Top Things to Watch in MLS this Week
REMINDER: MLS All-Star Credential Applications Close July 27 Accreditation Process Open for All MLS All-Star Minnesota Festivities
Only eight days remain for media organizations to submit credential applications to cover the 2022 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G, MLS All-Star Concert presented by Target, and additional events throughout the week of 2022 MLS All-Star Minnesota.
The deadline to submit applications is Wednesday, July 27 at 5 p.m. ET.
IMPORTANT MEDIA ACCREDITATION INFORMATION:
- Editors should only complete one application per outlet. Requests for all working media members of an outlet should be contained within a single application.
- MLS all-venue credentials, team credentials, or credentials from previous MLS and LIGA MX events will not be valid.
- For MLS All-Star media accreditation inquiries, contact Comm.Credentials@mlssoccer.com.
- For information regarding MLS All-Star Week, visit www.MLSsoccer.com/All-Star and www.MLSsoccer.com/Media-Resources.
Minnesota’s All-Stars Dazzle as Loons Charge Up the Western Conference Table
With anticipation rising for MLS All-Star in Minnesota, the striking form of the host club is amplifying the excitement. In recent weeks, Minnesota United FC has scorched through opponents on a five-match unbeaten run that has catapulted the Loons from 11th place in the Western Conference on June 28 into fourth place this week, as a pair of MLS All-Star players lead the way.
MLS All-Star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso has six goals and two assists over the course of those four wins and a draw, scoring his third brace of the season against D.C. United on Saturday to earn MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire for the first time in his career.
As Minnesota’s attack hits its stride, the club’s MLS All-Star goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has stifled oppositions all season long. The Canadian international ranks in the top three in MLS in saves (67) this season and could solidify himself as a potential MLS All-Star starter in front of his home fans.
With St. Clair and Reynoso maintaining their momentum, Minnesota could move up to third place in the Western Conference when they travel to face Mexican National Team captain Héctor Herrera and Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live on ESPN+).
Empowered by New Ownership Group, RSL Returns to Winning Ways
The turn of the year marked a new era for Real Salt Lake – one that just keeps getting better. With the January announcement of a new ownership group, featuring David Blitzer and Ryan Smith, came new energy that has translated into both on- and off-the-field success. On the field, the club currently sits in third place in the Western Conference and sixth place in Supporters’ Shield standings, while, off the field, their supporters have shown up and shown out, recording10 consecutive sell-out home crowds at Rio Tinto Stadium this season.
A reinvigorated and community-first ethos has swept over the gameday atmosphere through various initiatives the club has made this year, as an intimidating sea of claret-and-cobalt in the stands has helped RSL turn the RioT into a fortress once again.
Real Salt Lake are one of only two MLS teams that has yet to lose a home game in 2022 (7-0-3), and they are for tied for thesecond most points at home (24) this season. Reaping the rewards is academy product Justen Glad – who is having career season as a 10-year veteran of the club this year – while the return of club icon Jefferson Savarino has bolstered the club’s attack and emphasized their new owners’ commitment to investing in players to strengthen the roster.
RSL will aim for their 11th consecutive sellout at the RioT this Saturday (10 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+) when they host FC Dallas with U.S. Men’s National Team players and MLS All-Stars Jesús Ferreira and Paul Arriola in a clash between two of the top sides in the Western Conference.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Continue Their Summer Surge
Vancouver Whitecaps FC are leaving opponents frozen in their tracks at BC Place this summer, as head coach Vanni Sartini’s men have been nearly untouchable at home this season. Stacking up 22 points since Match Week 9, the Whitecaps are keeping pace with three of the top five teams in the Supporters’ Shield standings – Austin FC, Los Angeles FC, and New York City FC – over a two-and-a-half-month span that includes a shutout victory over LAFC, a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake, and a pair of wins over FC Dallas (2-1, 2-0) at BC Place and in Texas, respectively.
The arrival of Paraguayan international midfielder Andrés Cubas in mid-June has tightened up the Whitecaps’ defensive structure, helping the club to three clean sheets in his first five starts, and he added a spectacular game-winning goal against LAFC earlier this month (WATCH). Since making his first start for Vancouver on June 17, Cubas ranks first in interceptions among MLS midfielders and ties for fifth among all MLS players in interceptions (13).
The Whitecaps will look to continue their home dominance at BC Place on Saturday (10 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+), when they host a Chicago Fire FC side that is riding recent back-to-back shutout wins over Toronto FC (2-0) and the Seattle Sounders FC (1-0).
Austin’s Second-Year Sights on Supporters’ Shield & MLS History
Coming off their first-ever Copa Tejas victory, Austin FC are making a gigantic leap in their second MLS season as they sit only one point behind LAFC in the Supporters’ Shield standings. With Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year candidate Josh Wolff and Landon Donovan MLS MVP front-runner Sebastián Driussi, Austin has sights on making Year 2 a year of historical firsts.
In only their second year of existence, the Verde and Black are on pace to smash Real Salt Lake’s league-record 19-point improvement (excluding 2020 expansion clubs), set from RSL’s inaugural season in 2005 (20 points) to their second season in 2006 (39 points).
Wolff is no stranger to early MLS success after winning MLS Cup as a player in his rookie season with the Chicago Fire in 1998. With Austin, he has navigated multiple lineup absences and orchestrated incredible comebacks as a leading candidate for the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year award.
No one has been more valuable to his team than Austin’s first-ever All-Star Sebastián Driussi, who leads MLS with 17 goal contributions (11 goals, six assists). Acquired almost one year ago on July 29, 2021, the dynamic forward has delivered with a clutch five game-winning or game-tying goals this season and continues to cement his place as a 2022 frontrunner for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award.
With a top-five Supporters’ Shield matchup against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, MLS Live on ESPN+), will Austin and Driussi continue their sensational second year?
Columbus’ Cucho Crashes the Party
Since his MLS introduction on July 9, Juan “Cucho” Hernández has become every part of the game-changer that the Columbus Crew were hoping for when acquiring the talented Colombian. Scoring four goals in his first three appearance, including the game winner in last week’s 2-0 Heineken Rivalry Week victory over FC Cincinnati, the 23-year-old former English Premier League (Watford) and La Liga (Getafe CF, RCD Mallorca, and SD Huesca) star is just getting started.
After scoring three goals off the bench in his first two MLS matches, Cucho earned his first start last week and provided an immediate impact, scoring in the 16th minute and becoming the first player in MLS history to score his first four goals in under 90 minutes of total game action.
Playing alongside midfielder and the March honoree for MLS Player of the Month Lucas Zelarayán, Cucho has helped the Crew, winners of two of their last three, continue a recent run of success. Since May 28, the Crew are undefeated in their last eight matches and look to be rounding into form after the midway point.
Cucho, Zelarayán, and the Crew will look to continue their resurgent run as they welcome the New England Revolution to Lower.com Field on Saturday, July 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Invitational Kicks Off Tonight in Salt Lake City
MLS NEXT Pro’s first-ever international competition begins tonight when Real Monarchs take on Chelsea FC Under-21s to kick off the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Invitational (7:30 p.m. MT, mlsnextpro.com). Over the course of nine days in Salt Lake City, MLS NEXT Pro’s Real Monarchs, Colorado Rapids 2, and Toronto FC II will play Chelsea FC Under-21s and Wolves Under-21s from England’s Premier League 2 (PL2) competition. Matches will take place at both Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, and Real Monarchs’ Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. The league with the most total points accumulated in head-to-head competition will be crowned Invitational Champion.
The complete MLS NEXT Pro Invitational schedule is as follows:
- Tuesday, July 19: Real Monarchs vs Chelsea FC Under-21s (Rio Tinto Stadium, 7:30 p.m. MT)
- Thursday, July 21: Chelsea FC Under-21s vs. Wolves Under-21s (Zions Bank Stadium, 8:15 p.m. MT)
- Saturday, July 23: Real Monarchs vs. Wolves Under-21s (Rio Tinto Stadium, 10:30 a.m. MT); Toronto FC II vs. Chelsea FC Under-21s (Zions Bank Stadium, 8:45 p.m. MT)
- Wednesday, July 27: Colorado Rapids 2 vs. Wolves Under-21s (Zions Bank Stadium, 8:00 p.m. MT)
Fans in the U.S. and abroad can watch the four MLS NEXT Pro vs. PL2 matches exclusively on mlsnextpro.com.
Nashville SC Joining MLS NEXT Pro in 2023 with Club in Huntsville
Last week it was announced that Nashville Soccer Club will join MLS NEXT Pro in 2023 with a club in Huntsville, AL. The team will play at the 6,000-seat Joe Davis Stadium once its renovation is complete in May.
“When we launched MLS NEXT Pro, our goal was to bring soccer to new communities and fanbases, and we are thrilled to do that in Huntsville,” said Charles Altchek, President of MLS NEXT Pro. “Having spent time in the city with Mayor Battle and his team, I have seen first-hand the energy and innovation that is driving the city forward. Looking ahead to 2023, we are excited to partner with the City of Huntsville and Nashville Soccer Club to deliver professional soccer to North Alabama and its fans.”
Further details are available at mlsnextpro.com.
