MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 6 NEWS & NOTES
News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer
THE RECORDS OF THE YOUNGEST JUST CONTINUE TO FALL IN MLS
The ranks of the youngest players ever to see action in an MLS game gained a new member when Reed Baker-Whiting made his debut for Seattle Sounders FC vs. Los Angeles Football Club at Lumen Field on Sunday evening.
A Homegrown signing just the week earlier, Baker-Whiting was 16 years, 46 days of age when he came on as a late substitute in the match – the fifth-youngest player ever to see action in an MLS league game. But Baker-Whiting is the second-youngest to play for Sounders FC – 15 days older than Danny Leyva was when he made his league debut in 2019.
Since the start of the 2020 season, five of the 10 youngest players in MLS history have made their debuts – and since 2016, nine of the 10 youngest have made their bows.
YOUNG GOALKEEPERS AREN’T BEING LEFT BEHIND IN RECORD CHASE
The list of superlatives from young goalkeepers in MLS also increased last weekend, when David Ochoa of Real Salt Lake backstopped his club’s scoreless draw with Nashville SC at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Aged 20 years, 119 days, Ochoa became the fourth-youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to record their first shutout according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the youngest since Jesse Gonzalez recorded one for FC Dallas in 2015 at 20 years, 96 days.
Earlier this year, John Pulskamp of Sporting Kansas City, who celebrated his 20th birthday on April 19, became the third-youngest ‘keeper in MLS history to win a game in Sporting’s 2-1 win against New York Red Bulls two days earlier.
Then on May 1, Hunter Sulte of Portland Timbers, who turned 19 years of age on April 25, became the second-youngest goalkeeper to play and start in a game when he made his MLS debut vs. FC Dallas.
CHICARITO’S START STILL AMONG THE FASTEST EVER
With his goal last Saturday afternoon vs. Austin FC at Dignity Health Sports Park, Javier “Chicarito” Hernández of the LA Galaxy continued his torrid start to the 2021 season – one of the hottest beginnings in MLS history.
Hernández scored his seventh goal of the season, in the Galaxy’s fifth game this season – tied for the second-most goals through a club’s first five games in a season in league annals, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Hernández’s mark is just one off the league record set by Landon Donovan, who netted eight goals in the first five games in 2008 for the Galaxy.
Amazingly, of the six players with at least seven goals in the first five games, four of them were playing for the LA Galaxy at the time – including Edson Buddle (2010) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2019), who each also scored seven goals in the first five games of those seasons.
SEATTLE’S ALEX ROLDAN SAVES THE DAY IN RARE FEAT
When goalkeeper Stefan Frei of Seattle Sounders FC went down with an injury late in club’s match vs. the San Jose Earthquakes on May 12, it caused more than the usual predicament. With the club’s substitution availabilities all used, they could not bring on a reserve goalkeeper as a substitute – and so Alex Roldan was forced to don the gloves and take over in goal.
Roldan became the 14th field player in MLS history (12 in league games, two in the MLS Cup Playoffs) to take over in goal. During his minutes in goal during added time, Roldan made one save to preserve the shutout – becoming the second field player to combine on a shutout in league annals.
MLS WEEK 6 – LOOK AHEAD
CF MONTRÉAL vs. FC CINCINNATI
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #73)
DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
1 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; TSN / CTV; WSTR – Star 64)
REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): Peter Balciunas; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Marcos de Oliveira; VAR: Robert Sibiga; AVAR: Kyle Longville
MLS Career: 108 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 21; pens: 36
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: CFMTL 0 wins, 1 goal … FCC 2 wins, 3 goals … Ties 0
MONTREAL HOME GAME: CFMTL 0 wins, 0 goals … FCC 1 win, 1 goal … Ties 0
· CF Montréal dropped to a perfect .500 record for the season, falling 1-0 to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening.
· FC Cincinnati celebrated the opening of their new jewel, TQL Stadium, but fell to a third consecutive defeat in a 3-2 loss to Inter Miami CF on Sunday afternoon. Álvaro Barreal scored his first goal in MLS in his second season, while Nick Hagglund netted his second goal with the club, his first of the season.
· The teams did not meet during the 2020 season. During FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season in 2019, they met twice – and FCC won both. Allan Cruz and Fatai Alashe scored goals on either side of halftime as FC Cincinnati took a 2-1 win on May 11 at Nippert Stadium, then Cruz scored the game’s only goal after 28 seconds for the win Sept. 14 at Stade Saputo. It equaled the earliest the only goal of a game was scored for a 1-0 win in MLS history.
CFMTL: Mathieu Choinière started and played 79 minutes, his first start in an MLS match since Aug. 10, 2019, at Chicago.
FCC: Ronald Matarrita collected his second assist of the season, his first coming on FCC’s first goal of the season in the April 17 opener. … Luciano Acosta collected his first assist with FC Cincinnati, his first assist in an MLS game since March 16, 2019, with D.C. United.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. LA GALAXY
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #74)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
12:30 p.m. PT (ABC / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Cameron Blanchard; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Hanson; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Malik Badawi; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 131 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 17; pens: 50
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 10 wins, 49 goals … Galaxy 10 wins, 46 goals … Ties 6
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 6 wins, 28 goals … Galaxy 3 wins, 18 goals … Ties 3
· The Timbers snapped a quick two-game losing slide, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 at PayPal Park on Saturday evening. Yimmi Chará scored his first goal of the season, while Marvín Loria scored his first goal since 2019.
· The Galaxy won a second game in a row and for a fourth time in five matches, defeating Austin FC 2-0 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday afternoon. Javier Hernández netted his seventh goal in five matches of the season to seal the victory, after Sebastian Lletget netted his first of the season.
· The teams met four times a season ago, and the Timbers won three – the final two in goalfests. In the last meeting, Jaroslaw Niezgoda (two), Diego Valeri, Eryk Williamson and Andy Polo all scored as the Timbers took a 5-2 win at Providence Park on Oct. 28; three weeks earlier, Felipe Mora and Jeremy Ebobisse each scored twice as the Timbers set an club record in MLS play for goals in a game in a 6-3 win at Dignity Health Sports Park on Oct. 7. In the first meeting, the Timbers took a 2-1 win July 13 in the first match for both clubs in the MLS is Back Tournament, then the Galaxy claimed a 3-2 win at Providence Park on Sept. 2.
· Each team won at the other’s ground last season, the first away wins in the all-time series since 2017. The Timbers had a three-game undefeated streak in Portland before last year; the Galaxy were undefeated in their last two in the series in Carson.
TIMBERS: Eryk Williamson collected assists on both Timbers goals, the first two-assist game of his MLS career. … Logan Ketterer was credited with making four saves in recording the shutout in his MLS debut. … Felipe Mora recorded his second assist of the season, his first coming in the season opener.
GALAXY: Sacha Kljestan recorded an assist, his first of the season and the 94th of his MLS career, eighth-most in league history. … Julian Araujo collected his first assist of the season, the fifth in his three MLS campaigns. … Daniel Steres was credited with an assist, his first in an MLS league game since March 31, 2018 vs. LAFC, the third of his league career.
CHICAGO FIRE FC vs. INTER MIAMI CF
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #75)
Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.
5 p.m. CT (UniMás / TUDN)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Peter Manikowski; AR2 (opposite): Kevin Klinger; 4th: Adam Kilpatrick; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Eric Boria
MLS Career: 169 games; FC/gm: 27.6; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 25; pens: 40
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.
· Fire FC kick off a two-game homestand after falling for a fourth match in a row, dropping a decision to D.C. United by the game’s only goal at Audi Field in their last match on Wednesday evening.
· Inter Miami put an end to a three-match winless run, defeating FC Cincinnati 3-2 in the opening of TQL Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
· Gonzalo Higuaín netted a pair of goals, the first two-goal game of his MLS career, assisted by his brother Federico for a second time this season, one of seven sets of brothers to combine on a goal in MLS history.
· The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories. They are also scheduled to play Aug. 18 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
FIRE FC: Javier Casas Jr. made his MLS debut, coming on as a second-half substitute; at 17 years, 364 days, he is the fourth-youngest player to appear in a match in Fire club history. … Brian Gutiérrez became the youngest Homegrown Player for Fire FC – and third overall in club history – to start a match, at 17 years, 331 days.
INTER MIAMI: Lewis Morgan collected a pair of assists, the first two-assist game of his MLS career (in 29 appearances). He now has three for the season, tied for second in MLS. … Gregore collected his second assist of the season, both coming in the last three games. … Sami Guediri recorded his first career assist in MLS, in his fourth appearance.
ORLANDO CITY SC vs. TORONTO FC
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #76)
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
7 p.m. ET (TSN 1 / 4; FOX35 Plus / LionNation)
REFEREE: Victor Rivas. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Ian McKay; 4th: Alyssa Nichols; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 21 games; FC/gm: 23.2; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 3; pens: 9
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Orlando City 2 wins, 11 goals … Toronto FC 8 wins, 26 goals … Ties 2
ORLANDO HOME GAME: Orlando City 2 wins, 7 goals … Toronto FC 4 wins, 12 goals … Ties 0
· Orlando City SC remained undefeated on the season with a second win in five games, defeating D.C. United by the game’s only goal at Audi Field on Sunday evening. Mauricio Pereyra scored the lone goal, his first of the season.
· Toronto FC gained a second consecutive result, reaching a 1-1 draw with New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jacob Shaffelburg scored his first career goal in MLS, in his 17th league appearance over three seasons.
· The teams did not meet during the 2020 season. During the 2019 campaign, Jonathan Osorio and Jay Chapman netted goals in the second half as TFC took a 2-0 win on May 4 in Orlando; the teams reached a 1-1 draw Aug. 14 at BMO Field, with OCSC’s Benji Michel and TFC’s Patrick Mullins trading goals midway through the second half.
· Toronto FC have won eight of the 12 meetings all-time, with two draws. Both of OCSC’s wins have come on their home ground; TFC has now won there four times vs. Orlando City, in six visits. TFC has won four of the six meetings all-time at BMO Field, without defeat; Orlando City’s lone result in Toronto came in a goalless draw on Sept. 28, 2016.
OCSC: Pedro Gallese was credited with one save in recording his third shutout of the season, in five matches, tied for the MLS league lead (with Andre Blake [PHI] and Joe Willis [NSH]). Gallese has equaled his shutout total of a year ago, when he played 19 matches. … Tesho Akindele recorded an assist, his first in an MLS league game since Aug. 3, 2019, vs. FC Dallas.
TFC: Patrick Mullins recorded his first assist of the season, his first since last Nov. 1 vs. Inter Miami CF, his lone assist of 2020.
NEW YORK CITY FC vs. COLUMBUS CREW
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #77)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
7:30 p.m. ET (YES; Bally Sports OH)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Logan Brown; AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson; 4th: JC Griggs; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Brian Dunn
MLS Career: 139 games; FC/gm: 25.1; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 19; pens: 40
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 5 wins, 25 goals … Crew 5 wins, 23 goals … Ties 4
AT NYCFC: NYCFC 4 wins, 11 goals … Crew 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 1
· NYCFC extended their undefeated streak to four games with a second successive draw, reaching a 1-1 result with Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jesús Medina scored his fourth goal of the season, all over the last four games.
· The Crew suffered a second consecutive reversal, falling by the game’s only goal to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Sunday evening.
· The teams met three times a season ago, and home form held true. In the last meeting, Artur, Pedro Santos and Gyasi Zardes all netted goals as the Crew took a 3-1 win Oct. 18 on their home ground; they also opened the 2020 season against each other, with Lucas Zelarayan netting the game’s lone goal for a Columbus home win March 1. On Aug. 24, Alexander Ring scored the game’s only goal as NYCFC took the win at Red Bull Arena.
· NYCFC have won their last four home meetings, winning the last two by the game’s only goal. Columbus has not scored in their last 312 minutes at NYCFC, last on Oct. 22, 2017 in a game played at CitiField in Queens. NYCFC have won once all-time in Columbus, a 3-2 win there in 2017.
NYCFC: The game vs. the Crew is the first of eight home games scheduled for Red Bull Arena for NYCFC. They were 3-2-0 in home games in Harrison in 2020.
CREW: Gyasi Zardes made the 200th league start of his MLS career, the 121st player in league history to reach the double-century mark.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #78)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
8 p.m. ET (WSBK TV30 / MyRITV; MSG)
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Luis Guardia; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 276 games; FC/gm: 22.9; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 43; pens: 87
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 31 wins (3 shootout), 120 goals … Red Bulls 28 wins (2 shootout), 123 goals … Ties 17
AT NEW ENGLAND: Revolution 23 wins (1 shootout), 70 goals … Red Bulls 6 wins (2 shootout), 44 goals … Ties 8
· The Revolution put an end to a quick two-game winless run with a third victory of the season, defeating Columbus SC by the game’s only goal at Gillette Stadium on Sunday evening. Adam Buksa netted the goal, his second of the season.
· The Red Bulls saw their two-game winning run come to an end, falling by the game’s only goal to the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Saturday evening.
· The teams met twice a season ago. Aaron Long scored the game’s only goal two minutes from time for a Red Bulls home win Oct. 28; the Red Bulls’ Omir Fernández and Gustavo Bou of the Revolution traded goals six minutes apart in the first half, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw Aug. 29 at Gillette Stadium.
· The visiting team has won just twice in the series over the past 13 seasons in league play. The Red Bulls won 3-2 on July 5, 2017 in Foxborough, their second win there in four seasons. When the Red Bulls won 2-0 at Gillette Stadium on June 8, 2014, it was the first for New York in New England since 2002. The Revolution had won 13 of 19 meetings in league and MLS Cup play since that previous New York win.
· The Revolution have never defeated the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena in league play. Since the stadium opened in 2010, the Red Bulls have won 10 of 12 regular-season games there, with two draws. When the Revolution won 2-1 in Harrison in the first leg of the 2014 Eastern Conference Championship, it was their first win of any sort in New Jersey since 2007, ending a 10-game winless streak there in all competitions. The Revolution did defeat the Montréal Impact in Harrison in an Impact home game last year.
REVOLUTION: Carles Gil recorded his third assist of the season, in his fifth match, one of five players tied for second place in the MLS assist standings. … Brandon Bye recorded his first assist of the season, his first since March 7, 2020 vs. Chicago.
RED BULLS: Tom Edwards made his MLS debut, coming on as a substitute for the final 54 minutes.
FC DALLAS vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #79)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
7 p.m. CT (FCDTV / Estrella KMPX-29; KMYU-12)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): TJ Zablocki; AR2 (opposite): Ryan Graves; 4th: Matthew Thompson; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Corey Rockwell
MLS Career: 44 games; FC/gm: 27.3; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 8; pens: 13
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 20 wins, 60 goals … Real 12 wins, 46 goals … Ties 9
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 13 wins, 34 goals … Real 1 wins, 13 goals … Ties 4
· FC Dallas saw a two-game undefeated streak come to an end, falling by the game’s only goal to Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Saturday evening.
· Real Salt Lake gained a third result in four matches, playing to a goalless draw with Nashville SC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. David Ochoa was credited with three saves in recording the clean sheet, the fourth-youngest to post a shutout in MLS history (aged 20 years, 119 days).
· The teams met once a season ago, playing to a scoreless draw Oct. 24 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The last two meetings have ended in goalless results, once at each ground.
· The teams have played to draws the last two meetings at Toyota Stadium. RSL is 1-13-4 at FC Dallas all-time in league games between the clubs, FCD undefeated in the last six meetings there. FC Dallas has also won a home game in the MLS Cup Playoffs (in 2010) and a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal (in 2011). The lone RSL win in Frisco came on July 13, 2013, a 3-0 victory. FC Dallas have won three of the last seven meetings in Sandy, with two draws, dating back to 2015.
FCD: The goal four minutes into stoppage time was the latest goal conceded by FC Dallas in a 1-0 game in the club’s history.
REAL: Noah Powder made his MLS debut, coming on as a substitute for the final seven minutes.
HOUSTON DYNAMO FC vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #80)
BBVA Stadium, Houston, Texas
8 p.m. CT (TSN 1 / 4; QuestTexas 55)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Rosendo Mendoza; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 99 games; FC/gm: 23.9; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 36; pens: 22
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo FC 5 wins, 20 goals … Whitecaps FC 8 wins, 24 goals .. Ties 3
AT HOUSTON: Dynamo FC 5 wins, 13 goals … Whitecaps FC 1 wins, 7 goals .. Ties 1
· Dynamo FC saw their three-game undefeated streak come to an end, falling 3-1 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Guillermo Ramírez scored his first goal of the season for the Dynamo.
· Whitecaps FC suffered a second consecutive reversal, dropping a 3-0 decision to Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon.
· The teams did not meet during the 2020 season; in 2019, each won one matchup on their home ground. Memo Rodríguez scored a pair of goals, including the 73rd-minute game-winner, as the Dynamo claimed a 3-2 win on March 16 at BBVA Stadium; Fredy Montero scored an 90th-minute game-winner to give Whitecaps FC the 2-1 win Sept. 14 at BC Place.
· The win in the first meeting for the Dynamo snapped a three-game Whitecaps FC undefeated streak in the series. The Dynamo have now won five of the seven encounters in Houston (with one draw).
· Whitecaps FC have won six of the eight meetings all-time in Vancouver, with two draws, including a 2-2 result last year on May 11 in the last matchup there. The Whitecaps FC 2-1 victory in Houston last year was the first ever in the series by the visiting team.
DYNAMO FC: Memo Rodríguez collected his first assist of the season, his first since last Sept. 9, also vs. Colorado. … Adam Lundkvist recorded his second assist of the year, his first two assists since the 2019 season.
WHITECAPS FC: Rookie Javain Brown made his MLS debut, coming on as a substitute for the final 29 minutes, the 23rd overall selection in the 2021 SuperDraft.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #81)
PayPal Park, San Jose, Calif.
7 p.m. PT (NBCS-BA; Bally Sports KC)
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Jeff Hosking; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
MLS Career: 180 games; FC/gm: 22.1; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 45; pens: 75
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Earthquakes 25 wins (3 shootout), 75 goals … Sporting 27 wins (4 shootout), 76 goals … Ties 8
AT SAN JOSE: Earthquakes 17 wins (1 shootout), 43 goals … Sporting 6 wins (2 shootout), 27 goals … Ties 7
· The Quakes suffered a second consecutive defeat, falling 2-0 to the Portland Timbers at PayPal Park on Saturday evening.
· Sporting Kansas City won for a second time in three games, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-0 at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon. Alan Pulido scored a pair of goals, the second two-goal game of his MLS career (in 18 league appearances).
· The teams did not meet during the 2020 regular season. During the 2019 season, they met twice, each winning at home. Danny Hoesen netted a pair of goals before the break as the Quakes eased to a 4-1 win on April 20 at Avaya Stadium, then Sporting took a 2-1 win Aug. 17 at Children’s Mercy Park.
· The Quakes win in the first meeting in 2019 ended a six-game Sporting undefeated streak in the series, their first win in the series since 2016. Sporting have won the last four league meetings in Kansas City; the last San Jose win at Children’s Mercy Park came in 2015, a 5-0 victory, which is the largest in the all-time series.
· The teams also met in an epic Round One match in the MLS Cup Playoffs last year at Children’s Mercy Park. Chris Wondolowski scored the equalizer in stoppage time to leave the teams in a 3-3 draw after 120 minutes, then Sporting advanced in the penalty shootout. Tim Melia saved all three shootout attempts by the Earthquakes, the first time in 19 penalty shootouts in the MLS Cup Playoffs a goalkeeper saved all three attempts he faced.
QUAKES: Benji Kikanovic made his Quakes and MLS debut, coming on as a substitute for the final 27 minutes.
SPORTING: Daniel Salloí scored his second goal of the season, his first coming in the season opener April 17 at the Red Bulls. …. Gadi Kinda recorded his first assist of the season, his first since last Oct. 28.
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #82)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (My13/KCOP / Estrella TV; Altitude)
REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Kyle Atkins; 4th: Brandon Stevis; VAR: Alex Chilowicz; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 164 games; FC/gm: 25.6; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 46; pens: 52
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: LAFC 3 wins, 8 goals … Rapids 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0
AT BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM: LAFC 2 wins, 5 goals … Rapids 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0
· LAFC suffered a second loss in a row, falling 2-0 to Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on Sunday evening.
· The Rapids won their third game on the trot, defeating Houston Dynamo FC 3-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Diego Rubio and Cole Bassett each scored their second goals of the season, while Michael Barrios collected a pair of assists, the eighth multiple-assist game of his MLS career.
· The teams did not meet during the 2020 season. In 2019, Carlos Vela scored a hat trick as LAFC took a 3-1 win on Decision Day (Oct. 6) at Banc of California Stadium; on June 28 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Danny Wilson scored the game’s only goal on 49 minutes, giving the Rapids the victory.
· The teams met twice in LAFC’s inaugural season, and the expansion club won both, without conceding a goal. LAFC took a 2-0 win on Aug. 19 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, then claimed a 3-0 victory on Oct. 6 at Banc of California Stadium.
LAFC: Carlos Vela came on as a substitute for the final 20 minutes, his first appearance since the season opener April 17 vs. Austin FC, when he left the field after 22 minutes.
RAPIDS: Sam Vines scored the second league goal of his MLS career, his first coming last Sept. 12 at Real Salt Lake. … William Yarbrough was credited with an assist, his first in MLS. … Keegan Rosenberry collected his first assist of the season, his first since garnering assists in back-to-back games Feb. 29-March 7, 2020.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. ATLANTA UNITED
Sunday, May 23, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #83)
Lumen Field, Seattle, Wash.
1:30 p.m. PT (FOX / FOX Deportes; TSN3)
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Younes Marrakchi; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 364 games; FC/gm: 24.4; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 84; pens: 97
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 1 win, 3 goals … ATLUTD 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 2
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 1 win, 2 goals … ATLUTD 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 1
· Sounders FC won their fourth game in a row and remained undefeated on the new season, defeating Los Angeles Football Club 2-0 at Lumen Field on Sunday evening. Both goals came from defenders – Xavier Arreaga netted his first MLS goal in three games, while Brad Smith scored his third of the season – the first three in his four MLS campaigns.
· ATLUTD won their second match of the league campaign, defeating CF Montréal by the game’s only goal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening. Marcelino Moreno scored his second goal of the season, both coming in the last three games.
· The teams did not meet during the 2020 season. In their last meeting July 14, 2019 in Seattle, Raúl Ruidíaz and Harry Shipp bracketed a Josef Martínez goal, giving Sounders FC a 2-1 win.
· The teams met twice previously, and played to a pair of draws, once at each ground. They played to a goalless draw in their first encounter ever, March 31, 2017, in Seattle; they reached a 1-1 result at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 15, 2018.
SOUNDERS FC: Reed Baker-Whiting came on as a substitute for his MLS debut – the fifth-youngest player to see action in a league game, at 16 years, 46 days of age (but the second-youngest in Sounders FC history, behind Danny Leyva at 16 years, 31 days). … Joao Paulo collected his third assist of the season, one of five players tied for second in the MLS assist standings. … Alex Roldan recorded his second assist of the season, his first since the season opener. … Raúl Ruidíaz gained his first assist of the season, his first since last Oct. 27, now involved in six of Sounders FC’s 13 goals on the season.
ATLUTD: Jake Mulraney recorded his second assist of the season and in MLS, both coming in the last two games. … Brad Guzan was credited with two saves in recording his second shutout of the season and the 62nd of his MLS career.
D.C. UNITED vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Sunday, May 23, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #84)
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
7 p.m. ET (NBCS-Wash / TeleXitos; PHL 17)
REFEREE: Timothy Ford. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Diego Blas; 4th: Danielle Chesky; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 30 games; FC/gm: 20.7; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 6; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 8 wins, 32 goals … Union 14 wins, 50 goals … Ties 5
AT D.C.: D.C. United 5 wins, 21 goals … Union 4 wins, 26 goals … Ties 5
· D.C. United weren’t able to build upon a second victory of the season, falling to Orlando City SC by the game’s only goal at Audi Field on Sunday evening.
· The Union won for a second time in the last three games, defeating the New York Red Bulls by the game’s only goal at Subaru Park on Saturday evening. Cory Burke netted the goal, his second of the season in the last three weeks.
· The teams met twice a season ago. Kacper Przybylko scored a pair of goals and added an assist as the Union cruised to a 4-1 win Aug. 29 at Subaru Park; the teams played to a 2-2 draw Oct. 14 at Audi Field, two second-half goals from United’s Donovan Pines and Yamil Asad canceling out an early Anthony Fontana strike, before Mark McKenzie scored a late leveler.
· The Union are undefeated in the last eight meetings between the teams, over the past four seasons, winning seven in a row before the draw in the last matchup, with a 24-7 edge in goals. The Union have won the past seven meetings in Chester, Pa., over the last five seasons; they are undefeated in three visits all-time to Audi Field, with two wins and a draw.
UNITED: Paul Arriola made his first start of the season, his first in an MLS league game since Oct. 6, 2019 vs. FC Cincinnati.
UNION: Jamiro Monteiro collected his second assist of the season, both coming in the last three games. … Anthony Fontana recorded the second assist of his MLS career in his fourth season, his first coming July 7, 2019 vs. Orlando City. … Andre Blake was credited with one save in recording his third shutout of the season, tied for the MLS league lead (with Pedro Gallese [ORL] and Joe Willis [NSH]).
NASHVILLE SC vs. AUSTIN FC
Sunday, May 23, 2021 (Week 6, MLS Game #85)
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
8 p.m. CT (FS1 / FOX Deportes; TSN2)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Kathryn Nesbitt; AR2 (opposite): Chantal Boudreau; 4th: Elton Garcia; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 174 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 52; pens: 70
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.
· Nashville SC remained undefeated on the season with a fourth draw of the year, reaching a goalless result with Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Joe Willis was not called upon to make a save in recording a third consecutive shutout, tied for the league lead, extending his shutout streak to 318 minutes.
· Austin FC suffered a second consecutive reversal, falling to the LA Galaxy 2-0 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.
· The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories. It is their only scheduled meeting in the 2021 campaign.
NASHVILLE SC: Joe Willis is tied for the MLS league lead with three shutouts (with Pedro Gallese [ORL] and Andre Blake [PHI]); he led the league with nine shutouts a season ago.
ATXFC: Aedan Stanley made his Austin FC and MLS debut, coming on as a substitute; he was the 21st overall selection in the 2021 SuperDraft.
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