This Week in MLS - May 14, 2018

This Week in MLS – May 14, 2018

• 22 MLS players from 6 countries named to FIFA World Cup provisional rosters
• Gaber’s reunion with Bradley at LAFC paying dividends in World Cup year
• MLS All-Star opponent reigning supreme in Italy
• Academy products contributing at record pace for MLS clubs
• MLS Week 12: Match Notes

22 MLS players from 6 countries named to FIFA World Cup provisional rosters
Around half of the participating countries at the 2018 FIFA World Cup have announced their provisional rosters for this summer’s tournament, as 22 MLS players representing six different countries have received the call to play on the world’s biggest stage. Additional roster updates will be announced over the coming days, with several MLS players awaiting their fate for their national teams. Costa Rica and Panama led all countries calling in seven MLS players each, while Mexico named three Los Angeles-based players to its roster (LA Galaxy’s
Jonathan
and
Giovani dos Santos
and Los Angeles Football Club’s
Carlos Vela
).

Included among the players whose stellar MLS play garnered international attention are LAFC defender Steven Beitashour and Orlando City SC defender Amro Tarek. Beitashour represented Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but had not been called into the national team since. Fresh off winning a historic treble with Toronto FC in 2017, Beitashour has helped LAFC to a strong MLS start, scoring one goal and adding three assists for the second-place team in the Western Conference. Tarek, meanwhile, was one of two MLS players called into Egypt’s provisional roster, joining LAFC defender Omar Gaber. Tarek, who has one cap for Egypt, earned a call amid a standout first season with Orlando, helping the Lions to a club-record six consecutive victories earlier this season.

A full list of MLS players named to 2018 FIFA World Cup provisional rosters can be found
here
.
*
List as of 4 p.m. ET, May 14, 2018
Gaber’s reunion with Bradley at LAFC paying dividends in World Cup year
Egypt national team defender
Omar Gaber
regularly credits Los Angeles Football Club coach
Bob Bradley
to where he has gotten today in his professional and international career. As a teenager, Gaber earned his first international cap on Oct. 8, 2011, just three weeks after Bradley was named Egypt’s new manager. Gaber’s working relationship has come full circle in MLS, putting him in a strong position to reach this year’s global spectacle.
Gaber’s impact on LAFC’s star-studded roster is increasing with each match, and as one of multiple LAFC players named to their respective FIFA World Cup provisional rosters, he is just one step away from representing Egypt in Russia. Gaber and Egyptian teammate Mohamed Salah, who just broke the Premier League single-season goals record with Liverpool, were both talented 19-year-old phenoms who earned a shot with Bradley at the helm.
“Mr. Bob Bradley was the first coach who chose us to play in the first team,” Gaber said. “Before that, we were playing in the youth national team together.”
“He’s exciting, dynamic, very fast, can play in different positions, and somebody that just has a real willingness to give everything he has on the field,” Bradley said when LAFC signed Gaber. “You think about the club, and the energy, the commitment for the club to connect with the heart of Los Angeles, Omar is just that kind of guy.”

• MLSSoccer.com:Gaber’s World Cup dream | Reunited with Bradley
  

The 26-year-old Gaber is coming off his second start and sixth consecutive appearance this past weekend against New York City FC. It marked his first 90-minute MLS match, and now Gaber and road-savvy LAFC travel to face the red-hot Portland Timbers on Saturday at Providence Park, with the broadcast on FOX (3 p.m. ET).
LAFC (6-2-2, 20 points), which leads MLS with four road wins and is second in the Western Conference standings, goes up against reigning MLS Landon Donovan MVP
Diego Valeri
and Portland (4-3-2, 14 points) this Sunday. Valeri has posted a team-leading three assists along with four goals in nine matches. Argentine Designated Player
Sebastián Blanco
, in his second season with Portland, tallied his team-leading fifth goal this past Sunday as the Timbers defeated Seattle Sounders FC in the 100th meeting between the two sides among all competitions since the mid-1970s.The Timbers’ hot streak has catapulted the club into fourth place in the West to overcome a five-game winless streak to open the year.
MLS All-Star opponent reigning supreme in Italy
The MLS All-Stars will face undeniably the best club in Italian soccer history, as the growing Juventus legend continues to reach epic proportions. Juventus last week captured a fourth Coppa Italia crown with a decisive 4-0 defeat of AC Milan on Wednesday before securing a

after a scoreless tie with Roma earned the Scudetto on Sunday. Juventus will take on the best in MLS this summer during the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on August 1 in Atlanta (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN / UniMas / TSN / TVAS).
Academy products contributing at record pace for MLS clubs
Coming off a record 2017 season of Homegrown Player production, MLS academy products continue to shine in 2018, on track to once again break a multitude of single-season records. Across 298 games played this season, Homegrown Players have scored 26 times and assisted on another 29 goals in 2018.
Among the Homegrown standouts include 17-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder
Alphonso Davies
, whose three assists tie for the team lead. Davies starred for the Canada National Team at the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup, winning the Golden Boot award for the most goals scored in the tournament. Also starring this season is 21-year-old forward
Dániel Sallói
, who has three goals and four assists for Western Conference-leading Sporting Kansas City. New York Red Bulls 21-year-old midfielder
Derrick Etienne Jr
. is tied for second on the team with three goals this season in a super sub role, while
Diego Fagúndez
has three goals and two assists for the New England Revolution. Rounding out the group of standout Homegrowns is Real Salt Lake forward
Corey Baird
, who is tied for the league-lead among all rookies with three goals scored.
Homegrown Player Production in MLS
               GP          GS          MIN    G            A
2018    298        200        18207   26          29
2017      1198      803        74425   78          94
2016      751        532        48488   58          43
2015      815        602        54767   50          54
2014      576        422        38878   39          35
2013      522        417        37846   39          41
2012      243        157        14824    9           23
2011      207        124        12294   17          14
2010      75          48          4441      7             7
2009      13          5             429       0             4
As of May 14, 2018
MLS Week 12: Match Notes
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. ET (TSN, ESPN+)

• Whitecaps FC gained a second consecutive home result in dramatic fashion last time out, with Kendall Waston netting the equalizer deep into stoppage time for a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo at BC Place.
  
• The Quakes put an end to their winless streak after seven games, winning for the first time since the season opener in a 3-1 win against Minnesota United FC at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday evening. The victory also put an end to a seven-game winless streak away from San Jose.
  
• The Quakes have a five-game undefeated streak in the league series, the last Whitecaps FC win in a regular-season meeting between the teams coming July 26, 2015. In the five league meetings since, the Quakes have won twice, with three draws.
  
• The teams did also meet in the Knockout Round in last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs – and Whitecaps FC took a 5-0 win at BC Place, the second-most goals scored by a team in a postseason game in league history.
  
• The Quakes have come away with points on their past two league trips to BC Place, including a 1-1 draw in the last meeting between the teams on Oct. 15. The Quakes’ 2-1 win on Aug. 12, 2016 at BC Place was the first ever for the away team in the all-time series. The Quakes had lost on each of their six previous visits to Vancouver.
  
• The Quakes have never lost to Whitecaps FC at home, with three wins in nine meetings there all-time. The teams have reached draws in five of the past seven meetings in San Jose. The Quakes’ win last March 11 was the first by either team there since April 11, 2015.
  

Friday, May 18, 2018
Toronto FC vs. Orlando City SC, 8 p.m. ET (TSN, ESPN+)

• TFC suffered a second consecutive loss for a third time this season in league play, falling 3-2 to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.
  
• Sebastian Giovinco converted a penalty kick for his second goal this season, a fourth consecutive game where he’s had a goal or an assist, with two goals and three assists in that span. But Giovinco will miss the Orlando City match after he was sent off late against the Revolution.
  
• Orlando City had their club-record six-game winning streak put to an end, falling 2-1 to Atlanta United at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday afternoon. OCSC suffered a defeat for the first time since March 17.
  
• TFC have a four-game undefeated streak alive in the series between the clubs, winning both encounters a year ago – a 2-1 win on May 3 at BMO Field, and a 3-1 win on July 5 at Orlando City Stadium. Toronto FC have won six of the eight meetings all-time, with one draw.
  
• TFC have won their past two visits to Orlando, and in three of four meetings there all-time. OCSC’s lone home win in the series was their only win ever against Toronto FC, a 3-2 victory on June 25, 2016.
  
• TFC have won three of the four meetings all-time at BMO Field, without defeat; Orlando City’s lone result in Toronto came in a goalless draw on Sept. 28, 2016.
  

Saturday, May 19, 2018
New York City FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• NYCFC had their road winless streak stretched to three games – but with a second draw in that time – gaining a 2-2 result with the Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday evening. David Villa and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi each netted their fifth goals of the season.
  
• The Rapids suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, a second in a row at home, falling 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.
  
• New York City FC have never lost to the Rapids in their short history, in three meetings. The teams are meeting for a second time at Yankee Stadium – NYCFC matched their club record with a 5-1 win on July 30, 2016.
  
• The teams have met twice at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, with both ending in draws – a goalless result in their first meeting in 2015, and a 1-1 draw last Sept. 16 in the only meeting between the clubs.
  

Portland Timbers vs. Los Angeles Football Club, 3 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Deportes)

• The Timbers won their fourth consecutive game – equaling the club’s record winning streak in its MLS history, set twice previously – in a 1-0 win against Seattle Sounders FC at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon, the 100th meeting ever between the clubs.
  
• Jeff Attinella recorded a third consecutive shutout in a third consecutive start, now 331 minutes since allowing his last goal, dating back to last season. The Timbers have not allowed a goal in their last 279 minutes, the 10th-longest streak in the club’s time in MLS.
  
• LAFC finished their inaugural four-game homestand undefeated, reaching a 2-2 draw with New York City FC at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The result extended LAFC’s overall undefeated run to six games.
  
• Carlos Vela scored his sixth goal of the season, a third consecutive game with a goal and/or an assist; Vela has a goal and/or an assist in eight of 10 games this season, playing a part of half of LAFC’s first 22 goals (six goals, five assists)
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time, the first of two meetings in LAFC’s inaugural season. They will meet at Banc of California Stadium on July 15.
  

FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 4 p.m. ET (CTV, TSN, ESPN+)

• FC Dallas put an end to a brief two-game winless run, gaining a 3-2 win against the LA Galaxy at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Mauro Diaz equaled the FC Dallas club record achieved three times earlier, setting up all three goals in the Galaxy win. Two of the goals were from Roland Lamah, his second two-goal this season; Lamah has scored 16 goals in his two MLS seasons – 13 of those have come when he has scored multiple goals in a game (five two-goal games; one hat trick).
  
• Felipe Martins recorded a pair of assists, setting up both goals in Whitecaps FC’s 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo at BC Place on Friday, the fifth multiple-assist game of his MLS career.
  
• Whitecaps FC won the last meeting between the teams, a 4-0 victory last July 29 at Toyota Stadium – their first win ever in Frisco. FC Dallas had won the first seven meetings at home, outscoring Vancouver 14-2.
  
• Whitecaps FC have come away with points in their past seven home matches with FC Dallas, with three wins and four draws, including a 1-1 draw in the only meeting last year at BC Place on June 17.
  

New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew SC, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• The Revolution won a second consecutive game at Gillette Stadium, holding out for a 3-2 win against Toronto FC on Saturday evening. Cristian Penilla scored a pair of goals, his first multi-goal game in MLS; Penilla has four goals and four assists this season, involved in eight of the Revolution’s 18 goals on the year.
  
• Crew SC recorded a third consecutive shutout, winning a second match in a row, defeating the Chicago Fire 3-0 at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Crew SC have now not allowed a goal in their last 315 minutes, the third-longest shutout streak in the club’s 23-year history.
  
• Gyasi Zardes scored a pair of goals, now with eight on the season, tied for the lead in the MLS Golden Boot standings (with Josef Martínez of Atlanta United).
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season, twice trading goals in the first half before ending in a 2-2 draw April 21 at Mapfre Stadium.
  
• The draw in the first meeting ended a four-game Crew SC winning streak in the league series, since 2014, though the Revolution won the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series in 2014.
  
• The Revolution won the last meeting between the teams at Gillette Stadium, a 2-1 win last May 21, which ended a three-game Crew SC winning streak overall in the series.
  

Philadelphia Union vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• The Union put an end to a two-game losing streak overall and a club-record 16-game winless streak on the road (including six consecutive losses), defeating the Montréal Impact 2-0 at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon.
  
• Cory Burke netted the Union’s opening goal, his first in MLS, the first goal scored by the Union on their travels this season. The 402-minute road goalless streak to start a season equaled the fourth-longest in MLS history.
  
• Real put an end to their two-game losing streak – winning a fourth consecutive game at Rio Tinto Stadium – defeating D.C. United 3-2 on Saturday evening. Corey Baird scored for a second consecutive game, his third goal of the season.
  
• Nick Rimando recorded the 200th league win of his career, the all-time MLS leader in the category.
  
• Real have never lost to the Union in 10 meetings all-time. Real have won four times in the series, including each of the last two seasons, last year winning 1-0 on May 27 at Rio Tinto Stadium in the only meeting between the teams.
  
• Real won on their last visit to Chester, a 2-1 win July 31, 2016, after reaching draws in the first four matches there. RSL’s win in Sandy last year was their first at home since 2011, a 2-1 victory.
  

San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• D.C. United won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a historic 4-0 win on Sept. 23 in the last encounter at RFK Stadium. Patrick Mullins scored four goals over a 31-minute span in the second half – the fastest four goals scored by a player in MLS history, and the first player in 5,031 MLS league matches to score four goals in a half.
  
• United have taken points on three of their past four visits to northern California, last coming in a 1-1 draw on April 2, 2016 in the last visit to Avaya Stadium. They won the last meeting between the teams at Buck Shaw Stadium, a 2-1 win in 2014. United’s win there in 2011 was their first on the road against San Jose since 1998.
  
• Chris Wondolowski came off the substitutes’ bench vs. Minnesota United to score a goal and add an assist – the 11th time he’s had at least one goal and one assist in the same game. Wondolowski now has 136 career league goals, nine away from Landon Donovan’s all-time MLS record.
  
• D.C. United suffered a fifth consecutive loss on the road this season, falling 3-2 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Steve Birnbaum netted his first goal since 2016, while Paul Arriola scored his second MLS goal.
  

Sunday, May 20, 2018
Minnesota United FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Minnesota suffered a second consecutive defeat – its first after back-to-back home wins – falling 3-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Christian Ramirez netted his second goal of the season.
  
• Sporting return to action after a weekend off, winning for a second consecutive game – both by shutout – in a 2-0 triumph against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last Wednesday. Daniel Salloí scored for a second consecutive game, while Ilie Sanchez set up both SKC goals.
  
• The teams met three times in MNUFC’s inaugural season, evenly splitting their league series. Minnesota United won the first matchup between the clubs, a 2-0 win on May 7 at TCF Bank Stadium; they also reached a 1-1 draw in Minneapolis on Oct. 7. Sporting won the lone meeting in Kansas City, a 3-0 triumph on June 3.
  
• The teams also met in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with Sporting strolling to a 4-0 victory on June 14 at Children’s Mercy Park.
  

Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo, 4 p.m. ET (UniMás, UDN)

• The Fire had their brief two-game road undefeated streak put to an end, falling 3-0 to Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The Dynamo gained a third draw in four away matches this season, hauled back into a late 2-2 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Friday evening. Mauro Manotas netted his fifth goal of the season, tied for seventh place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
  
• The Fire have never won at BBVA Compass Stadium. In six meetings there all-time, the Dynamo have won three, with three draws, including a 3-0 victory in the lone meeting between the clubs on MLS Decision Day presented by AT&T (Oct. 22) last season.
  
• Chicago hasn’t won in Houston since the 2007 season, now 10 consecutive visits without a victory – after the Fire won on their first two visits there ever, the Dynamo have won five meetings since, with four draws.
  
• The Dynamo haven’t won at Toyota Park since the 2009 season. The Fire have won four of the last seven meetings in Bridgeview, with three draws, including a 1-0 win May 21, 2016 in the last meeting there between the teams.
  

Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls, 7 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Deportes, TSN)

• Atlanta United won their fourth consecutive road match – a club record in their two MLS seasons – defeating Orlando City SC 2-1 at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday evening.
  
• Josef Martínez scored his eighth goal of the season, tied for the lead in the MLS Golden Boot standings (with Gyasi Zardes of Columbus).
  
• The Red Bulls won their third consecutive game – their second in a row on their travels – defeating the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.
  
• Bradley Wright-Phillips collected an assist, now with a goal and/or an assist in five consecutive games, with three goals and four assists in that span. His five assists this season are already tied for second-most in a season in his six years in MLS.
  
• The teams met twice in Atlanta United’s inaugural MLS season – and the Red Bulls came away with points from both. The Red Bulls won 2-1 on March 5 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta United’s first league match; the teams played to a scoreless draw Oct. 15 at Red Bull Arena.
  

Monday, May 21, 2018
Montreal Impact vs. LA Galaxy, 3 p.m. ET (TVA Sports, TSN, ESPN+)

• The Impact suffered a second consecutive loss – both by shutout – falling 2-0 to the Philadelphia Union at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon.
  
• The Galaxy suffered their fourth consecutive loss, their second in a row on the road, falling 3-2 to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening. Ola Kamara scored for a third consecutive game, now with four goals on the season.
  
• The Impact won the last meeting between the teams at Stade Saputo, a 3-2 victory May 28, 2016, their first win ever against the Galaxy. The teams had reached draws on the Galaxy’s first two visits to Montréal.
  
• The Impact have never scored a goal at StubHub Center. The Galaxy won 2-0 on April 7 in the only meeting between the teams a year ago, their second victory in three matches in Carson (with one draw).