Top Things to Watch in MLS this Week
Rivalry Over Everything for MLS Heineken® Rivalry Week
Heineken® Rivalry Week will highlight the biggest stars and fiercest matchups from Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 17.
With the top rivalries played out across 10 days, Heineken® Rivalry Week opens with a Friday night with a doubleheader on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as the Philadelphia Union host D.C. United (7:30 p.m. ET), followed by El Tráfico, as the LA Galaxy take the short trip north on the 110 Freeway to face Los Angeles FC (10 p.m. ET) with the debuts of international icons Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini.Â
Cascadia captures the FOX and FOX Deportes spotlight as the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League victors Seattle Sounders FC host the Portland Timbers (July 9, 4:30 p.m. ET), followed by a full complement of rivalry favorites available nationally on ESPN+.
Heineken® Rivalry Week action culminates on July 17, as the New York Red Bulls welcome New York City FC to Red Bull Arena (5 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes).
It’s rivalry over everything. More information on Heineken® Rivalry Week is available here.
El Tráfico Welcomes New Star-Studded Cast in Crosstown Showdown
Global superstars will collide this week in what could be the most action-packed El Tráfico match since the rivalry began between the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Football Club in 2018. Now approaching their 16th all-time meeting, the LA Galaxy with Javier “Chicharito” Hernández are already touting two wins this season over their in-city rivals across all competitions. However, the Galaxy will travel to face a supercharged LAFC with Carlos Vela on the brink of a rivalry milestone and added reinforcements, as newly acquired international icons Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini make their first MLS appearances during high-pressure MLS Heineken® Rivalry Week action this Friday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes).
Star power and first impressions have always defined this rivalry, which saw the LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimović and LAFC’s Carlos Vela go toe-to-toe and goal-for-goal to inaugurate the series on March 31, 2018. During the match, Ibrahimović’s first-ever MLS touch for the LA Galaxy netted a 45-yard half-volley equalizer, followed by his game-winning goal that overtook Vela’s early brace in an instant-classic first meeting. Fast forward to now, and Vela is only one score away from surpassing Ibrahimović for most goals by an individual player in this rivalry series, as the pressure is on for LAFC’s Bale and Chiellini to make their own marks on rivalry history.
For the Galaxy, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and Dejan Joveljić will look to repeat some recent magic against their crosstown rivals after both scored in a 3-1 victory over LAFC in U.S. Open Cup action on May 25.
While the Galaxy have a 6-2-5 advantage over their rivals in MLS play, Saturday’s Heineken® Rivalry Week meeting will usher in the next era of superstars looking to write their way into El Tráfico history.
Timbers Look to Extend Unbeaten Run Against Rivals Seattle
The intensity is climbing in the Pacific Northwest for a Heineken® Rivalry Week clash of Cascadia foes, as the Portland Timbers prepare to face Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX Deportes) in the longest running rivalry in American soccer history.
The Timbers approach this match with an opportunity to extend their unbeaten run in Seattle to six games since 2017, boasting offensive production that has found another gear thanks to Jarosław Niezgoda’s three goals in his last three games and 22-year-old Santiago Moreno also scoring a brace during that stretch. The Timbers have found the back of the net in each of their last five games, including goals from six different players, as they prepare for their trip to Seattle this weekend.
Meanwhile, Seattle forward Fredy Montero has been a thorn in the Timbers’ side, with nine goals in 15 regular season appearances against Portland, and he comes into this Heineken® Rivalry Week matchup having scored in Seattle’s 2-0 win over Toronto last week. Seattle’s strength in depth has also been on full display over their last five games, with midfielder Dylan Tevez scoring his first career MLs goal in first career start against Toronto while star players in midfielder Cristian Roldan, forward Jordan Morris, and midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro have scored or assisted eight of Seattle’s last 13 goals.
With bragging rights on the line, the Portland Timbers will be looking to claim a statement win over their biggest rivals, as the reigning CCL champions Seattle Sounders FC aim to maintain their dominance.
Fortified Union Defense Looks to Quiet Free-Scoring D.C. United
When the first match of Heineken® Rivalry Week kicks off this week, an Eastern Conference affair will pit the Philadelphia Union’s league-best defense against a D.C. United side with no shortage of goal-hungry finishers on Friday night (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes).
The Union have the league’s stingiest back line so far in 2022, with center back duo Jakob Glesnes and Jack Elliott each starting all 18 games in front of Andre Blake. The pairing of Elliott, the Union’s fourth round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, and Glesnes, a part-time mailman in 2016 and 2017, brings together as an unlikely defensive unit that has helped Philadelphia keep seven clean sheets.
D.C. United will pose a difficult test with three players currently sitting on at least four goals this season, including forward Taxiarchis “Taxi” Fountas, who recorded his first career MLS hat trick last week and whose 12 goals plus assists (nine goals, three assists) are tied for the most in league history by a player in his first 10 career games. In his company are forwards Ola Kamara, with six goals to his name as well, and Michael Estrada with four goals and four assists in his eight starts.
It's the ultimate Heineken® Rivalry Week test of offense against defense this weekend, and the pressure is on to win over everything.
Superstar Signings Debut when Secondary Transfer Window Opens
The secondary transfer window opens this week from July 7 through August 4, which means MLS will see a flurry of recently announced international signings suit up for action this weekend.
Juan “Cucho” Hernández Brings Youth to Crew Attack
The Columbus Crew have tabbed 23-year-old Colombian international Juan Camilo “Cucho” Hernández– a young, dynamic attacker in his prime – to lead their front line. Hernández has the international pedigree to make an immediate difference after spending time in the English Premier League with Watford and in La Liga with Getafe CF, RCD Mallorca and SD Huesca. Since moving to Europe in 2017, the Colombian scored 32 goals and added 16 assists in all competitions. His fluidity and movement off the ball make for an ideal fit with a team hungry for goals. With midfielder Lucas Zelarayán pulling the strings, the opportunity for Hernández to pour in the goals will be on full display this weekend against Chicago Fire FC (8 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
League Leading LAFC Welcome Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini
With an 11-4-3 record, the Supporters’ Shield leading LAFC now add five-time UEFA Champions League winner Gareth Bale and nine-time Serie A winner Giorgio Chiellini to their squad. Bale will make up the final piece of a three-headed attack with in-form forwards Carlos Vela (six goals, six assists) and Cristian Arango (four goals in his last five games). Bale will add a different dimension to the attack with his height, power, and ability to play all three positions up top, while defensively, Chiellini is the ideal central defender to provide veteran leadership next to 19-year-old defender Mamadou Fall, who has played in over 1,100 minutes this season. The new defensive duo and three-headed attack aim to get off on the front foot in a Heineken® Rivalry Week-edition of El Tráfico on Friday evening (10 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes).
Toronto FC Look to Lorenzo Insigne
North of the border, Toronto FC adds one of the most electrifying signings in MLS history – former Napoli club legend and Italy National Team captain Lorenzo Insigne – who could be the spark to catalyze Toronto’s attack. The former Napoli captain played in more than 400 games for the Naples side, posting 121 goals and 95 assists across all competitions. Primarily playing as a left winger, Insigne is known for causing chaos among defenders when cutting inside onto his famed right foot. His arrival could not have come at a better time for the club, as it looks to make a second-half push for the postseason. Insigne will join first-year forward JesĂşs JimĂ©nez (eight goals, three assists) and 2020 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo(four goals, five assists). The Italian international’s nickname “Il Magnifico” will lead Toronto’s new attack on Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).Â
Houston Hones In on Hector Herrera
There may not be a more perfect fit for an incoming transfer in MLS than Mexican National Team captain Héctor Herrera to Houston Dynamo FC. Herrera has already endeared himself to the Houston faithful and will help provide stability, creativity and power to a Dynamo midfield that has struggled to find its identity. Nicknamed “El Zorro”, Herrera has played in over 300 games with Atletico Madrid (La Liga) and FC Porto (Primeira League). What Herrera provides on the field goes far past just goals and assists – he completed at least 85.0% of his passes in all three of his seasons with Atletico and averaged more than 25 tackles a year. His scrappiness and tenacity are the ideal characteristics to combat some of Houston’s recent struggles. El Zorro’s midfield dynamism and raucous home support take center stage in his first-ever Texas Derby against FC Dallas on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+) before another in-state rival meeting against Austin FC on Tuesday, July 12 (9 p.m. ET, UniMás/TUDN/Twitter with English audio).
Columbus Crew’s Jacen Russell-Rowe Turns MLS NEXT Pro Success into MLS Contract
Nineteen-year-old forward Jacen Russell-Rowe rode a blazing hot scoring streak in MLS NEXT Pro into an MLS contract.Â
Signed by Columbus Crew 2 on March 18, Russell-Rowe came off the bench in the first two matches of the season and worked his way into starting the next nine. He scored in all nine matches, including recently posting two goal efforts in back-to-back games. Russell-Rowe has three game-winning goals and two game-winning assists in MLS NEXT Pro, and his 11 goals lead the league.Â
His dominant performance in MLS NEXT Pro impressed the Crew organization so much that on June 29, Columbus made Russell-Rowe the first Crew 2 player to sign a contract with the First Team.Â
“Jacen has impressed us with his performances for Crew 2 in MLS NEXT Pro and we believe he will continue to develop as a player,” said Columbus Crew President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “This signing showcases the benefits of having a second team and is a testament to the success that Crew 2, and Jacen, are having this year.”
Russell-Rowe wasted no time in making his presence felt with the first team. After signing earlier in the day on Wednesday, he started that night’s match in Toronto and assisted on both of his club’s goals. The pair of goals came within the first 30 minutes of the match, resulting in a 2-1 win. With his performance, Russell-Rowe became the fifth player in MLS history with two assists in the first half of his first career MLS start, joining David Beckham, Davide Chiumiento, Paul Keegan, and Rubio Rubin.
“Having the first Crew 2 player sign for the first team is a milestone moment for our club and over time we hope that Jacen is the first of many Crew 2 players to join the first team,” said Columbus Crew Assistant General Manager & Crew 2 General Manager Corey Wray. “Across our entire player pathway, we want to create a structure that prepares players for each level of growth in their soccer careers. We are proud that Crew 2 can provide additional opportunities for young players as our goal continues to be developing high potential players that can thrive, grow and target reaching the first team.”
Russell-Rowe became the eighth MLS NEXT Pro player to sign an MLS contract this season and Columbus the seventh club to sign a player from its second team.
MLS-Made U.S U-20s Qualify for 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup and 2024 Olympic Games
The U-20 U.S. Men’s Youth National Team had a banner week, as MLS continues to power North American national teams at all levels. The USMYNT won a third-straight Concacaf U-20 Championship title to qualify for both the 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which will see the U.S. return to Olympic competition for the first time since Beijing 2008.
Led by breakout performances from Philadelphia Union academy product Paxten Aaronson, the USYMNT U-20 roster was filled with names that will soon become household to Major League Soccer fans, as the national team stars of tomorrow are largely MLS-made. Sixteen of the 20 players on the U20 Championship roster are products of or are currently in the MLS academy system, and 11 of those 20 have appeared in MLS matches, headlined by Aaronson, Inter Miami CF’s Noah Allen, New York Red Bulls’ Caden Clark, and San Jose Earthquakes’ Cade Cowell, among others. Additionally, eight of the 20 players have appeared in MLS NEXT Pro matches this season, further displaying the impact and importance of the MLS development system in grooming the next generation of stars.
Aaronson completed his incredible tournament with his second brace in three matches, and the 18-year-old earned the championship’s Golden Boot award with seven goals across the competition. Other goalscorers in the title match included Allen, Atlanta United forward Tyler Wolff, Philadelphia midfielder Jack McGlynn, and San Jose’s Niko Tsakiris.Â
With two marquee international tournaments now on the schedule for 2023 and 2024, the future of United States soccer has never looked brighter.
Four MLS Academies Complete Clean Sweep at 2021-22 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs
Four champions were crowned in the 2021-22 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs on Saturday and Sunday night, culminating a 10-month long regular season and week-long MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase event in the Dallas metroplex. The second-ever MLS NEXT Cup champions all came from MLS academy programs: U15 Inter Miami CF, U16 D.C. United, U17 Philadelphia Union, and U19 New England Revolution. All four championship matches were played at Toyota Stadium, home to MLS club FC Dallas.
The MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs is a single-elimination competition featuring the top 32 teams in each of four age groups - U15, U16, U17, and U19. Teams qualified for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs based on their play in the regular season or by winning their respective group at the inaugural MLS NEXT Flex, which took place in May. The event capped off a successful season that included over 7,000 matches played across all age divisions.
Below is a breakdown of each championship match, as well as the standouts from each of the four competing age divisions.
U15 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami CF thwarted Real Salt Lake’s defense of the U15 title, winning 2-1 in the U15 title game and taking home the MLS NEXT Cup crown. Miami got off to a fast start, scoring in the 13th minute off the head of Victor Fun following a cross by Santiago Morales – son of RSL legend Javier Morales. Morales extended the club’s lead to 2-0, finishing on a strong one-timer from outside the box in the 26th minute. Real Salt Lake closed the gap to one on a penalty kick from Zavier Gozo, his fifth goal of the tournament, but the club was unable to close the gap any further. Morales earned tournament MVP honors for the U15 division.
Download full match highlights HERE
U15 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
- Top Scorer: Zavier Gozo, Real Salt Lake
- Best Goalkeeper presented by Allstate: Will Mackay, Real Salt Lake
- MVP: Santiago Morales, Inter Miami CF
U16 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: D.C. United
D.C. United secured the first trophy of the weekend, defeating Strikers FC of California 1-0 in the first of four championship matches. D.C. United’s Sydney Aggrey recorded his fourth goal of the tournament in the game’s sixth minute of play, as he knocked the ball loose from an opposing player before taking a touch on the edge of the box and firing a low shot past the Strikers FC goalkeeper, Dylan Kaye. Kaye’s sensational play in goal kept his club within one score; however, they could not capitalize as D.C. held onto the 1-0 advantage for the duration of the match. Marcus Lee of Strikers FC was named the tournament MVP in the U16 division.
Download full match highlights HERE.
U16 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
- Top Scorer: Sydney Aggrey, D.C. United, Ignacio Alem, D.C. United, Roka Tsunehara, De Anza Force, Daniel Baran, Sockers FC
- Best Goalkeeper presented by Allstate: Luke Peacock, D.C. United
- MVP: Marcus Lee, Strikers FC
U17 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: Philadelphia Union
In the highest scoring of the four championship matches, Philadelphia erased a 2-0 second-half deficit behind a brace from Marcos Zambrano-Delgado to defeat the Columbus Crew U17s in the exciting U17 finale. Columbus opened the scoring in first-half added time as Taha Habroune was taken down in the box and converted the penalty kick to give his club a 1-0 halftime advantage. The Crew extended their lead just 35 seconds into the second half, as Joshua Bartels received a perfectly placed pass from Owen Presthus and finished with his head to give his team a 2-0 lead.
However, the high-scoring Union attack quickly bounced back. In the 54th minute, Zambrano-Delgado glanced a header inside the back post off a corner to cut the deficit to one. The equalizer came off the head of David Vazquez in the 67th minute following a cross from Luciano Sanchez, before Zambrano-Delgado scored the club’s third and deciding goal in the 73rd minute, driving a low shot from the edge of the box for the game-winning score. Zambrano-Delgado scored seven goals in the tournament, earning him the age group’s Top Scorer award for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs.
Download full match highlights HERE.
U17 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
- Top Scorer: Marcos Zambrano-Delgado, Philadelphia Union
- Best Goalkeeper presented by Allstate: Stas Lapkes, Columbus Crew
- MVP: Giorgio De Libera, Columbus Crew
U19 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: New England Revolution
The New England Revolution U19 squad received an early goal off the foot of Jack Panayotou in the sixth minute and held off the San Francisco Glens attack throughout the match to earn a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the U19 title match. Panayotou was on the receiving end of an early ball from teammate Triton Beauvois, who found his teammate streaking through the box to give the club a 1-0 advantage. Kevin Rodriguez Andrade, the Top Scorer in the U19 age division, attempted the immediate response on behalf of the Glens with a stinging shot from the edge of the area that Revolution goalkeeper Max Weinstein could only put out for a corner. San Francisco’s late attack was stifled by Weinstein, whose strong play in goal helped his club to a historic victory.
Download full match highlights HERE.
U19 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
- Top Scorer: Jack Panayotou, New England Revolution
- Best Goalkeeper presented by Allstate: Max Weinstein, New England Revolution
- MVP: Kevin Rodriguez Andrade, San Francisco Glens
