MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 33 NEWS & NOTES
REVOLUTION ON COURSE FOR GREATEST SEASON IN MLS HISTORY
With two games still remaining in the 2021 regular season, the New England Revolution are on the verge of the single greatest season in MLS history. With home matches ahead vs. the Colorado Rapids at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, and vs. Inter Miami CF in Foxborough on Decision Day (Nov. 7), the Revolution are just two points behind the all-time single-season record set by Los Angeles Football Club in 2019. Following their 2-2 draw at Orlando City SC last Sunday, the Revs became just the third team in MLS history to reach the 70-point mark.
The Revolution are also on track to record the most points per game in a single season in league annals. The record was set by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1998 at 2.13 points per game, just percentage points away from Los Angeles Football Club in 2019.
In addition, the Revolution are just one win away from equaling the New York Red Bulls total of 22 victories set in 2018, the most of any club in a season since the end of the shootout era (beginning in 2000).
The Revolution have suffered just four defeats in 2021, currently matching the fewest in a single season in MLS history, achieved six times previously. Nashville SC is also chasing membership in that elite club, also with just four defeats over the course of the season through their first 31 games.
SKC’S RUSSELL MOVES GOALSCORING STREAK INTO RARE TERRITORY
Johnny Russell is chasing a pantheon of MLS legends, after scoring in a seventh consecutive game in Sporting Kansas City’s 2-1 win at Seattle Sounders FC last Saturday.
Russell has become the eighth player in MLS history to score in at least seven games in a row. The all-time league record is held by Josef Martínez, who scored in 15 consecutive games in 2019, which equaled the fifth-longest such streak in all of world football history. Martínez ended six games behind the all-time recordholder, Lionel Messi, who netted 33 goals over a 21-game streak for FC Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga in 2013-14.
MLS WEEK 33 – LOOK AHEAD
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #418)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Kathryn Nesbitt; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Jair Marrufo; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 375 games; FC/gm: 24.4; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 86; pens: 99
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: LAFC 4 wins, 12 goals … Sounders FC 3 wins, 12 goals … Ties 2
AT LOS ANGELES: LAFC 3 wins, 9 goals … Sounders FC 0 wins, 3 goals … Ties 1
· LAFC extended their undefeated streak to four games with a second draw in that time, reaching a 1-1 result with Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Saturday evening. Cristian Arango scored the LAFC goal, directly from a free kick, his 12th goal in 14 appearances since coming to MLS, and his sixth goal in the last three matches (he has scored each of LAFC’s last six goals).
· Sounders FC had a three-game home winning run put to an end, falling 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City at Lumen Field on Saturday afternoon. Nicolas Benezet scored the Sounders goal, his third of the season.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season. On April 24 at Banc of California Stadium, Eduard Atuesta drove a low free kick under the Sounders wall for the second-minute opener, but Brad Smith potted a rebound in the second half to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw. Then on May 16, Xavier Arreaga and Brad Smith each scored as Sounders FC took a 2-0 win at Lumen Field.
· Sounders FC have won three of the last five meetings between the teams, over the last two seasons, their first in the series in league play. LAFC won the first three, before the teams played to a 1-1 draw April 28, 2019.
· The teams also met last season for a second consecutive year in the MLS Cup Playoffs, Nicolás Lodeiro, Raúl Ruidíaz and Jordan Morris all scoring as Sounders FC took a 3-1 win in the Western Conference Round One. Sounders FC also took a 3-1 win at Banc of California Stadium in the Western Conference Final in 2019, behind a pair of goals from Ruidíaz.
· The teams also met in the round-of-16 in the MLS is Back Tournament, and Los Angeles Football Club gained a measure of redemption with a 4-1 win, as Diego Rossi netted a pair of goals and Brian Rodríguez added a goal and an assist.
LAFC: Cristian Arango scored the second direct free kick goal for LAFC this season (also: Eduard Atuesta, April 24 vs. Seattle).
SOUNDERS FC: João Paulo recorded his 11th assist of the season, now tied for fourth in the MLS assist standings. … Cristian Roldan collected his sixth assist of the year; he has four goals and four assists over his last six games (since Sept. 26).
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #419)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
7 p.m. ET (WSBK TV38 / MyRITV; Altitude)
REFEREE: Victor Rivas. AR1 (bench): Kyle Atkins; AR2 (opposite): Ian McKay; 4th: Malik Badawi; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 36 games; FC/gm: 23.4; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 6; pens: 15
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 17 wins (2 shootout), 63 goals … Rapids 20 wins (1 shootout), 69 goals … Ties 9
AT NEW ENGLAND: Revolution 12 wins (2 shootout), 42 goals … Rapids 6 wins (0 shootout), 29 goals … Ties 5
· After securing the Supporters’ Shield the day before, the Revolution came back for a 2-2 draw with Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Sunday evening, extending their undefeated streak to nine games. Adam Buksa came off the substitutes’ bench to score the two Revs goals over the final nine-plus minutes, now with 16 goals for the season, tied for second in the MLS Golden Boot race.
· The Rapids clinched their berth in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-0 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Dominique Badji scored his third goal of the season, and Diego Rubio added his fifth.
· The teams last met in the 2019 season, the Revolution taking a 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in the annual July 4 extravaganza, their second consecutive win in the series, and fifth in the last six meetings (dating back to 2014).
· The Revolution won the last meeting at Gillette Stadium, a 2-1 win on March 10, 2018. The Revolution have won four of the five home meetings since, with one draw; the Rapids last won in Foxborough in 2010.
REVOLUTION: Carles Gil recorded his 18th assist of the season, leading the MLS assist standings by three (ahead of Djordje Mihailovic, MTL). Just nine players have had more assists in a single MLS season. … Gustavo Bou collected his ninth assist of the season; he has five assists over the last six games (when he also has three goals). … DeJuan Jones gained his fifth assist of the season; he has a goal and an assist over his last four games.
RAPIDS: Braian Galván recorded assists on both Rapids goals, the first multiple-assist game of his MLS career, now with four assists over 32 career league appearances in two seasons. … Diego Rubio collected his fifth assist of the season, the seventh tie in his MLS career he’s had at least one goal and one assist in the same game. … William Yarbrough was credited with four saves in recording his 12th shutout of the season, now in second place in the MLS shutout standings.
NEW YORK CITY FC vs. CHICAGO FIRE FC
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #420)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
7:30 p.m. ET (YES; WGN-TV)
REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Brian Dunn; 4th: Chris Penso; VAR: Robert Sibiga; AVAR: Gjovalin Bori
MLS Career: 120 games; FC/gm: 24.8; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 23; pens: 38
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 7 wins, 26 goals … Fire 3 wins, 19 goals … Ties 5
AT NYCFC: NYCFC 5 wins, 14 goals … Fire 0 wins, 5 goals … Ties 2
· New York City FC claimed an historic victory, scoring the most goals in a game in the club’s seven-year history in a 6-0 win against D.C. United at Yankee Stadium.
· Thiago Andrade sent NYCFC on their way after just 36 seconds – the second-quickest goal from the start of a game in club history, then Valentin Castellanos netted a brace over a 5-minute span, now with 15 goals for the season, tied for fifth place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
· The Fire won their second game on the trot, defeating Real Salt Lake by the game’s only goal before a crowd of 31,308, the third-largest crowd in the club’s history (and largest since 1998). Robert Beric netted the goal, his eighth of the season and his fifth over the last five games.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Robert Beric scored a goal and set up another as the Fire took a 2-0 win at Soldier Field on Sept. 29; the teams also reached a goalless draw Aug. 4 at Soldier Field.
· The Fire have won three times in the all-time series in 15 meetings, the win in the last meeting their first in the series since 2018, which ended a six-game NYCFC undefeated streak in the series. It was the Fire’s first win since a 1-0 victory on April 24, 2015 in Bridgeview in the first-ever encounter between the teams.
· The Fire have never won at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC have won the past five meetings as the home team, including last year’s win at Red Bull Arena, their first home wins in the series after the first two meetings ended in draws.
NYCFC: Jesús Medina scored his ninth goal of the season, his first since Sept. 14. … Malte Amundsen recorded a pair of assists, his first since getting his first MLS assist (and his only league goal) July 25 vs. Orlando City. … Tayvon Gray and Santiago Rodríguez each recorded the first assists of their MLS careers. … Alexander Callens scored his first goal of the season, the sixth of his MLS career (in his fifth season). … Sean Johnson was credited with three saves in recording his eighth shutout of the season and 75th of his MLS career, now tied for eighth-most in league history. Next ahead: Zach Thornton (76).
FIRE: Miguel Ángel Navarro recorded his second assist of the season, his first coming July 3. … Mauricio Pineda collected his first assist of the season, the third of his MLS career.
TORONTO FC vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #421)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.
7:30 p.m. ET (TSN; PHL17)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Gianni Facchini; AR2 (opposite): Lyes Arfa; 4th: David Barrie; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 181 games; FC/gm: 27.5; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 25; pens: 42
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 11 wins, 36 goals … Union 9 wins, 38 goals … Ties 6
AT BMO FIELD: Toronto FC 7 wins, 22 goals … Union 3 wins, 17 goals … Ties 3
· Toronto FC put an end to a two-game losing slide, reaching a 1-1 draw with CF Montréal at BMO Field on Saturday evening. Jozy Altidore scored the TFC goal directly from a free kick five minutes deep into second-half stoppage time.
· The Union put an end to a brief two-game winless skid, defeating Nashville SC by the game’s only goal at Subaru Park on Saturday evening. Kacper Przybylko converted a penalty kick for the tally, his 11th goal of the season.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Daniel Gázdag set up one goal then scored his first in MLS, pacing the Union to a 3-0 win at Subaru Park on Aug. 4.
· The teams met twice a season ago, each winning their home matches. Ayo Akinola and Alejandro Pozuelo scored second-half goals to overcome an early Sergio Santos strike as TFC took a 2-1 win at Rentschler Field on Oct. 3, then on Oct. 24 at Subaru Park, Sergio Santos netted a hat trick as the Union cruised to a 5-0 victory.
· The Union’s 2-1 win May 11, 2019 at BMO Field, which ended a five-year long TFC undefeated streak in the league series, also snapping a four-game Toronto FC winning streak. The last Union victory vs. Toronto FC had come on Sept. 6, 2014, a 2-0 win at BMO Field. TFC won eight of the 10 matches in between, with two draws.
TFC: The direct free kick goal by Jozy Altidore was the third of his MLS career and first since 2019 (which also came vs. Montréal).
UNION: Andre Blake was credited with one save in recording his 11th shutout of the season, now tied for third place in MLS, two behind leader Joe Willis (NSH).
D.C. UNITED vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #425)
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
7:30 p.m. ET (NBCS-Wash / TeleXitos; MSG)
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Peter Balciunas; 4th: Joshua Encarnacion; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 57 games; FC/gm: 22.4; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 11; pens: 12
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 36 wins (1 shootout), 139 goals … Red Bulls 31 wins (1 shootout), 120 goals … Ties 16
AT D.C.: D.C. United 22 wins (1 shootout), 82 goals … Red Bulls 14 wins (1 shootout), 65 goals … Ties 7
· D.C. United saw a club record set in their 26th season, falling 6-0 to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday evening.
· The Red Bulls won their fourth game on the trot and extended their undefeated streak to eight games overall, getting a late goal for a 2-1 win against the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field on Saturday evening. Sean Nealis scored the game-winner in the 87th minute, his first MLS goal since 2019, after Cristian Casseres Jr. scored his sixth goal of the season, his second in as many games.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Ola Kamara scored the game’s only goal in the 27th minute for a D.C. United win July 25 at Audi Field, then on Sept. 11, Dru Yearwood gave the Red Bulls an early lead, but Kamara converted a penalty kick just before halftime to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena.
· United have won two of the last four games in the series, which came after a 10-game Red Bulls undefeated streak in the series, United’s last previous win coming on May 13, 2016 at RFK Stadium.
· United have come away with results from the last two matches at Red Bull Arena, the previous a 1-0 win last Sept. 2 with the goal by Erik Sorga the latest in MLS history the game’s only goal was scored, ending a 10-game Red Bulls undefeated streak in regular season matches at Red Bull Arena, their first win in Harrison since 2011. The Red Bulls have won three of the five meetings all-time at Audi Field.
· The teams have met 99 times in all competitions over the years – the most of any two clubs in MLS history. New York has won 36 and United have won 45, including a 7-4-2 record in the postseason. They play for the Atlantic Cup, awarded to the winner of the season series by supporters’ groups from both clubs.
UNITED: D.C. United return to Audi Field where they have 10 wins this season, one of three teams in double figures in home wins in 2021 (NE, 11; PHI, 10). Two of United’s final three games are at home.
RED BULLS: Cristian Casseres Jr. also added an assist, his third of the season, the first time in his MLS career he had a goal and an assist in the same game. Casseres has a goal and/or an assist now in four games in a row, with two goals and three assists in that span. … Tom Edwards gained his second assist of the season, his first coming Sept. 17.
ATLANTA UNITED vs. INTER MIAMI CF
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #422)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
7:30 p.m. ET (Bally Sports South/SE; MyTV33 / UniMás 69)
REFEREE: Guido Gonzales Jr. AR1 (bench): Nick Uranga; AR2 (opposite): C.J. Morgante; 4th: Marcos de Oliveira; VAR: Younes Marrakchi; AVAR: Chantal Boudreau
MLS Career: 33 games; FC/gm: 26.0; Y/gm: 4.2; R: 9; pens: 10
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 1 win, 5 goals … Inter Miami 2 wins, 6 goals … Ties 3
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 1 win, 2 goals … Inter Miami 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 1
· Atlanta United return to action after a weekend off, reaching a 1-1 result with New York City FC in their last match on Oct. 20. Marcelino Moreno scored his ninth goal of the season for the ATLUTD goal, a second consecutive game with a goal.
· Inter Miami CF won a second consecutive game in historic fashion, hitting for a club record in a 5-1 win against FC Cincinnati at DRV PNK Stadium.
· Gonzalo Higuaín scored his 11th goal of the season and added three assists, now with nine for the year; he assisted brother Federico for his third goal of the season, as the brothers scored in the same time for the second time (third time in MLS history).
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Josef Martínez gave ATLUTD an early lead, but Lewis Morgan scored a late equalizer, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw May 9 at DRV PNK Stadium, then on Sept. 29, Martínez converted a 78th-minute penalty kick for the game’s only goal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
· The teams met four times in Inter Miami’s inaugural season, and Inter Miami were undefeated over the series, winning twice. Lewis Morgan scored both goals for Inter Miami, leading the club to a 2-1 win on Sept. 9 in Fort Lauderdale, then Juan Agudelo and Brek Shea scored in the opening 11 minutes as IMCF took the 2-1 win Sept. 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The teams reached a 1-1 draw Oct. 14 in south Florida, and played to a goalless draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 2.
ATLUTD: Luiz Araujo collected his third assist of the season; he has his two goals and three assists since coming to MLS over the last seven matches.
IMCF: Gonzalo Higuaín became the first player to be involved in four goals in a game in the 2021 season (one shy of the MLS record). … Rodolfo Pizarro collected three assists, the first multiple-assist game of his MLS career. … Federico Higuaín also gained his fourth assist of the season, the 14th time in his MLS career he had at least a goal and an assist in the same game. … Gregore recorded his fourth assist of the season, first since July 31. … Kelvin Leerdam recorded his first assist since coming to Inter Miami during the offseason.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #423)
Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
7:30 p.m. ET (Bally Sports GL; FOX35 PLUS / LionNation TV)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Andrew Bigelow; AR2 (opposite): Diego Blas; 4th: Matthew Thompson; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 64 games; FC/gm: 27.3; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 12; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Crew 5 wins, 24 goals … Orlando City 6 wins, 23 goals … Ties 3
AT COLUMBUS: Crew 3 wins, 10 goals … Orlando City 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 1
· The Crew had their four-game winning streak at Lower.com Field put to an end, falling 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday evening. Miguel Berry scored his sixth goal in 15 appearances this season for the Crew tally.
· Orlando City SC extended their undefeated run to five games with a second consecutive draw, playing to a 2-2 tie with the New England Revolution at Exploria Stadium on Sunday evening. Nani scored his 10th goal of the season and Daryl Dike contributed his seventh of the year, his fourth in the last six games.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. OCSC took a two-goal lead, then the Crew scored twice in three minutes to level the match, but Junior Urso scored the game-winner in the 69th minute for the Orlando City 3-2 win Sept. 4 at Exploria Stadium.
· Orlando City have won the last five meetings in the series, snapping a six-game Crew SC undefeated streak in the series, which included four wins. The last OCSC victory in the series had come Aug. 1, 2015.
· The OCSC win in the first meeting in 2019 was their first ever in Columbus, on their fifth visit. OCSC has won the last four matchups in Orlando, their first home wins in the series since the club’s inaugural MLS season of 2015.
CREW: Steven Moreira collected his first career in MLS and for the Crew, in his fourth appearance. … Lucas Zelarayán recorded his fifth assist of the season, his last coming Sept. 4.
OCSC: João Moutinho and Júnior Urso each collected their first assists of the season.
FC CINCINNATI vs. NASHVILLE SC
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #424)
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
7:30 p.m. ET (WSTR – Star 64; MyTV30)
REFEREE: Ramy Touchan. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Corey Rockwell; 4th: Timothy Ford; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Cory Richardson
MLS Career: 51 games; FC/gm: 25.8; Y/gm: 4.5; R: 9; pens: 8
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FCC 0 wins, 2 goals … Nashville SC 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 1
AT CINCINNATI: First meeting.
· FC Cincinnati saw their losing streak extended, falling 5-1 to Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday evening. Brandon Vazquez scored the FCC goal, his third of the season, all over the last seven games.
· Nashville SC had a six-game undefeated run come to an end, falling by the game’s only goal to the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Saturday evening.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season and in their histories. CJ Sapong scored a pair of goals and set up the third as Nashville SC took a 3-0 win at Nissan Stadium on July 24; Luciano Acosta and Brenner gave FCC a two-goal lead after 12 minutes, but Jhonder Cadíz and Randall Leal scored for Nashville SC, leaving the teams in a 2-2 draw April 17 at Nissan Stadium.
FCC: Zico Bailey recorded his second assist of the season, both coming in the last two games. … Haris Medunjanin collected his second assist of the season, his first coming Sept. 11.
NASHVILLE SC: The defeat was just the fourth of the season for Nashville SC, tied for the fewest in 2021 (with New England Revolution) and for the fewest over the course of a season in league history (with three games remaining).
FC DALLAS vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #426)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
7 p.m. CT (FCDTV / Estrella KMPX-29; KMYU-12)
REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Kieso; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Chris Ruska; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
MLS Career: 176 games; FC/gm: 25.9; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 48; pens: 54
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 20 wins, 64 goals … Real 13 wins, 51 goals … Ties 10
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 13 wins, 36 goals … Real 1 wins, 15 goals … Ties 5
· FC Dallas gained a second result in three matches, reaching a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday evening. Franco Jara scored his sixth goal of the season, his second in as many games, after Jesús Ferreira scored his seventh goal of the season.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Albert Rusnák assisted on the opener then scored the late winner, giving RSL a 3-2 win Sept. 4 at Rio Tinto Stadium. On May 22 at Toyota Stadium, the teams traded late goals, Ryan Hollingshead scoring for FCD in the 83rd minute then Damir Kreilach in the 86th, before reaching a 2-2 draw.
· The teams have played to draws the last three meetings at Toyota Stadium. RSL is 1-13-5 at FC Dallas all-time in league games between the clubs, FCD undefeated in the last six meetings there. FC Dallas has also won a home game in the MLS Cup Playoffs (in 2010) and a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal (in 2011). The lone RSL win in Frisco came on July 13, 2013, a 3-0 victory. FC Dallas have won three of the last seven meetings in Sandy, with two draws, dating back to 2015.
FCD: Franco Jara also collected the second assist of his MLS career, the first since May 1, the first time he’s had a goal and an assist in the same game. … Edwin Cerrillo collected the second assist of his MLS career in three seasons, his first coming April 20, 2019.
REAL: Bobby Wood made his first appearance since Aug. 18, coming on as a substitute for the final five minutes.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. LA GALAXY
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #427)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
7:30 p.m. CT (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Matthew Nelson; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Jon Freemon; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 151 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 19; pens: 56
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sporting 24 wins (2 shootout), 80 goals … Galaxy 26 wins (0 shootout), 99 goals … Ties 15
AT KC: Sporting 16 wins (1 shootout), 46 goals … Galaxy 9 wins (0 shootout), 43 goals … Ties 8
· Sporting Kansas City clinched a berth in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs with a fifth win in the last seven games, defeating Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on Saturday afternoon. Johnny Russell scored his 12th goal of the season for the game-winner, a seventh consecutive game with a goal, now tied for the fifth-longest streak in MLS history.
· The Galaxy extended their undefeated run to four games with a second draw in that time, reaching a 2-2 result with FC Dallas at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday evening. Javier Hernández scored his 14th goal of the season, his third in the last five games, tied for seventh place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
· The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Johnny Russell and Khiry Shelton netted goals in the final 10-plus minutes, giving Sporting the 2-0 win at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 4.
· The teams had last met in the 2019 season. In the last meeting, the Galaxy equaled the second-most goals scored in a single game, with a 7-2 win on Sept. 15 at Dignity Health Sports Park. It marked the first time in MLS history a team conceded the opening goal, then went on to score seven goals in a game, after Sporting KC took the lead after 24 minutes. The Galaxy also took a 2-0 win on May 29 at Children’s Mercy Park.
· The Galaxy win in the first meeting in 2019 snapped an eight-game undefeated streak for Sporting KC in the series, their first win vs. SKC since April 18, 2015, a 2-1 victory in Carson, Calif.
· The win was also the first for the Galaxy in Kansas City since 2007; Sporting won five of the 11 home games in between, with six draws. The win in the last meeting ended a two-game winning streak for Sporting in Carson, and a three-game undefeated run.
SPORTING: Roger Espinoza collected his second assist of the season, both coming in the last six games. … Luis Martins recorded his third assist of the season, his second in the last four games, a single-season high in his two MLS campaigns.
GALAXY: Samuel Grandsir recorded his fifth assist of the season, his first since recording assists in three consecutive games July 7-21.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #428)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
7 p.m. PT (KPDX; NBCS-CA)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 14 wins, 46 goals … Earthquakes 5 wins, 29 goals … Ties 9
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 10 wins, 27 goals … Earthquakes 0 wins, 10 goals … Ties 4
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Ryan Graves; AR2 (opposite): Jeffrey Swartzel; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 57 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 6; pens: 17
· The Timbers saw their stretch of defeats extended, falling 2-0 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.
· The Quakes reached a second consecutive result, playing to a 1-1 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at PayPal Park on Saturday evening. Benji Kikanovic scored his fourth goal of the season, his second in as many games and third in the last six.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Yimmi Chará scored early and Marvín Loría scored late, as the Timbers took a 2-0 win at PayPal Park on May 15, then on Aug. 4, San Jose’s Eduardo López and Portland’s Felipe Mora traded first-half goals as the teams played to a 1-1 draw at Providence Park.
· The Timbers are now undefeated in their last three trips to San Jose, with two wins and a draw, outscoring the Quakes 9-2 over that span.
· The Timbers have never lost to the Quakes at home in their MLS history. The Timbers have won 10 of 14 meetings between the teams in Portland (with four draws), the result in the last meeting ending a seven-game home winning streak for the Timbers in the series.
TIMBERS: The Timbers had their run of 20 consecutive games with a goal scored put to an end, the longest scoring streak in MLS this season.
QUAKES: Cristian Espinoza collected his eighth assist of the season, his second in as many games. … Eric Remedi gained his first assist of the season; he has one assist in each of his four MLS campaigns.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021 (Week 33, MLS Game #429)
BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.
7 p.m. PT (TSN; Bally Sports North)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 13 goals … MNUFC 3 wins, 11 goals … Ties 3
VANCOUVER HOME GAME: Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 11 goals … MNUFC 1 win, 7 goals … Ties 1
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Jeff Hosking; 4th: Alain Ruch; VAR: Drew Fischer; AVAR: Rene Parra
MLS Career: 83 games; FC/gm: 26.3; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 9; pens: 25
· Whitecaps FC made it three games without loss, reaching a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park on Saturday evening. Bruno Gaspar scored the Vancouver goal, the first of his MLS career in his 14th appearance.
· Minnesota United FC stretched their undefeated run to three games, playing to a 1-1 result with Los Angeles Football Club at Allianz Field on Saturday evening. Osvaldo Alonso scored the MNUFC goal, his third for the club.
· The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Ramón Abila scored the game’s only goal in the 72nd minute, leading MNUFC to the victory May 12 at Allianz Field, then on July 31, Cristian Dajomé scored a pair of goals, including a penalty-kick equalizer deep in stoppage time, to leave the teams in a 2-2 draw at BC Place.
· Minnesota United is undefeated in four home meetings in the series, winning two with two draws. The Whitecaps won the first two meetings at BC Place, before MNUFC took a 3-2 win there in their previous trip to Vancouver, the season opener for both teams on March 2, 2019.
WHITECAPS FC: The draw was the eighth for Whitecaps FC (along with a pair of victories) over the last 11 away matches, dating back to June 26.
MNUFC: Osvaldo Alonso scored his first goal in an MLS league match since Sept. 25, 2019, his first season in Minnesota.
