Week 12 MLS Game Capsules

MLS Communications

A Snapshot Look at Each of Wednesday's 10 Matchups

Wednesday, May 18

D.C. United (4-5-1) vs. New York City FC (5-3-2)
(7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

D.C. United return home to face NYCFC in the 17th all-time matchup between the two sides, with NYCFC leading the series 8-5-3. In the last match at Audi Field on April 17, 2021, D.C. United won 2-1 thanks to goals from Brendan Hines-Ike and Russell Canouse.
The outfit from the nation’s capital enters the match with a revived attacking identity due to the insertion of new designated player Taxiarchis “Taxi” Fountas. The Greek international has totaled five goals and two assists in his first five MLS matches, including a goal and an assist on Saturday against Inter Miami CF. Among first-year MLS players, only Fountas and Miami’s Leonardo Campana have at least five goals and two assists. Additionally, when Fountas has started, D.C. has averaged 1.8 goals per game compared to 1.0 per game without him in the lineup.
After a scoreless draw against Sporting Kansas City on May 7, NYCFC got back to their scoring ways when they shutout the Columbus Crew, 2-0, on Saturday. The 21 goals for New York City are the fourth-most in the league despite playing in one game fewer than those ahead of them.
In his second season with NYCFC, 19-year-old Brazilian Talles Magno has begun to make a consistent impact creating chances. Magno added his second goal this year against Columbus and has either scored or assisted in four of his last five starts. After posting two goals in 2021, Magno’s seven goal contributions (two goals, five assists) in 2022 are tied for the most on the team with Valentín “Taty” Castellanos.
As NYCFC’s goal scoring continues to shine, the club’s defense has been steady since the beginning of the month. NYCFC are yet to allow a goal in the month of May and posted three-consecutive clean sheets for the first time since July 8 – 26, 2018. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson has been stellar and now needs one win to tie Zach Thornton (131) for the fourth-most regular season wins by a goalkeeper in MLS history.

New York Red Bulls (5-2-4) vs. Chicago Fire (2-5-4)
(7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Midweek action kicks off with the Chicago Fire arriving at Red Bull Arena for their second game of 2022 against the New York Red Bulls and the 65th all-time regular season game between the Eastern Conference sides. Though Chicago has not won since March, the Red Bulls have yet to win a home game this season and trail the Fire in the series with a 21-30-13 record.
Xherdan Shaqiri has directly contributed to 62.5% of the Fire’s goals this season with one of them coming from a penalty kick against the Red Bulls at Soldier Field in April. Three of those goal contributions have come over the Fire’s last three games, with the Swiss forward scoring against the Red Bulls and providing an assist against Atlanta United and FC Cincinnati.
The Red Bulls have seen an unlikely partnership ignite between newcomer Luquinhas and 20-year-old winger Cameron Harper. In each of their last two games in all competitions, Harper has assisted a Luquinhas goal to push the Red Bulls to a 3-0 U.S. Open Cup win over D.C. United and a 1-1 draw at the Philadelphia Union while playing a man down for over 30 minutes in Week 11.
The Fire celebrated a day of firsts for three players last time out as Jhon Durán scored his first goal for the club, Chris Mueller made his first start since arriving from Hibernian, and Jairo Torres made his first appearance for the club off the bench against FC Cincinnati. With Shaqiri finding his groove in attack, this trident of young forwards will look to provide their Designated Player with partners to combine with and improve the Fire’s play in the final third.
Carlos Coronel, Sean Nealis, and John Tolkin are the only three players to player every minute for the Red Bulls in the opening 11 games. Their defense has conceded just nine goals this season, with five being conceded at home, which is tied-second in the league with the Philadelphia Union and just one more goal conceded than FC Dallas’ league-leading defensive record of eight goals conceded. Coronel has kept three clean sheets this season and needs one more to tie Jon Conway for third-most clean sheets in Red Bulls history at 17.

Philadelphia Union (5-1-5) vs. Inter Miami CF (3-6-2)
(7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

After drawing each of their last four games, the Philadelphia Union will look to get back into the winning column when they host Inter Miami CF. The two clubs have faced off four times since 2020 with Philadelphia holding a slight 2-1-1 advantage. Inter Miami aim to record back-to-back wins at Subaru Park after Federico Higuaín grabbed an 83rd-minute winner in the last meeting there on April 24, 2021.
Inter Miami’s Leonardo Campana continues to be the engine of the offense after adding his sixth goal of the season against D.C. United on Saturday. On the strike, Campana contributed to Inter’s seventh-straight goal (five goals and two assists), surpassing Gonzalo Higuaín's club record of six consecutive goal involvements, set from May 16, 2021, to July 31, 2021. Additionally, the Ecuadorian international eclipsed Lewis Morgan (five) for the second-most goals in a season in club history.
The Union became the only team to score in every game this season during their 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, however; they have yet to score more than two goals in a match. Philadelphia’s Daniel Gazdág maintained his good form with his sixth goal of the campaign over the weekend. Gazdág’s nine goal contributions (six goals and three assists) in 2022 have already matched his total from 2021 (four goals and five assists).
In defense, Philadelphia has maintained consistency with Kai Wagner, Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes and Nathan Harriel having played 97.5% of the minutes to start the season. Harriel, a Homegrown player, has stood out for the back line as he leads the team in interceptions (29) and duels won (82).

Minnesota United FC (4-5-2) vs. LA Galaxy (6-4-1)
(8 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Minnesota United FC and the LA Galaxy meet for the 10th time in series history, with the Galaxy holding a 5-1-3 series advantage. The Loons are undefeated in the past two against LA, winning the last home meeting between the clubs, 3-0, on Sept. 18, 2021, and have scored three goals in each of its past two matches against the Galaxy.
In the last meeting, a 3-3 stalemate on Nov. 7, 2021, the Galaxy’s Javier “Chicharito” Hernández scored two second-half goals, his 16th and 17th of the season respectively, to earn the draw.
Minnesota United FC midfielder Robin Lod has scored in three of his past four in MLS play, including a goal in the club’s 3-1 loss to Seattle in Week 11, and leads the club with four goals this season.
The Loons have allowed multiple goals in a match just three times this season and rank tied for fourth in the Western Conference with 12 goals allowed this season.
Coming off a 3-1 loss to FC Dallas in Week 11, the Galaxy will look to rebound midweek and get back to their goal-scoring ways. Chicharito leads the club with five goals this season, while Raheem Edwards paces the Galaxy with five assists. Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond is tied for second in the league with five clean sheets.

Houston Dynamo FC (4-4-3) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (3-5-1)
(8:30 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet, FOX 13+)

With both clubs coming off a win in Week 11, the Houston Dynamo and Seattle Sounders will meet for the 23rd time in series history, with the Sounders holding an 11-5-6 series advantage. Seattle has won six of the previous seven meetings between the clubs, with Houston’s lone win coming in the latest match, a 2-1 victory at PNC Stadium on Oct. 16, 2021.
The Dynamo continued the great home field advantage for Texas teams this season with its 2-0 win over Nashville last week. The three Texas teams – Austin FC, FC Dallas and Houston – have lost only one of the 17 home matches they’ve played against teams from outside the state, going 11-1-5 over the span.
After having his purchase option exercised by the Dynamo last week, midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla scored the opening goal in the 16th minute in the club’s 2-0 victory over Nashville SC last week. With a Darwin Quintero penalty-kick goal in the 53rd minute, Houston became just the fourth team to score multiple goals against Nashville this season.
Seattle came from behind to beat Minnesota, 3-1, in Week 11 with Raúl Ruidíaz scoring the first and Nicolás Lodeiro the last. It was the 11th time that both Ruidíaz and Lodeiro scored in the same match in MLS (including playoffs), only Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi for LAFC (13 times) have done so more since Ruidíaz debuted in MLS in July 2018.
The Sounders snapped a three-game MLS losing skid last week and have scored at least three goals in two of its past three matches after doing so just once in the first six matches of the season. Lodeiro and Cristian Roldán have both scored twice over that span, with Ruidíaz and Jordan Morris adding one goal apiece.

Sporting Kansas City (2-7-3) vs. Colorado Rapids (4-4-3)
(8:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Sporting Kansas City holds the all-time series advantage over Colorado, 27-25-18; however, the Rapids are unbeaten in its last three vs. Sporting, with a win and two draws. The two clubs met in Week 3 of the 2022 season, as goals from Colorado’s Diego Rubio and Mark-Anthony Kaye gave the Rapids a 2-0 victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
After playing to three consecutive draws in Weeks 8-10, Sporting Kansas City fell to Portland, 7-2, last week and will look to win its first match since March 26. Forward Johnny Russell scored in Week 11 and has a goal in two of his past three in MLS play.
Fresh off a strong performance in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play earlier in the week, 20-year-old midfielder Marinos Tzionis scored his first-career goal in MLS play against Portland, just four days after providing the game-tying score on a sensational header in the 98th minute against FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup, a match that SKC won 4-2 in extra time.
Colorado has won two of its past three matches, including a 2-0 victory over LAFC in Week 11. In his third game with the club after being acquired in a trade with Columbus, forward Gyasi Zardes opened his Rapids account with a penalty-kick goal in the 17th minute and Diego Rubio, who leads the club with six goals this season, added an additional PK score in the victory.
Owners of a 22-game home unbeaten streak, the Rapids are still seeking its first road victory of the 2022 season. Colorado has held its opponent scoreless in five of the six matches played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season, but has allowed three or more goals in three of five road matches this season.

Nashville SC (4-4-3) vs. CF Montréal (6-3-2)
(8:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Nashville SC will look to bounce back from Saturday’s 2-0 loss when they host Montréal at GEODIS Park for the first time. Nashville has fared well against the Canadian side with a 2-0-2 record that includes two shutout victories. Meanwhile, Montréal will look to win consecutive games in a new stadium, as they defeated Charlotte FC 2-0 on Saturday in their first match at Bank of America Stadium.
With a win or draw, Nashville can extend their unbeaten streak at home to 20 games, which would be the eighth-longest streak in MLS history. During their 19-game unbeaten run, Nashville has scored in each of the last 17 games and last failed to score at home on May 2, 2021 against Inter Miami CF.
Montréal enters this matchup on a club-record eight-game unbeaten run (6W, 2D) and five-game road unbeaten stretch (3W, 2D) after the win against Charlotte. The engine behind the top team in the Eastern Conference has been Landon Donovan MVP candidate Djordje Mihailovic, who scored his sixth goal of the season just before halftime in Saturday’s win. Mihailovic is now tied for the league lead in goal contributions with 10 and is the only player in MLS with at least five goals and four assists.
Under head coach Wilfried Nancy, Montréal has adopted an aggressive style of play that enables players to get forward and try to create chances. That is evident through the fact that Montréal is tied for the MLS lead with LAFC for the most goals by defenders (six) in 2022. Against Charlotte, Alistair Johnston bagged his first with the club on a terrific strike into the side-netting and became the fifth different defender to score for the Québec side. Johnston will look to add to his tally when he faces his former team for the first time.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-6-2) vs. FC Dallas (6-1-4)
(10 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Fresh off a six-game thriller against the San Jose Earthquakes, the Vancouver Whitecaps host FC Dallas on Wednesday in their 25th all-time regular season meeting. Dallas leads the series between these two sides 10-7-7 and come into this one after beating a staunch LA Galaxy defense 3-1 at Toyota Stadium. However, the Whitecaps have not lost in their last four meetings with Dallas, winning two and drawing two while outscoring them seven to five.
Jesús Ferreira had his third multi-goal game of the season last time out with a brace against the LA Galaxy. The USMNT striker has now scored in three consecutive games, putting four shots in the back of the net over that stretch to become the outright leader in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race with nine goals on the season. He also has 10 total goal contributions through 11 games and needs just eight goals and assists to surpass his career-best 17 goal contributions from the 2021 season where he had eight goals and nine assists.
Dallas earned their first road win of the season against the LA Galaxy last weekend, but the opportunity to secure a second won’t come easy given the Whitecaps’ home form in 2022. After a late equalizer against the Earthquakes, the Whitecaps earned points in consecutive games for the first time this season and extended their home record to 3-1-2 across all competitions.
Thirteen of FC Dallas’ last 16 MLS goals, including all three against the Galaxy on Saturday, have been scored by Americans. No other team has more than eight goals from Americans this season.
Paul Arriola has had three direct goal contributions in his last three games for FC Dallas, bringing his season tally up to five (three goals and two assists). Dallas is also yet to lose a game this season when Arriola has a hand in the goals, winning three and drawing two heading up to Vancouver.

LAFC (7-2-2) vs. Austin FC (6-3-2)
(10:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

First meets third in the Western Conference when LAFC return to the Banc of California Stadium to host Austin FC in the fourth meeting between the two clubs. LAFC won all three of the matchups in 2021. Both sides rushed to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings to open the season but were brought to a halt last time out, losing their respective games against the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake.
Diego Fagúndez continues to be the creative spark from midfield for Austin with a team and league-leading seven assists this season. The Uruguayan’s assist tally for this season is the tied-third most for a single-season in his MLS career, and he needs just four to surpass his single-season best of 10 from 2018 with the New England Revolution. He currently sits on eight total goal contributions with one goal to accompany the seven assists, which is 12 shy of the 13 goals and seven assists he contributed in 2013 across 31 appearances.
Both sides have players within touching distance of joining only 23 other players to score 50 goals and contribute 50 assists in MLS. Carlos Vela is just 12 assists shy of reaching that milestone while Austin’s Ethan Finlay is just six assists short of becoming the 24th player in MLS history to join the 50-50 club.
LAFC have had goal scorers come from all over their roster as they lead the league in different individual goal scorers this season with 13, which is just five short of an MLS record of 18 different individual goal scorers for one team during the regular season. The team’s production from players off the bench has also seen them become an elite second half team, leading the league with 15 of their 23 goals scored in the second halves of their games this season.
While LAFC tend to find their stride in the second half, Austin have come out of the gates strong this season as they are tied-third in first half goals scored with 10 in 2022. LAFC have also shown a penchant for allowing first half goals, conceding 11 of their 12 goals against in the first 45 minutes of their games this season.

San Jose Earthquakes (2-5-4) vs. Portland Timbers (3-3-6)
(10:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

Wednesday marks the 30th meeting between the two West Coast clubs, with Portland leading the all-time series 15-5-9. The Timbers have won four of the past five matchups and are unbeaten in its past seven against San Jose.
San Jose played to a 3-3 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Week 11, with forward Jeremy Ebobisse leading the club with two second-half goals. Ebobisse has three multi-goal games this season, the most by an Earthquake since Chris Wondolowski in 2019, and is tied with FC Dallas’ Jesús Ferreira for the most such games in MLS this season. Only Wondolowski in his MVP season of 2012 (six) has had more multi-goal games in a single MLS season for the ‘Quakes.
The Earthquakes are one of just four clubs in MLS this season to score three or more goals in four games, joining Austin FC (four), LAFC (four) and NYCFC (four).
Behind goals from five different players, the Timbers set a club record with seven goals scored in Week 11, including a pair of braces from Sebastián Blanco and Nathan Fogaça. The Timbers have scored at least six goals on four separate occasions since the start of the 2020 season. The club also equaled an MLS record with six goals in the second half. Portland scored seven goals on just 11 shots, the fewest attempts in a match in which a team scored at least seven times in MLS history.
After signing with the first team from Portland Timbers 2 of MLS NEXT Pro on May 5, Fogaça became the first player in Timbers history to score two or more goals in his first-career MLS game. He’s the 21st player in MLS history to score multiple goals in his league debut and the second to do so this season, joining D.C. United’s Michael Estrada who accomplished the feat in Week 1 vs. Charlotte FC (Feb. 26).