MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 4 NEWS & NOTES
News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer
GOALKEEPERS NOW MAKING THEIR MARK AMONG MLS YOUNGEST
The trend of youth players making their marks in Major League Soccer continued in the goalkeeper ranks last weekend, when Hunter Sulte of the Portland Timbers made his league debut vs. FC Dallas.
A Homegrown Player who is on the Timbers first team roster for the first time in 2021, Sulte became the second-youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to start a game, just six days after his 19th birthday, after David Monsalve, who was 18 years, 220 days when he started for Toronto FC in 2007. Sulte is also the first goalkeeper born in Alaska in MLS history (and just the second player ever from that state).
Three of the six youngest goalkeepers to start a game in MLS history have all come over the last two seasons. John Pulskamp, aged 19 years, 363 days when he started for Sporting Kansas City on April 17, is the sixth-youngest in league annals, while David Ochoa (19 years, 297 days) is the fifth-youngest after making his MLS debut for Real Salt Lake on Decision Day last year.
A year ago, four of the 10 youngest players ever to see action in an MLS game all made their league debuts. Four of the 20 youngest to ever score a goal did so in 2020. The youngest player still to actually wear the gloves in an MLS match is Eddie Gaven, who was 16 years, 253 days when he came on as a substitute in goal for the MetroStars vs. D.C. United on July 5, 2003.
QUAKES’ COWELL ADDS TO HISTORIC START IN MLS
Cade Cowell of the San Jose Earthquakes continued his history making start to his MLS career last weekend, when he scored a goal and added an assist in his club’s 4-1 win vs. D.C. United at PayPal Park.
After scoring his first goal of the season and adding an assist the week before in a 3-1 win vs. FC Dallas, Cowell became the youngest player in MLS history to score a goal and add an assist in consecutive games in MLS history, at 17 years, 199 days of age in the D.C. United game.
Cowell last year became the eighth-youngest player in MLS history to play in a game, when he made his Earthquakes debut March 7 vs. Minnesota United FC. Then later in the year, on Aug. 29 at the LA Galaxy, he became the 11th-youngest to score a goal in league history.
Cowell was named the MLS Player of the Week for his performance vs. D.C. United – and in doing so became the third-youngest in league history to win that honor, after Freddy Adu, who became the record-holder when he won the award twice during the 2005 season on either side of his 16th birthday, and Santino Quaranta, who was 16 years, 274 days when he won the award in during the 2001 season.
FCD’S SEALY JOINS RARE SECOND-GENERATION CLUB
When Scott Sealy scored his first MLS goal on Saturday evening vs. the Portland Timbers at Toyota Stadium, he joined a unique club: sons with goals in Major League Soccer whose fathers also hit the back of the net in the league.
Sealy became the sixth son of a father who played in the league to score – his father, Scott, scored 33 goals over seven MLS seasons with San Jose, Kansas City and Dallas. The junior Sealy joined the FC Dallas academy at age 8 in 2012 when his father signed with the club for his final MLS season, and made his first-team debut last Sept. 9 vs. Minnesota United.
In all, there have been 11 father-son duos in MLS history. Seven second-generation MLS products are active in the league this season, joining 2020 as the most in a single season.
QUICK STARTS FEATURED ON SAME DAY FOR FIRST TIME IN TWO DECADES
Two players got their clubs off to fliers on Saturday night – with Tesho Akindele of Orlando City and Eduardo López of the San Jose Earthquakes both scoring the first minute of their clubs’ victories.
It marked just the third time in MLS history there were two first-minute goals scored on the same day – and the first time since July 4, 2001. The other instance came in the league’s inaugural season in 1996.
Akindele’s goal after 31 seconds was the first coming in the opening minute of a game in Orlando City SC’s MLS history. López’s goal was the first by a Quakes player in the opening minute of the game since 2003, when Brian Ching did it.
MLS WEEK 4 – LOOK AHEAD
REAL SALT LAKE vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Friday, May 7, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #40)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
7:30 p.m. MT (KMYU-12; NBCS-BA)
REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Diego Blas; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Alan Kelly; AVAR: TJ Zablocki
MLS Career: 106 games; FC/gm: 25.2; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 21; pens: 36
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Real 11 wins, 45 goals … Earthquakes 12 wins, 41 goals … Ties 11
AT SALT LAKE: Real 6 wins, 25 goals … Earthquakes 3 wins, 12 goals … Ties 7
· Real Salt Lake remain the only team undefeated and untied on the new season, winning for a second time in two starts in defeating Minnesota United FC 3-1 at Allianz Field on Saturday evening.
· Rubio Rubin scored a pair of goals, his first in MLS, after recording two assists in his league debut the week before. Damir Kreilach scored a goal and added a pair of assists, the third time in his MLS career he was involved in three goals in a game, the last coming Oct. 18, 2018 vs. New England.
· The Quakes was their second game on the trot in rampaging fashion, defeating D.C. United 4-1 at PayPal Park on Saturday evening.
· Jackson Yueill scored a pair of goals – the first two-goal game of his MLS career – and added an assist, while 17-year-old Cade Cowell scored a goal and added two assists – he has now been involved in five of the Quakes’ eight goals this year (2 goals, 3 assists).
· The teams met once a season ago, Chris Wondolowski scoring both goals as the Quakes took a 2-0 win at home on Oct. 28.
· The Quakes now own a six-game undefeated streak in the series in San Jose, with five wins in that span, the last RSL win there a 1-0 triumph on April 5, 2015. Real are undefeated in their past six home meetings with the Quakes, with three wins and three draws in that time, last a 1-0 win Sept, 11, 2019. The last San Jose victory in Sandy came in 2013.
REAL: Andrew Brody made his MLS debut, coming on as a first-half substitute – and collected his first career assist. … Pablo Ruíz recorded his first assist of the season, the second of his MLS career (his first coming last Oct. 14).
QUAKES: Eduardo López scored his first career MLS goal in his third appearance. Coming after 51 seconds, it was the first goal scored in the opening minute by San Jose since Brian Ching (53 seconds) on April 12, 2003. … Tanner Beason collected the first assist of his MLS career, making his 10th appearance. … Luciano Abecasis recorded his first MLS assist.
NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. TORONTO FC
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #41)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
1 p.m. ET (TSN 4 / 5; MSG)
REFEREE: Guido Gonzales Jr. AR1 (bench): Matthew Nelson; AR2 (opposite): Logan Brown; 4th: Thomas Snyder; VAR: Drew Fischer; AVAR: Kathryn Nesbitt
MLS Career: 18 games; FC/gm: 27.4; Y/gm: 4.4; R: 7; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Red Bulls 17 wins, 63 goals … Toronto FC 9 wins, 38 goals … Ties 8
AT RED BULLS: Red Bulls 13 wins, 41 goals … Toronto FC 2 wins, 11 goals … Ties 2
· The Red Bulls won for the first time in 2021 following a pair of losses, defeating Chicago Fire FC 2-0 at Red Bull Arena on Saturday afternoon. Caden Clark and Cristian Casseres Jr. each scored their second goals in three games on the season.
· Toronto FC return to action in league play after a weekend away, their last MLS outing a 2-2 draw vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Exploria Stadium on April 24. Homegrown Player Luke Singh scored his first league goal in his second career league appearance.
· The teams met twice a season ago. Tom Barlow and Brian White netted goals three minutes apart in the first half as the Red Bulls took a 2-1 win at Red Bull Arena on Decision Day (Nov. 8). Earlier, Caden Clark made MLS history as the youngest player to score in his first two games, hitting for the 77th-minute equalizer to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw Oct. 14 at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Conn.
· The Red Bulls are 13-2-2 all-time in home matches vs. Toronto FC. When TFC took a 2-0 win on March 6, 2016, it was its first win ever at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls were 5-0-1 all-time in Harrison before the TFC win; the triumph also snapped an eight-game home undefeated streak for the Red Bulls vs. TFC (7-0-1), which began Oct. 25, 2009.
RED BULLS: Fabio collected a pair of assists, the first of his MLS career in his third appearance. … Carlos Miguel Coronel was credited with four saves in recording the shutout, the second of his MLS career, the first coming in his league debut with Philadelphia, March 23, 2019 vs. Columbus.
TFC: Jonathan Osorio made his league debut as a second-half substitute and scored his first league goal. At midweek in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal vs. Cruz Azul, Osorio made his first competitive appearance of the year and scored the TFC goal. … TFC was eliminated from the CCL at midweek, falling 1-0 to Cruz Azul at Estadio Azteca, losing the quarterfinal tie 4-1 on aggregate.
CHICAGO FIRE FC vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #42)
Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
12 noon CT (WGN-TV; 6abc)
REFEREE: Marcos de Oliveira. AR1 (bench): Eric Boria; AR2 (opposite): Ian McKay; 4th: Greg Dopka; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 43 games; FC/gm: 25.0; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 4; pens: 13
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Fire 9 wins, 37 goals … Union 11 wins, 39 goals … Ties 5
AT FIRE: Fire 7 wins, 21 goals … Union 3 wins, 15 goals … Ties 3
· Fire FC went down to a second consecutive defeat on the road, falling 2-0 to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday afternoon.
· The Union were left looking for a first league win in 2021 with a second consecutive reversal, falling 2-0 to New York City FC at Subaru Park on Saturday evening.
· The teams met once a season ago. Kacper Przybylko and Cory Burke scored on either side of halftime as the Union took a 2-1 win Oct. 28 at Subaru Park.
· The teams are meeting for the first time at Soldier Field. The Fire win in the final matchup at SeatGeek Stadium, a 2-0 win Aug. 17, 2019, ended a three-game Union winning streak in the series, though the Fire did win six of the final seven matchups overall in Bridgeview. The Union have won the last four meetings in a row in Chester; the last Fire win there came in 2013.
FIRE FC: Fire head coach Raphael Wicky changed his team for the first time in 2021 in the Red Bulls match, Mauricio Pineda coming into the first XI and playing the full 90 minutes.
UNION: The Union advanced to the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions League, defeating Atlanta United 4-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their quarterfinal tie Tuesday at Subaru Park. Kacper Przybylko finished off the series with a late goal; he scored twice in the 3-0 first leg win in Atlanta. The Union now take on the winner of the Portland Timbers-Club América series in the semifinals to be held August-September.
COLUMBUS CREW SC vs. D.C. UNITED
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #43)
Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
1:30 p.m. ET (Bally Sports OH; NBCS-Wash / TeleXitos )
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Cory Richardson; AR2 (opposite): Chantal Boudreau; 4th: Sergii Demianchuk; VAR: Dave Gantar; AVAR: Ryan Graves
MLS Career: 167 games; FC/gm: 27.6; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 25; pens: 40
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Crew SC 29 wins (0 shootout), 101 goals … United 31 wins (5 shootout), 96 goals … Ties 11
AT COLUMBUS: Crew SC 19 wins (0 shootout), 55 goals … United 8 wins (2 shootout), 28 goals … Ties 7
· Crew SC returned to league action after a weekend away, reaching a second goalless draw in two games, against CF Montréal at CRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday afternoon. Eloy Room recorded three saves for his second shutout of the season.
· D.C. United went down to a second successive defeat, falling 4-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at PayPal Park. Antonio Alfaro scored the United goal, his first in four MLS seasons, in his 28th league appearance.
· The teams met once a season ago. Julian Gressel scored the game’s only goal in the 31st minute as United took the win at Audi Field on Oct. 28.
· United’s win in their last visit to Columbus, a 1-0 win April 24, 2019 with the game’s lone goal coming from a Wayne Rooney free kick, was the first there for D.C. since the 2007 season. Crew SC had won eight of the 11 meetings in between on their home ground, with three draws. United have won both meetings all-time at Audi Field.
CREW SC: The clean sheet vs. Montréal was the fourth of the year in five competitive matches for Eloy Room, with two goals conceded over the opening 450 minutes played this season.
UNITED: Yamil Asad collected his first assist of the season, his last coming last Oct. 28 vs. Columbus.
NASHVILLE SC vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #44)
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
12:30 p.m. CT (MyTV30; WSBK / MyRITV)
REFEREE: Victor Rivas. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Jeffrey Greeson; 4th: Katja Koroleva; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 19 games; FC/gm: 23.1; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 3; pens: 9
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Nashville SC 0 wins, 1 goal … Revolution 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 2
AT NASHVILLE: Nashville SC 0 wins, 1 goal … Revolution 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 1
· Nashville SC reached a third draw in three games to open the season, all at Nissan Stadium, playing to a goalless result with Inter Miami CF on Sunday afternoon.
· Joe Willis recorded a pair of saves for his first shutout of the season; he led MLS with nine shutouts in 2020.
· The Revolution remained undefeated on the season with a second consecutive victory, defeating Atlanta United 2-1 at Gillette Stadium – the club’s first win ever in the all-time series between the teams.
· Carles Gil converted a penalty kick for his first goal of the season; he also added an assist, now involved in three of the Revolution’s five goals on the season.
· The teams met twice during Nashville SC’s inaugural season. Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman and the Revolution’s Adam Buksa traded goals three minutes apart in the second half to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw Oct. 23 at Nissan Stadium; they played to a scoreless draw Oct. 3 at Gillette Stadium.
NASHVILLE SC: Nashville SC have yet to concede a goal to Inter Miami, now over four meetings all-time in league and MLS Cup Playoffs. Joe Willis has kept the clean sheet in each of those.
REVOLUTION: Andrew Farrell collected his first assist of the season, his first in an MLS league game since Sept. 7, 2019 vs. NYCFC.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. CF MONTRÉAL
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #45)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
1 p.m. MT (CTV / TSN 1 / 4; TVA Sports)
REFEREE: Rosendo Mendoza. AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Jeff Hosking; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Alan Kelly; AVAR: TJ Zablocki
MLS Career: 14 games; FC/gm: 23.3; Y/gm: 2.5; R: 2; pens: 3
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps FC 5 wins, 18 goals … CFM 5 wins, 16 goals … Ties 1
VANCOUVER HOME GAME: Whitecaps FC 3 wins, 11 goals … CFM 2 wins, 9 goals … Ties 1
· Whitecaps FC suffered their first loss in the season in three matches, falling by the game’s only goal to the Colorado Rapids at Rio Tinto Stadium on Sunday evening.
· CF Montréal remained undefeated on the season with a second successive draw, reaching a goalless draw with Columbus Crew SC at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday afternoon. Clément Diop was not called upon to make a save in recording his first shutout of the season.
· The teams met three times a season ago. Romell Quioto and Lassi Lappalainen each scored in the first half in a Montréal 2-0 win Aug. 25 at Stade Saputo. They then met twice in four days’ time, both at BC Place, splitting the matches, Montréal winning 4-2 on Sept. 13, and Whitecaps FC taking a 3-1 win Sept. 16.
· The ‘Caps victory in the last meeting ended a three-game Montréal winning streak in the series. The last Vancouver win had come in the lone meeting in 2018, the second of back-to-back Whitecaps victories in the series.
· The teams have met four times in the Canadian Championship, the last two times in the semifinals in 2017 and 2018
WHITECAPS FC: Kamron Habibullah made his professional debut after signing as a Homegrown Player the week previous – the first player in MLS history born in Uzbekistan (Tashkent).
CFM: The clean sheet was the fifth for Clément Diop in 25 starts with Montréal over four seasons.
FC DALLAS vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO FC
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #46)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
2:30 p.m. CT (Univision; TUDN)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Kyle Atkins; 4th: Nima Saghafi; VAR: Ismail Elfath; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 44 games; FC/gm: 23.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 6; pens: 13
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 13 wins, 61 goals … Dynamo 12 wins, 54 goals … Ties 14
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 9 wins, 34 goals … Dynamo 3 wins, 22 goals … Ties 7
· FC Dallas claimed their first victory of the season, rolling to a 4-1 win against the Portland Timbers at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening. Andrés Ricuarte, Jader Obrian, Bressan and Dante Sealy each scored their first goals of the season – for Obrian and Sealy, the first of their MLS careers.
· Dynamo FC reached a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC at BBVA Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Tyler Pasher scored the first goal of his MLS career, making his fourth career appearance.
· The teams met four times a season ago. FC Dallas won the two matches at Toyota Stadium, a 2-1 win Sept. 12 when Franco Jara hit for the winner, and a 3-0 win Oct. 31 behind a pair of goals from Fafa Picault. The Dynamo took a 2-0 win Oct. 7 at BBVA Stadium with goals from Darwin Quintero and Darwin Céren; the teams reached a goalless draw Aug. 21 in Houston.
· The Dynamo have won in the series each of the last two seasons. Since the start of 2013, FC Dallas are 10-3-7 in league play against Houston, and have won the three meetings between the teams in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
· FC Dallas has won five of the 13 matches (with four draws) between the teams over all competitions at BBVA Stadium. The Dynamo haven’t won in Frisco since 2011, FCD winning the last four there.
· The clubs play for “El Capitán,” the 19th-century Mountain Howitzer cannon to be awarded to the winner of the season series by supporters’ groups for both clubs.
FCD: Paxton Pomykal collected his first assist of the season – his first in an MLS game since Aug. 10, 2019, when he tied the FCD club record with three assists vs. Minnesota. … Franco Jara recorded the first assist of his MLS career, in his 22nd league appearance over two seasons. … Freddy Vargas notched the first assist of his MLS career.
DYNAMO FC: Adam Lundkvist recorded his first assist of the season, his first since Aug. 17, 2019 vs. Colorado.
ORLANDO CITY SC vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #47)
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
6 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Peter Manikowski; AR2 (opposite): Adam Wienckowski; 4th: Rubiel Vazquez; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Kyle Longville
MLS Career: 118 games; FC/gm: 21.6; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 24; pens: 33
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Orlando City 6 wins, 21 goals … NYCFC 5 wins, 26 goals … Ties 5
AT ORLANDO: Orlando City 3 wins, 9 goals … NYCFC 2 wins, 11 goals … Ties 3
· Orlando City SC remained undefeated on the season with their first win of the year, defeating FC Cincinnati 3-0 at Exploria Stadium on Saturday evening. Nani scored his second goal of the season while Tesho Akindele opened the scoring after just 31 seconds – the earliest goal in OCSC club history.
· NYCFC won their second game on the trot, defeating the Philadelphia Union 2-0 at Subaru Park on Saturday evening. Valentin Castellanos scored for a third consecutive game this season, and Jesús Medina hit for his third goal in the last two matches. Sean Johnson was not called upon to make a save in recording a second consecutive shutout.
· The teams met twice during the regular season a year ago. Chris Mueller scored early for OCSC and Keaton Parks netted after the break for NYCFC, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw Oct. 14 at Exploria Stadium. The teams met earlier in group play in the MLS is Back Tournament, as Mueller scored a pair of goals to lead Orlando City SC to a 3-1 win on July 14.
· The win in the first meeting ended a six-game NYCFC undefeated streak in the league series, the teams reaching draws in their two meetings in 2019 following a four-game NYCFC winning streak. All four wins had come by shutout; the first OCSC goal last year ended a 458-minute shutout streak vs. New York City FC. NYCFC has come away with points on their last four trips to Orlando, OCSC last winning at home in the series in 2017.
· The teams also met in an epic match in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Orlando City taking the victory in the club’s first-ever game in the MLS Cup Playoffs in remarkable circumstances, winning in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw on Nov. 21 at Exploria Stadium. Rodrigo Schlegel was the hero, stopping one of two penalty kicks he saved after he took over between the posts following the red card issued to starting goalkeeper Pedro Gallese during the penalty shootout.
OCSC: Chris Mueller recorded an assist for a second consecutive game, his third assist in his last four league appearances dating back to last year. … Benji Michel collected his first assist of the season, the fourth of his MLS career.
NYCFC: Anton Tinnerholm recorded his second assist in three games this season.
LA GALAXY vs. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #48)
Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
5 p.m. PT (FOX / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Nick Uranga; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Kevin Stott; AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
MLS Career: 178 games; FC/gm: 22.1; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 44; pens: 75
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Galaxy 4 wins, 20 goals … LAFC 2 wins, 19 goals … Ties 3
AT GALAXY: Galaxy 3 wins, 11 goals … LAFC 0 wins, 6 goals … Ties 1
· The Galaxy saw their perfect start to the 2021 season come to an end, falling 3-0 to Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on Sunday evening.
· LAFC remained undefeated on the year with a second consecutive draw, playing to a 1-1 result with Houston Dynamo FC at BBVA Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Corey Baird scored his second goal of the season for LAFC.
· The teams met four times a season ago, splitting the four matches. The Galaxy won twice by shutout, once at each ground, to a 3-0 win at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sept. 6 and a 2-0 win Aug. 22 at Banc of California Stadium. LAFC won 2-0 at home in the final meeting on Oct. 25, their first victory in four league meetings in downtown LA.
· The teams also met in group play in the MLS is Back Tournament – and it was another historic meeting. Diego Rossi scored four goals – the 13th player in league history to net that many in a game – and combined for five goals and assists, as LAFC won 6-2 on July 18. It was the eighth time in MLS history a player had five goals plus assists in a game, Rossi the first player to do it twice. The win marked the first time in league play LAFC defeated the Galaxy.
· There have been 47 goals scored in the nine meetings in all competitions between the clubs.
· The teams also met in 2019 in the Western Conference Semifinals – and LAFC came away victors, claiming a wild 5-3 victory at Banc of California Stadium on Oct. 24, as Carlos Vela scored two goals and added an assist.
GALAXY: Homegrown Player Jonathan Perez made his MLS debut, coming on for the final seven minutes as a substitute.
LAFC: Latif Blessing recorded his first assist of the season, his first since collecting four assists over three consecutive games July 13-23 of last year at the MLS is Back Tournament.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Saturday, May 8, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #49)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
8 p.m. MT (Altitude; Bally Sports North+ / CW)
REFEREE: Timothy Ford. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: JC Griggs; VAR: Younes Marrakchi; AVAR: Adam Garner
MLS Career: 28 games; FC/gm: 21.1; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 6; pens: 5
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 3 wins, 11 goals … MNUFC 3 wins, 10 goals … Ties 2
AT COLORADO: Rapids 2 wins, 6 goals … MNUFC 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 1
· The Rapids posted their victory of the 2021 season, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC by the game’s only goal at Rio Tinto Stadium on Sunday evening. Diego Rubio scored the goal directly from a free kick – the club’s first since Rubio did it Sept. 29, 2019 vs FC Dallas.
· MNUFC fell to their third defeat to open the 2021 season, dropping their first meeting ever with Austin FC by the game’s only goal at Allianz Field on Saturday evening.
· The teams met twice in league play a season ago. An 89th-minute own goal was the difference as Minnesota United FC took a 2-1 win Oct. 28 at Allianz Field. The teams also met during the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament on July 22. Ethan Finlay scored twice, but Jonathan Lewis came off the substitutes’ bench to net a second-half equalizer, leaving the teams in a 2-2 draw.
· The clubs also faced off in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Kevin Molino scored a pair of goals as MNUFC won 3-0 at Allianz Field on Nov. 21.
· The Rapids have won the last two meetings at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the last coming June 8, 2019, as Kei Kamara scored the game’s only goal.
RAPIDS: William Yarbrough was credited with three saves in recording his second shutout of the season, the sixth of his MLS career (in 17 career league appearances), his third in the last five games dating back to last year.
MNUFC: Minnesota United has opened the season without a point for the first time in the club’s MLS history.
INTER MIAMI CF vs. ATLANTA UNITED
Sunday, May 9, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #50)
DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
1 p.m. ET (ABC / ESPN Deportes; TSN 5)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Andrew Bigelow; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Alyssa Nichols; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 42 games; FC/gm: 26.9; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 8; pens: 13
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Inter Miami 2 wins, 5 goals … ATLUTD 0 wins, 3 goals … Ties 2
AT INTER MIAMI: Inter Miami 1 wins, 3 goals … ATLUTD 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 1
· Inter Miami extended their undefeated run to two matches, playing to a scoreless draw with Nashville SC at Nissan Stadium on Sunday afternoon. John McCarthy made three saves in recording his first shutout of the season, the sixth of his MLS career.
· ATLUTD went down to defeat for the first time in the 2021 MLS season, dropping a 2-1 decision to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Marcelino Moreno converted a penalty kick for his first goal of the season.
· 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.
INTER MIAMI: Edison Azcona came on as a substitute for the final 23 minutes, the first Inter Miami academy product to appear in a league match.
ATLUTD: Atlanta United were dumped out of the Concacaf Champions League at the quarterfinal stage, falling 4-1 on aggregate to the Philadelphia Union after a 1-1 draw in the second leg Tuesday at Subaru Park. Santiago Sosa scored his first professional goal for the ATLUTD tally.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Sunday, May 9, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #51)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
12 noon PT (ABC / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Eric Weisbrod; 4th: Elijio Arreguin; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 172 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 51; pens: 68
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 10 wins, 41 goals … Sounders FC 12 wins, 46 goals … Ties 7
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 7 wins, 28 goals … Sounders FC 5 wins, 25 goals … Ties 3
· The Timbers fell to a 4-1 reversal by FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening. Eryk Williamson scored his first goal of the season for the Timbers tally, his fourth in MLS.
· Sounders FC remained undefeated on the season with a second win, defeating the LA Galaxy 3-0 at Lumen Field on Sunday evening. Raúl Ruidíaz scored a pair of goals, his second two-goal game already this season, the seventh multiple-goal game of his MLS career.
· The teams met four times a season ago. The teams split the two meetings at Providence Park: Raúl Ruidíaz scored two goals and set up a third as Sounders FC hit for a late three-goal blitz in 14 minutes on their way to a 3-0 win Aug. 23, then Yimmi Chará scored the game’s only goal as the Timbers won Sept. 23. The Timbers came away with results on both visits to Seattle: Eryk Williamson scored the opener and set up the late winner as the Timbers took a 2-1 win on Sept. 6; the teams reached a 1-1 draw Oct. 22 as Will Bruin hit for a stoppage-time equalizer for the Sounders.
· The Timbers win in the last meeting in Portland ended a six-game winning streak by the visiting team in the series. Sounders FC had won the previous three regular-season matchups at Providence Park, the win in 2018 their first win in Portland since 2014. When the Timbers took a 4-1 win on June 28, 2015, the three-goal victory equaled Portland’s largest margin of victory against the Sounders since 1977.
· The Timbers have come away with points from the last four matches in Seattle, winning three – their only wins ever in Seattle in MLS regular season games (Sounders FC were 7-0-3 leading up to the first win), though the Timbers won at home in the MLS Cup Playoffs meeting between the clubs.
· The teams met in 2018 in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Timbers winning in a dramatic penalty shootout in the Western Conference Quarterfinals after ending 4-4 on aggregate. The Timbers won the first leg 2-1 at Providence Park, then Sounders FC won 3-2 in extra time, sending the tie to the decider. It was a second win in a playoff series for the Timbers, also winning the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals.
· The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers have met 111 times in all competitions, the most between two U.S.-based clubs, the second-most in U.S./Canadian soccer history. Since their first meeting in 1975 in the old North American Soccer League, Seattle has won 54 times and Portland has won 42, with 15 draws. In MLS league play, Sounders FC have won 12 matches, the Timbers have won 10, and seven have been draws.
TIMBERS: Diego Valeri collected his first assist of the season. He now has 89 for his MLS career, two behind Cobi Jones for ninth-most all-time in MLS history.
SOUNDERS FC: Brad Smith scored a goal for a second consecutive game – the first two goals of his MLS career (in 39 appearances over four seasons). He also added an assist, his first in an MLS league game since Sept. 1, 2019 vs. LA Galaxy, when he had six that season.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. AUSTIN FC
Sunday, May 9, 2021 (Week 4, MLS Game #52)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
6:30 p.m. CT (FS1 / FOX Deportes; TSN 1)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Cameron Blanchard; AR2 (opposite): Kevin Klinger; 4th: Chris Ruska; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 107 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 33; pens: 54
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.
· Sporting went down to defeat for the first time in three games in 2021, dropping a 3-1 decision to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Alan Pulido scored his first goal of the season for SKC, his seventh in 15 career MLS league appearances.
· Austin FC won for a second consecutive match, defeating Minnesota United FC by the game’s only goal at Allianz Field on Saturday evening. Diego Fagundez scored for a second consecutive match after netting the first goal in club history the weekend before. Brad Stuver was called upon to make two saves in posting the first shutout in ATXFC history, the second clean sheet of his MLS career, the first coming in 2019 with New York City FC.
· The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories. They are scheduled to play again June 12 at Children’s Mercy Park, then Nov. 3 at Q2 Stadium in Austin.
SPORTING: Khiry Shelton collected his first assist of the season, his first since last March 7 vs. Houston.
ATXFC: Jared Stroud recorded his first assist with Austin FC; he had two last season with the New York Red Bulls, his MLS campaign. … Danny Hoesen collected his first assist of the season, his last in MLS coming Sept. 25, 2019 for San Jose vs. Philadelphia.#####
