-game stretch almost unmatched over Major League Soccer history.
Over the past two matches for NYCFC – a 5-2 win against FC Cincinnati on June 6 and a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Union last weekend – Moralez has totaled eight combined goals and assists. That equals the most over a two-game stretch in MLS history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Just one other player in MLS history has totaled eight combined goals and assists over a two-game stretch – Diego Serna, who had 5 goals and 3 assists over back-to-back games June 2-9, 2001, for the Miami Fusion.
Against FC Cincinnati, Moralez netted his third goal of the season, along with recording three assists – one away from the MLS single-game record. Then against Philadelphia, Moralez converted a pair of penalty kicks – the first NYCFC player to score twice from spot kicks in a game – and then set up the final two goals, to move to 11 assists for the season, which now leads the MLS assist standings heading into Week 18.
The four combined goals and assists in each game for Moralez is one away from the MLS single-game record, set seven times in league history.
NYCFC head into the holiday week undefeated since the start of April, with six victories and five draws over their past 11 league matches. Moralez will be looking to see if he can continue his hot streak and set the league record for most combined goals and assists over a three-game span, which was set by Diego Serna in that stretch in 2001, with seven goals and four assists for 11 total from June 2-16.
MOST COMBINED GOALS AND ASSISTS, CONSECUTIVE GAMES

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau

MINNESOTA UNITED FC JOIN SINGLE-GAME GOALS RECORD CLUB

Minnesota United FC joined the ranks of the all-time best performances in a single game in MLS annals, when they defeated FC Cincinnati 7-1 last Saturday afternoon at Allianz Field.
MNUFC became the seventh team in MLS history to net seven goals or more in a single game, the seven goals just one away from the league single-game mark set by the LA Galaxy in an 8-1 win against the Dallas Burn in 1998.
For the second time in the league’s 24 seasons, two teams have scored seven or more goals in a game in the same year, after Sporting Kansas City defeated the Montréal Impact earlier this year in a 7-1 win on March 30. In 1998, the LA Galaxy also defeated the Colorado Rapids 7-4, less than a month before setting their single-game record.
MNUFC also became the fourth team to score seven-plus goals in a game over the past four seasons – after it occurred just three times in the first 20.
MOST GOALS, ONE TEAM, ONE GAME

REAL SALT LAKE’S RIMANDO ON VERGE OF NO. 500 THIS WEEK

Nick Rimando of Real Salt Lake is on the verge of yet another remarkable milestone.
The Real Salt Lake goalkeeper has played in 498 league games over his 20-year MLS career – and with appearances in RSL’s two matches this week, on Wednesday vs. Columbus Crew SC at Rio Tinto Stadium, and on Saturday evening at the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium, he would become the first to play in 500 league games in MLS history.
Just five players have reached the 400-game plateau in MLS history, and four have played this season. Rimando’s RSL teammate Kyle Beckerman – the two are the only players in MLS history to have played in 20 seasons – has appeared in 475 league games. Chad Marshall, who earlier this year announced his retirement, ended his career with 409 league appearances. Jeff Larentowicz, who is with Atlanta United in his 15th MLS season, earlier this year also reached the 400-appearance mark.
MOST GAMES PLAYED, MLS CAREER (REGULAR-SEASON ONLY)

MLS WEEK 18 – LOOK AHEAD (MIDWEEK)

NEW YORK CITY FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #213)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
7 p.m. ET (YES; JOEtv / YouTube [SEA])
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Logan Brown; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Lorant Varga; VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 19 games; FC/gm: 20.8; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 6; pens: 5
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 2 wins, 6 goals … Sounders FC 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 0
AT YANKEE STADIUM: NYCFC 1 win, 3 goals … Sounders FC 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 0

• NYCFC extended their club-record undefeated streak to 11 games, defeating the Philadelphia Union 4-2 at Yankee Stadium on Saturday evening. NYCFC have scored nine goals in winning back-to-back games, the club’s most in consecutive matches in its five MLS seasons.
  
• Maximiliano Moralez scored two goals in the NYCFC win, his first multiple-goal game in league play since coming to MLS. Moralez also added an assist, now four consecutive games with an assist, with seven assists in that span. Moralez has a goal and/or an assist in six games in a row, dating back to May 4, with five goals and eight assists in that time.
  
• Sounders FC put an end to a three-game losing slide in dramatic fashion, Kelvin Leerdam netted the game’s only goal deep in second-half stoppage time for a victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday evening.
  
• The clubs have evenly split their four meetings all-time, each winning once at home and once away. Sounders FC won last year’s lone encounter, a 3-1 victory on July 29 at CenturyLink Field. NYCFC had won the year before, their first win in the series at Yankee Stadium, a 2-1 win on June 17.
  
• Each team won at the other’s ground in the first two meetings. Sounders FC won the first meeting ever between the teams, a 3-1 win in the Bronx in 2015; NYCFC then returned the favor with a 2-0 win in Seattle in 2016.
  

NYCFC:
Maximiliano Moralez
played a part in all four NYCFC goals, equaling his club record for most combined goals and assists in a game, which he set in the previous match vs. FC Cincinnati on June 6. Moralez has played a part in 10 of NYCFC’s last 13 goals, over the last four matches. …
Valentin Castellanos
netted a pair of goals in NYCFC’s 4-2 win against the Philadelphia Union, his first multiple-goal game in his two MLS seasons. Both goals came from the penalty spot, the first time NYCFC have scored two goals on penalty kicks in the same game.
SOUNDERS FC:
Sounders FC remained undefeated at home this season in the 1-0 win vs. Vancouver, one of four teams still without a loss on their home ground this season. The win extended their home undefeated streak to 12 games, third-longest in the club’s MLS history (record: 14 games, set in 2013). …
Stefan Frei
was credited with five saves in recording the shutout, his sixth of the season, tied for third-most in MLS this season.
ORLANDO CITY SC vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #214)
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
7:30 p.m. ET (YouTube [ORL] / My65; PHL 17)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Mike Rottersman; 4th: Elvis Osmanovic; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 156 games; FC/gm: 26.9; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 45; pens: 58
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Orlando City 3 wins, 12 goals … Union 3 wins, 14 goals … Ties 3
AT ORLANDO: Orlando City 1 win, 6 goals … Union 0 wins, 5 goals … Ties 3

• Orlando City SC won for a third time in their past five matches, defeating Columbus Crew SC 2-0 at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Tesho Akindele scored his sixth goal of the season, his four over the last five games.
  
• The Union had their four-game undefeated streak put to an end, falling 4-2 to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday evening. Kacper Przybylko netted a goal for a second consecutive game, while Jamiro Monteiro assisted on both goals, with two goals and three assists over his last five matches.
  
• The teams are meeting in a home-and-home series over a four-day span. Orlando City SC have never lost at home to Philadelphia Union; the teams last met on Sept. 1 of last season, a 2-2 draw in Orlando, the third draw there in four meetings.
  
• Orlando City won the last matchup at Talen Energy Stadium, a 2-0 victory there last April 13. It was just the second win by the road team in the all-time series; OCSC also won in Chester in 2016.
  

OCSC:
Nani
assisted on both Orlando City SC goals, now with six assists on the season, tied for 10th-most in MLS this season. Since the start of April, Nani has scored eight goals and assisted on three, involved in 11 of OCSC’s 18 goals in that time. …
Chris Mueller
netted his fourth goal this season, his last coming on May 15.
UNION:
Ilsinho
collected an assist in the loss at New York City FC; over the last four games, since the start of June, he has two goals and three assists. …
Fafa Picault
scored his second goal of the season, his first coming on May 1.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. ATLANTA UNITED
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #215)
SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.
7 p.m. CT (ESPN+; FS-South)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Fire 1 win, 4 goals … ATLUTD 4 wins, 10 goals … Ties 0
AT CHICAGO: Fire 1 win, 3 goals … ATLUTD 1 wins, 2 goals … Ties 0
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; AR2 (opposite): Richard Gamache; 4th: Lukasz Szpala; VAR: Allen Chapman; AVAR: Peter Balciunas
MLS Career: 148 games; FC/gm: 27.5; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 21; pens: 34

• The Fire had their winless stretch extended to six games, falling 3-1 to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Friday evening.
  
• Atlanta United won for a third time in four games, defeating the Montréal Impact 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Josef Martínez scored a pair of goals as Atlanta United took a 2-0 win on June 1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
  
• Atlanta United have won the past three meetings between the teams, taking both matchups a year ago, each by a 2-1 scoreline, first on May 5 in Bridgeview, Ill., then on Oct. 21 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
  
• The teams split their two meetings in Atlanta United’s inaugural season, each winning by shutout at home. Atlanta took a 4-0 win on March 18 at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and then the Fire returned the favor with a 2-0 win on June 10 in Bridgeview.
  

FIRE:
Nemanja Nikolic
netted his sixth goal of the season, his third over the past eight games.
ATLUTD:
Justin Meram
scored both Atlanta United goals, his first two goals for Atlanta United since coming to the club via trade from Columbus. …
Pity Martínez
collected his third assist of the season, all coming over the last five games. …
Brek Shea
recorded his first assist with ATLUTD, his last in MLS coming last Aug. 11 while with Vancouver. … The Montréal Impact goal put an end to ATLUTD’s shutout streak after 506 minutes on their home ground, the 12th-longest such streak in MLS history, and the longest in the league since 2016.
MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #216)
Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minn.
7 p.m. CT (FS-North; NBCS-CA)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: MNUFC 1 win, 8 goals … Earthquakes 4 wins, 10 goals … Ties 0
AT MINNESOTA: MNUFC 0 wins, 1 goal … Earthquakes 2 wins, 4 goals … Ties 0
REFEREE: Marcos de Oliveira. AR1 (bench): Jeffrey Greeson; AR2 (opposite): Walter Heatherly; 4th: David Barrie; VAR: David Gantar; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 23 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 3; pens: 7

• Minnesota United FC became the seventh team in MLS history to score seven goals or more in an MLS league game, defeating FC Cincinnati 7-1 at Allianz Field on Saturday afternoon. The dominant win put an end to a three-game losing slide.
  
• Ike Opara scored a pair of goals, the first multiple-goal game of his MLS career, while Jan Gregus collected three assists, one shy of the MLS all-time single-game record.
  
• The Quakes extended their undefeated streak to six games with a fourth victory in that time, defeating the LA Galaxy 3-0 at Stanford Stadium on Saturday evening. The six-game run without loss is the club’s longest since an eight-game run over the end of the 2013 season and start of 2014.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Darwin Quintero scored one goal and assisted on a second as Minnesota United won 3-0 at Avaya Stadium on March 9 – MNUFC’s first win in five meetings vs. San Jose.
  
• The Quakes won the first four meetings all-time between the teams, winning both encounters a year ago – a 3-2 win on March 3 at Avaya Stadium in the season opener for both teams, and a 3-1 win on 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 on Oct. 22 in San Jose.
  

MNUFC:
Mason Toye
scored his first career MLS league goal, and also added an assist …
Ethan Finlay
and
Angelo Rodríguez
each had a goal and an assist …
Darwin Quintero
collected a pair of assists, the sixth multiple-assist game in his two MLS seasons, his first this year. … Rookie
Hassani Dotson
netted his second goal, both coming over the last three games.
QUAKES:
Vako Qazaishvili
netted a goal and added an assist vs. the LA Galaxy. He has three goals and an assist over the last two games, involved in four of San Jose’s last five goals. …
Shea Salinas
netted a goal, his fifth of the season, and also added an assist, his third. It was the third time in his MLS career he’s had at least one goal and one assist in a game, the second time vs. LA (that June 29, 2013). His last time came on June 18, 2016, vs. Orlando). …
Tommy Thompson
netted the second league goal of his MLS career, the first coming on July 4, 2017, vs. Atlanta.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #217)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
7 p.m. CT (FS-KC+; YouTube [LA] / KVMD)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sporting 2 wins, 5 goals … LAFC 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0
AT KC: Sporting 1 win, 2 goals … LAFC 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Kieso; 4th: Ted Unkel; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Peter Manikowski
MLS Career: 339 games; FC/gm: 24.6; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 79; pens: 90

• Sporting saw their three-game undefeated run put to an end, falling 2-0 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The Los Angeles Football Club saw their eight-game undefeated streak come to an end, falling by the game’s only goal to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Friday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Adama Diomande netted the game-winner deep into second-half stoppage time, giving LAFC a 2-1 win in the season opener for both clubs, on March 3 at Banc of California Stadium.
  
• Sporting won the first two meetings ever between the clubs in LAFC’s inaugural season, a 2-0 win on Aug. 11 at Banc of California Stadium, and a 2-1 win on Decision Day (Oct. 28) at Children’s Mercy Park.
  

SPORTING:
Sporting completed a four-game road swing with the RSL match, gaining five of a possible 12 points from the trip.
LAFC:
Carlos Vela
saw his goalscoring streak end at five games in the shutout loss at Colorado. Twenty-two players in MLS history have goal streaks of six games or more (recordholders: Josef Martínez, Diego Valeri, with 9).
HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #218)
BBVA Stadium, Houston, Texas
8 p.m. CT (KUBE 57; MSG+)
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Apolinar Mariscal; AR2 (opposite): Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein; 4th: Ismir Pekmic; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 280 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 100; pens: 108
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo 5 wins, 30 goals … Red Bulls 12 wins, 41 goals … Ties 8
AT HOUSTON: Dynamo 5 wins, 23 goals … Red Bulls 2 wins, 17 goals … Ties 5

• The Dynamo return to BBVA Stadium after going down a third defeat on their three-game road swing in a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening. The Dynamo are undefeated at home this season, with a 6-0-3 record, one of four teams without a home defeat this season.
  
• The Red Bulls extended their home undefeated run to four games with a third victory overall in their past four matches, defeating the Chicago Fire 3-1 at Red Bull Arena on Friday evening.
  
• The Red Bulls have won eight of the past 11 league meetings between the teams, dating back to 2012. The Red Bulls are 10-0-3 all-time at home in league play vs. Houston, with wins in the past seven regular season matches in Harrison, dating back to 2012, including a 1-0 win last Aug. 29 in the lone matchup between the clubs.
  
• The Dynamo have won the past two meetings between the teams in Houston, the last a 4-1 victory on April 1, 2017, ending a three-game regular season streak there where the Red Bulls had come away with points.
  

DYNAMO:
Darwin Ceren
netted the Dynamo goal, his first of the 2019 season, in the loss at New England. Ceren scored one goal a season ago, his first with the Dynamo, that coming in the season opener on March 3. …
Alejandro Fuenmayor
collected his first assist of the season, the second in his two MLS seasons, his first coming last April 21 in his third league appearance.
RED BULLS:
Kaku
and
Brian White
each scored for a second consecutive match in the win against Chicago. Kaku has a goal or an assist in five consecutive games, with three goals and two assists in that span, while White has three goals and an assist in his last five games. …
Daniel Royer
scored a goal and added an assist, the fourth time in his MLS career he’s had a goal and an assist in the same game, the second time this season (also: March 16 vs. San Jose). …
Bradley Wright-Phillips
collected an assist, his second of the season, in making his first appearance since April 20.
REAL SALT LAKE vs. COLUMBUS CREW SC
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #219)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
8 p.m. MT (KMYU-12; FS-OH)
REFEREE: Victor Rivas. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson; 4th: Fotis Bazakos; VAR: Alan Kelly; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 2 games; FC/gm: 27.0; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 0; pens: 3
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Real 5 wins, 26 goals … Crew SC 12 wins, 33 goals … Ties 4
AT SALT LAKE: Real 4 wins, 17 goals … Crew SC 3 wins, 10 goals … Ties 3

• Real put an end to their three-game winless slide, defeating Sporting Kansas City 2-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Crew SC saw their stretch without a victory extended to six games, falling 2-0 to Orlando City SC at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams met once a year ago, with Crew SC taking a 2-1 win at Mapfre Stadium on June 30. RSL have not won in Columbus in league play since 2006, the Crew having won eight of the past nine regular-season meetings there. Real did win the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series between the teams in 2009 in Columbus, on their way to an MLS Cup title.
  
• The teams have reached draws on their past two meetings at Rio Tinto Stadium, last a 2-2 draw on July 29, 2017. Real are undefeated in the past three meetings between the clubs on their home ground.
  

REAL:
Sam Johnson
netted both goals in the win against Sporting Kansas City, his first multiple-goal game since coming to MLS. ...
Damir Kreilach
collected assists on both goals, his second career-multiple-assist game in MLS, now with three assists in his last four games. …
Albert Rusnák
recorded his third assist of the season; he has a goal and an assist in the last two games.
CREW SC:
Crew SC were blanked at the attacking end for a second consecutive game, 209 minutes since their last goal.
FC DALLAS vs. D.C. UNITED
Thursday, July 4, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #220)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
8 p.m. CT (FCDTV; FloSports)
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): Chris Wattam; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Ismir Pekmic; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Kevin Terry
MLS Career: 51 games; FC/gm: 27.0; Y/gm: 4.1; R: 6; pens: 19
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 21 wins (4 shootout), 77 goals … D.C. United 16 wins (0 shootout), 78 goals … Ties 8
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 15 wins (2 shootout), 45 goals … D.C. United 6 wins (0 shootout), 30 goals … Ties 3

• FC Dallas had their four-game undefeated run put to an end, falling by the game’s only goal in a loss to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Sunday evening.
  
• D.C. United extended their undefeated streak to five games with a fourth draw in that time, gaining a late 1-1 result with Toronto FC at Audi Field on Saturday evening.
  
• Wayne Rooney reached the 10-goal mark for the second time in two MLS seasons, now tied for third place in the MLS Golden Boot standings, converting a penalty kick in stoppage time for the D.C. United equalizer.
  
• D.C. United won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 1-0 win in the first matchup ever at Audi Field, on Oct. 13. The win was the first for United in the series since 2014, snapping a three-game FC Dallas winning streak.
  
• FC Dallas won the last matchup at Toyota Stadium, a 4-2 win on July 4, 2017. D.C. United last won in Frisco, Texas, on Sept. 1, 2007, a 4-0 victory. FC Dallas have won five of their seven home meetings since, with two draws.
  

FCD:
FC Dallas return home riding a four-game undefeated streak at Toyota Stadium (2-0-2), since losing for the only time this season at home May 16 vs. the Los Angeles Football Club (0-2).
UNITED:
Wayne Rooney
has a goal in four of the last six games, and a goal or an assist in five of the last six. He’s been involved in five of United’s last eight goals, since May 18.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Thursday, July 4, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #221)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
7 p.m. MT (Altitude; NBCS-Bos)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Jeff Hosking; 4th: Lukasz Szpala; VAR: Luis Guardia; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 17 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 2; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 20 wins (1 shootout), 68 goals … Revolution 16 wins (2 shootout), 61 goals … Ties 9
AT COLORADO: Rapids 14 wins (1 shootout), 39 goals … Revolution 4 wins (0 shootout), 10 goals … Ties 4

• The Rapids extended their undefeated streak to seven games with a fifth victory in that time, defeating the Los Angeles Football Club by the game’s lone goal at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Friday evening. The seven-game undefeated streak is the Rapids’ longest since a club-record 15-game stretch without loss in 2016.
  
• The Revolution extended their undefeated streak to six games with a second win in their last three, defeating the Houston Dynamo 2-1 at Gillette Stadium. Teal Bunbury scored his second goal of the season, both coming in the last three games.
  
• The Revolution won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 2-1 win on March 10 at Gillette Stadium. The Rapids last won in Foxborough, Mass., in 2010. The Revolution have won four of the five home meetings since, with one draw.
  
• The Rapids won the last meeting between the clubs at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, a 1-0 victory to open the 2017 season. The win was the first for the Rapids vs. the Revolution since 2013, when they had also scored their last goal against New England. The Revs won the three games in between, by a combined 7-0 scoreline.
  

RAPIDS:
Danny Wilson
netted his second goal in MLS, his first coming May 11. …
Jack Price
recorded his fifth assist of the season, his single-season career-high in his two MLS campaigns (he had four a year ago). …
Tim Howard
was credited with three saves in recording his third shutout of the season, his second in the last three games, all coming over the last seven matches (since May 19).
REVOLUTION:
Antonio Delamea
netted his first goal of the season, the second in his three MLS seasons, his first coming June 17, 2017 vs. Chicago. …
Diego Fagundez
collected his first assist of the season; he had a single-season career-high from his eight MLS seasons with 10 assists a year ago. …
Cristian Penilla
collected his third assist of the season; he has two goals and three assists over the last six games.
LA GALAXY vs. TORONTO FC
Thursday, July 4, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #222)
Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (TSN 1/4; SpecSN)
REFEREE: Ramy Touchan. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Joseph Dickerson; VAR: Tim Ford; AVAR: Michael Kampmeinert
MLS Career: 13 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 0; pens: 2
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Galaxy 6 wins, 26 goals … Toronto FC 5 wins, 23 goals … Ties 6
AT GALAXY: Galaxy 5 wins, 19 goals … Toronto FC 2 wins, 12 goals … Ties 2

• The Galaxy had their three-game winning streak away from home put to a halt, falling 3-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Toronto FC made it a win and a draw from their last two matches, gaining a 1-1 result with D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday evening.
  
• TFC have won the last three meetings between the teams, over the last three seasons, last year claiming a wild 5-3 victory on Sept. 15 at BMO Field.
  
• TFC won the last meeting between the teams in Carson, Calif., a 4-0 win on Sept. 16, 2017. The victory ended a six-game home undefeated streak in the league series for the Galaxy, TFC scoring their first goal in Carson in 208 minutes in the victory.
  
• TFC have won the last two meetings at BMO Field; their win there in 2017 snapped a 10-game Galaxy undefeated streak in league play in the all-time series, dating back to May 31, 2008. The Galaxy won five of the 10 meetings in between, with five draws.
  

GALAXY:
Since 2000 (the end of the shootout era), the Galaxy’s longest away winning streak was four games, set in 2010.
TFC:
Nick DeLeon
scored his fourth goal of the season, his third over the last five games. … Richie Laryea recorded the second assist of his MLS career, his first coming Sept. 27, 2017, while with Orlando City.

MLS WEEK 18 – LOOK AHEAD (WEEKEND)

PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Saturday, July 6, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #223)
Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.
7 p.m. ET (WPVI-abc6; YouTube [ORL] / My65)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Nick Uranga; AR2 (opposite): Adam Garner; 4th: Fotis Bazakos; VAR: Tim Ford; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 88 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 21; pens: 26
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Union 3 wins, 14 goals … Orlando City 3 wins, 12 goals … Ties 3
AT UNION: Union 3 wins, 9 goals … Orlando City 2 wins, 6 goals … Ties 0

• The teams are meeting on the back end of a home-and-home series over four days, the first leg at Exploria Stadium on July 3.
  

UNION:
Play Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium at midweek.
OCSC:
Play Philadelphia Union at Exploria Stadium at midweek.
MONTREAL IMPACT vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Saturday, July 6, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #224)
Stade Saputo, Montréal, Qué.
7:30 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; FS-North)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Pierre-Luc Lauziere; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 114 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 17; pens: 44
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Impact 0 wins, 2 goals … MNUFC 2 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0
AT MONTREAL: Impact 0 wins, 2 goals … MNUFC 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0

• The Impact had their two-game winning run come to an end, falling 2-1 to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams have met twice all-time, and Minnesota United FC have won both. MNUFC claimed a 2-0 victory in the lone matchup a year ago, May 26 at TCF Bank Stadium; MNUFC took the first meeting between the teams, a 3-2 win on Sept. 19, 2017, at Stade Saputo.
  

IMPACT:
Zakaria Diallo
netted the Impact goal in the loss at Atlanta, his second of the season, his first coming May 8. …
Harry Novillo
collected his second assist, his first coming March 16.
MNUFC:
Play San Jose Earthquakes at Allianz Field at midweek.
COLUMBUS CREW SC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Saturday, July 6, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #225)
Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
7:30 p.m. ET (FS-OH; JOEtv / YouTube [SEA])
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Jeffrey Greeson; AR2 (opposite): Eric Boria; 4th: Marcos DeOliveira; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 156 games; FC/gm: 23.9; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 45; pens: 58
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Crew SC 4 wins, 15 goals … Sounders FC 5 wins, 19 goals … Ties 4
AT COLUMBUS: Crew SC 2 wins, 7 goals … Sounders FC 3 wins, 9 goals … Ties 1

• The teams met once a year ago, reaching a scoreless draw on May 5 at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC have a win and a draw from the last two meetings in the series in Seattle; Crew SC had won the previous two matchups there.
  
• Crew SC won the last meeting between the teams at Mapfre Stadium, a 3-0 victory on May 31, 2017. It was just the second win ever for Crew SC against Sounders FC on their home ground; Seattle won three of the first four meetings all-time in Columbus, with one draw.
  

CREW SC:
Play Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium at midweek.
SOUNDERS FC:
Play New York City FC at Yankee Stadium at midweek.
FC CINCINNATI vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Saturday, July 6, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #226)
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
7:30 p.m. ET (WSTR – Star 64; KUBE 57)
REFEREE: Dave Gantar. AR1 (bench): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Rosendo Mendoza; VAR: Victor Rivas; AVAR: Kevin Klinger
MLS Career: 79 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 30; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.

• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories, the only league meeting this season.
  

• FC Cincinnati had their losing skid extended to six games in historic fashion, falling 7-1 to Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Saturday afternoon.
  

FCC:
Emmanuel Ledesma
netted his first career goal in MLS for the FCC tally in the loss at Minnesota. …
Kekuta Manneh
recorded his second assist of the season, his first coming on March 24; he has a goal and an assist in the last four games. … The six-game slide is the longest in FCC’s MLS history, surpassing their five-game run from April 13-May 4.
DYNAMO:
Play New York Red Bulls at BBVA Stadium at midweek.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. CHICAGO FIRE
Saturday, July 6, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #227)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
7:30 p.m. CT (FS-KC; ESPN+)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Matthew Nelson; AR2 (opposite): Mike Rottersman; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 20 games; FC/gm: 26.4; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 4; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sporting 16 wins (0 shootout), 66 goals … Fire 26 wins (1 shootout), 91 goals … Ties 11
AT KC: Sporting 11 wins (0 shootout), 40 goals … Fire 8 wins (1 shootout), 40 goals … Ties 9

• Sporting have won the last two meetings between the clubs, once at each ground, last year taking a 4-3 victory on March 10 in Bridgeview, Ill. The win was the first for Sporting at the Fire since 2013; the Fire had won three consecutive home meetings in the series.
  
• Sporting won the last encounter between the clubs at Children’s Mercy Park, a 3-2 victory July 29, 2017. Sporting have won the last four meetings between the teams in KC, the Fire’s last win there coming in 2012 (six meetings).
  

SPORTING:
Play Los Angeles Football Club at Children’s Mercy Park at midweek.
FIRE:
Play Atlanta United at SeatGeek Stadium at midweek.
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Saturday, July 6, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #228)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (TSN 2; YouTube [LA] / KVMD)
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Jason White; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.; AVAR: Chris Elliott
MLS Career: 150 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 33; pens: 66
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: LAFC 1 win, 4 goals … Whitecaps FC 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 1
AT BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM:  LAFC 0 wins, 2 goals … Whitecaps FC 0 wins, 2 goals …Ties 1

• LAFC return to Banc of California Stadium riding a 14-game home undefeated streak, dating back to last Aug. 15. They are one of four teams still undefeated at home this season.
  
• Whitecaps FC saw their six-game undefeated streak overall come to an end last time out, falling by the game’s only goal in a loss to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Hwang Inbeom netted the game’s only goal in the 27th minute, giving Whitecaps FC the win on April 17 at BC Place.
  
• The teams met twice in LAFC’s inaugural season a year ago. LAFC won the first meeting, a 2-0 victory at BC Place on April 13; they then reached a 2-2 draw on Oct. 21 at Banc of California Stadium.
  

LAFC:
Play Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park at midweek.
WHITECAPS FC:
The six-game undefeated run equaled the club’s longest over the last two seasons; the club record in its MLS history is eight games, set in 2014.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Saturday, July 6, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #229)
Avaya Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (NBCS-CA+; KMYU-12)
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Jose Da Silva; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Ismir Pekmic; VAR: Malik Badawi; AVAR: Cameron Blanchard
MLS Career: 19 games; FC/gm: 20.8; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 6; pens: 5
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Earthquakes 10 wins, 38 goals … Real 10 wins, 44 goals … Ties 11
AT SAN JOSE: Earthquakes 7 wins, 26 goals … Real 5 wins, 20 goals … Ties 4

• The teams played to a pair of draws in their two meetings a season ago, reaching ia 1-1 deadlock June 23 at Rio Tinto Stadium, and playing to a goalless draw July 28 at Avaya Stadium.
  
• Real are undefeated in their past five home meetings with the Quakes, with two wins and three draws in that time, the last San Jose victory in Sandy coming in 2013.
  
• The Quakes now own a four-game undefeated streak in the series in San Jose, with three successive wins before last year’s draw, the last RSL win there a 1-0 triumph on April 5, 2015.
  

QUAKES:
Play Minnesota United FC at Alllianz Field at midweek.
REAL:
Play Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium at midweek.
ATLANTA UNITED vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Sunday, July 7, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #230)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
2 p.m. ET (FOX / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Adam Wienckowski; 4th: Elijio Arreguin; VAR: Alex Chilowicz; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 339 games; FC/gm: 24.6; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 79; pens: 90
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 0 wins, 2 goals … Red Bulls 4 wins, 8 goals … Ties 1
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 0 wins, 2 goals … Red Bulls 2 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Tom Barlow scored the game’s lone goal in the 65th minute, giving the Red Bulls the win May 19 at Red Bull Arena.
  
• The Red Bulls have never lost to Atlanta United in five meetings all-time, winning four. The Red Bulls have now won the last three matchups after taking both a year ago: a 3-1 win on May 20, 2018, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium – their second victory in two visits to Atlanta – then a 2-0 win on Sept. 30 in Harrison, N.J.
  
• The teams met twice in Atlanta United’s inaugural MLS season – and the Red Bulls came away with points from both. The Red Bulls won 2-1 on March 5 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta United’s first league match; the teams played to a scoreless draw Oct. 15 at Red Bull Arena.
  
• Atlanta United did claim the Eastern Conference Championship a year ago, winning 3-0 at home in the first leg before the Red Bulls took the second leg 1-0 in Harrison.
  

ATLUTD:
Play Chicago Fire at SeatGeek Stadium at midweek.
RED BULLS:
Play Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium at midweek.
NEW YORK CITY FC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Sunday, July 7, 2019 (Week 18, MLS Game #231)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
6:30 p.m. ET (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): C.J. Morgante; AR2 (opposite): Brian Dunn; 4th: Elvis Osmanovic; VAR: Tim Ford; AVAR: Tom Felice
MLS Career: 88 games; FC/gm: 23.4; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 31; pens: 49
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 1 win, 2 goals … Timbers 3 wins, 6 goals … Ties 0
AT YANKEE STADIUM: NYCFC 0 wins, 0 goals … Timbers 2 wins, 2 goals … Ties 0

• The Timbers won for a second consecutive match at home, in their third game in their return to Providence Park, in the 1-0 win vs. FC Dallas on Sunday evening.
  
• Brian Fernández set the all-time MLS record, scoring in his fifth consecutive game since the start of his MLS career, netting the game’s only goal in the victory against FC Dallas. Fernández has scored in each of his seven games over all competitions since coming to the Timbers, also an MLS record.
  
• The Timbers have won the last two meetings between the teams, each by shutout, once at each ground. Last year, the Timbers took a 3-0 win on April 22 at Providence Park; the year prior, they took a 1-0 win on Sept. 9 at Yankee Stadium.
  
• NYCFC have won once in the four meetings in the series, a 2-1 win in 2016 at Providence Park. The Timbers claimed the first meeting ever between the clubs, a 1-0 win in the Bronx in 2015.
  

NYCFC:
Play Seattle Sounders FC at Yankee Stadium at midweek.
TIMBERS:
Sebastian Blanco
collected his seventh assist of the season, all coming over the last nine games (since April 13). …
Steve Clark
was credited with two saves in recording his second shutout of the season, both coming over his last two appearances (first: June 22 vs. Houston). Clark has not conceded a goal in his last 223 minutes between the posts.