Atlanta's Josef Martinez regains his goalscoring touch - This Week in MLS

• MVP Martinez regains his Midas touch
• France-U.S. U-20 World Cup clash highlights parallel coaching education path
• Red Bulls’ collective play, Academy influence fuel six wins in eight games
• Defending champion Houston, MLS clubs set for U.S. Open Cup openers
• Week 15 Notes

Top Things to Know about MLS This Week
Wondo Watching the playoff picture:
Thanks to Chris Wondolowski’s seven goals in the past three games, a San Jose win over FC Dallas this week could push the Quakes above the playoff line.
ICYMI – Another Bicycle Day in MLS:
Portland’s Brian Fernandez
scored an 85th-minute bicycle-kick goal,
and the LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimović set himself up with
a volley for one of his own
before calling it “

.”
Three-time MLS Cup champion joins Toronto FC:
Toronto FC yesterday announced that three-time MLS Cup champion Omar Gonzalez is set to join Toronto FC when the secondary window opens on July 9. The 2011 MLS Defender of the Year is currently in a U.S. Men’s National team camp with TFC teammates Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore in advance of the Gold Cup.
U.S. U-20s prep for World Cup Knockout Round:
With 18 of 21 players hailing from MLS academies, the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team will face France on Tuesday (11:30 a.m. ET / FS2, Universo).
Four PRO officials selected for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup:
Felisha Mariscal, Kathryn Nesbitt, Drew Fischer and Katja Koroleva are all heading to France this summer with their potential assignments coming 48 hours before each game.
MVP Martinez regains his Midas touch
In a scoring race thought to be all but claimed by the Los Angeles Football Club’s
Carlos Vela
(16 goals), Atlanta United’s
Josef Martinez
– the reigning Gold Boot winner – is making a comeback for his goal-scoring crown. With 10 goals, including five in the past three games, Martinez is only three goals shy of his tally from this point last season, and he could be on the brink of a midseason surge.
On June 6, 2018, Martinez sparked a 19-goal scoring spree over the span of 13 games, capping his legendary campaign with a new single-season scoring record (31) as the only player in MLS history to win three Most Valuable Player awards in a single season (2018: All-Star, regular season, MLS Cup).
Atlanta United’s 26-year-old Venezuelan received the call from his country for this Wednesday’s international friendly against Mexico and will play the match on his club’s home field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (10 p.m. ET, UniMas). Will Martinez, who also been named to Venezuela’s roster for Copa America, add even more firepower when he returns to MLS?  
France-U.S. U-20 World Cup clash highlights parallel coaching education path
When the United States takes on France today in the Round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the similar styles of coaching education in the two countries will be on display through the talented players on the field. Major League Soccer’s Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL) began in
partnership with the French Football Federation
in 2013 and is modeled after the same coaching license implemented across all professional clubs in France.
U.S. players such as FC Dallas midfielder
Paxton Pomykal
and
Brandon Servania
, and D.C. United’s
Chris Durkin
are among a broad group of MLS Academy products who have benefited in learning from EFCL-certified coaches at their respective clubs. The talented U.S. squad will next face off against a French team that has spent decades using the same coaching methodologies to develop star players ranging from
Kylian Mbappe
to
Thierry Henry
.
Thus far in the tournament, MLS Academy products have scored all four of the United States goals, including a goal by Servania in the opening match. France, meanwhile, finished atop Group E with three consecutive victories. The U.S. and France kick off today at 11:30 a.m. ET in Bydgoszcz, Poland, with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line (FS2 / Universo).
Red Bulls’ collective play, Academy influence fuel six wins in eight games
The 2018 Supporters’ Shield-winning New York Red Bulls are showing signs of last year’s form, thanks to a collective effort and production from their Academy products to move into the top four in the Eastern Conference. With six wins in their past eight games (6-1-1), the Red Bulls have a chance to further solidify their spot among the top of the conference when they travel to face the East-leading Philadelphia Union on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET / ESPN+).
Twelve players have scored goals for the Red Bulls during this eight-game stretch dating back to April 27, a stretch absent the services of the club’s all-time leading goalscorer
Bradley Wright-Phillips
. Bronx native and 20-year-old Red Bulls Academy product
Omir Fernandez
has stepped up with his first league goals in back-to-back games against FC Cincinnati and Real Salt Lake. Defensively, the Red Bulls have posted three clean sheets over the past four matches, led by 26-year-old Jamaican and 2018 MLS Best XI left back
Kemar Lawrence
.
The Red Bulls earned shutout victories in their past two meetings at the Union in Talen Energy Stadium. Will New York continue to shine in Chester, Pa.?
Defending champion Houston, MLS clubs set for U.S. Open Cup openers
The defending Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo and the entire MLS field learned their opponents for the fourth round of this year’s tournament. Starting next Tuesday, the 21 U.S.-based MLS teams join the field in America’s longest-running soccer tournament open to professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The Philadelphia Union, runners-up in three of the past five Open Cups (including last year), head to D.C. United next Wednesday as one of five MLS vs. MLS matchups.

• MLS opponents: U.S. Open Cup fourth-round draw

The past 10 U.S. Open Cups have featured an all-MLS final, and since the formation of the league, MLS has won 23 of the 24 editions of the tournament.
MLS Regular Season: Week 15 Notes
Wednesday, June 5
Montreal Impact vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN, TVA Sports)

• The Impact weren’t able to build upon a first win in four games, suffering a 3-0 loss to Orlando City SC at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon.
  
• Sounders FC suffered a second consecutive defeat on the heels of a six-game undefeated run, falling to FC Dallas 2-1 at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening. Both FCD goals came from own goals, the sixth time in MLS history one team has conceded two goals through own goals in the same match.
  
• The Impact won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 1-0 win at CenturyLink Field on March 31. It was the second win for Montréal in three trips to Seattle, also winning there in 2013.
  
• The teams last played in Montréal on March 11, 2017, reaching a 2-2 draw at Olympic Stadium. Sounders FC have come away with a win and a draw in the two meetings at Olympic Stadium; the Impact have won both meetings all-time at Stade Saputo.
  

Thursday, June 6
New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati, 7 p.m. ET

• NYCFC established a club record for their five-year history, extending their undefeated streak to nine games with a 2-2 draw with Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. NYCFC have four wins and five draws during the streak, with ties in the last two games.
  
• Héber netted his fourth goal of the season for NYCFC; he has four goals and two assists in MLS, all coming over his last seven games (he’s made nine appearances in all).
  
• FC Cincinnati suffered a third consecutive defeat and eighth in the past nine games, falling 3-1 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Kekuta Manneh scored his second goal for FCC.
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories. The return match between the clubs is set for Aug. 17 at Nippert Stadium.
  

Friday, June 7
Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8 p.m. ET (TSN)

• Toronto FC saw their winless streak extended to six games with a second draw in that time, coming back for a late 1-1 result with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Friday evening. Nick DeLeon hit for the equalizer in the 90th minute, his second goal in the 90th minute or later this season.
  
• Sporting reached a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday evening. It was SKC’s fifth draw in the past 10 games; they have one win over that span (since the start of April).
  
• The teams played to a 2-2 draw in their lone meeting a season ago, July 7 at Children’s Mercy Park, the second consecutive year the teams have reached a deadlock in their lone encounter.
  
• Sporting have a nine-game undefeated streak overall alive vs. Toronto FC. Sporting have taken points on their past four trips to BMO Field, the last TFC win in the series coming on Sept. 21, 2013 in Toronto.
  
• TFC have never won at Children’s Mercy Park. Sporting are undefeated in their last nine home meetings vs. TFC, with seven wins and two draws in that time; Toronto FC’s lone win in Kansas City came in 2009 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
  

Saturday, June 8
San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas, 3:30 p.m. ET (Univision, Twitter)

• The Quakes saw their two-game winning streak come to an end but still extended their undefeated streak to three games, reaching a 1-1 draw with D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday evening.
  
• Chris Wondolowski netted the Quakes goal, his seventh goal over the past three games, one shy of the MLS record over that span. Wondolowski has scored each of the Earthquakes’ last seven goals, the third-most consecutive team goals scored by one player in MLS history.
  
• FC Dallas put an end to their six-game winless run, defeating Seattle Sounders FC 2-1 at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening. FCD scored both goals through own goals, the sixth team to be aided through two own goals in the same game in MLS history.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. They reached a goalless draw on April 27 at Toyota Stadium.
  
• The Quakes now have a five-game undefeated streak alive in the series, since 2017, with three wins and two draws over that span. They have come away with points on their last four trips to Frisco, FCD’s last home win in the series coming in 2015.
  
• The Quakes won the last meeting in San Jose, a 4-3 victory last Aug. 29, their first win at home vs. FC Dallas since 2014, and their first ever vs. FCD at Avaya Stadium. FCD had come away with points on their previous five trips to northern California, with two wins and three draws.
  

Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET

• The Union put an end to a three-game winless run, defeating Minnesota United FC 3-2 at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The Red Bulls won a second consecutive game and extended their undefeated streak to five games (with four goals in that time), defeating Real Salt Lake 4-0 on Saturday evening at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls have six wins over their past eight matches.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago. The Red Bulls took a 1-0 victory on Oct. 21 at Red Bull Arena in the second meeting; they reached a goalless draw on May 26 at Red Bull Arena.
  
• The Red Bulls have won the last two meetings at Talen Energy Stadium. The Union have won once in the past seven meetings in Chester, Pa.; the Red Bulls have won four times in that span, dating back to 2014.
  
• The Red Bulls are undefeated in the past four meetings at Red Bull Arena, winning two in a row before draws in the last two. When the Union won 2-0 there on May 24, 2015, it was their first-ever win in Harrison, N.J.; the Red Bulls had gone 5-0-1 in their first six home games vs. Philadelphia.
  

Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United FC, 9 p.m. ET

• The Rapids extended their undefeated streak to four games with a third win in that time, defeating FC Cincinnati 3-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Rookie Andre Shinyashiki scored his third goal of the season; he has two goals and an assist in the last four games.
  
• MNUFC suffered a second consecutive defeat, falling 3-2 to the Philadelphia Union at Allianz Field on Saturday evening. It was Minnesota United’s first defeat in their new home, their first consecutive losses since March 16-30.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago and the Rapids won both, coming back for a 3-2 win on June 23 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, then taking a 2-0 win on Oct. 13 at TCF Bank Stadium.
  
• The teams met twice in Minnesota United’s inaugural campaign. They reached a 2-2 draw in the first encounter on March 18 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; MNUFC then claimed a 1-0 win on April 18 at TCF Bank Stadium.