This Week in MLS – July 10, 2017
- Vancouver's Alphonso Davies sets record while MLS players light up score sheets in opening week of Gold Cup play
- Heated rivalries and defensive standouts highlight U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals action
- Men in Blazers LIVE MLS All-Star Extravaganza presented by Etihad to take place in Chicago
- Media credential application deadline approaching for the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target
- Sweet Tweets
Vancouver's Alphonso Davies sets record while MLS players light up score sheets in opening week of Gold Cup play
The opening week of 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup play saw MLS players act as the difference makers for their respective nations, with these standouts putting in four of the six Man of the Match performances, provide the game-winning or tying assist in three instances, and finish with seven of the 17 goals scored. With 51 players called up to the group stage, a
league record for the most players called
into Gold Cup, MLS sees representation on nine of the 12 participating national teams, and 18 MLS teams seeing at least one of its players called up.
No player shined more than Alphonso Davies of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who with his
two goals
in Canada’s 4-2 win over French Guiana, became not only the youngest player to score in Gold Cup history but also became the first player born in 2000 (or after) to score in any full national team tournament, worldwide. The 16-year-old midfielder also became the youngest Canadian to score in national team history.
NBA legend
Kobe Bryant expressed his fandom
of Sporting Kansas City’s Dom Dwyer, and the forward rewarded the love, as he continued his exciting start to his U.S. Men’s National Team career with his second goal in as many games, this time off a
beautiful piece of passing
and technical work from Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution). Panama bounced back, however, to salvage a 1-1 draw at Nissan Stadium in Nashville in front of a record-breaking crowd thanks to the heroics of New York City FC midfielder
Michael Camargo
.
Costa Rica benefited from a pair of MLS players as Rodney Wallace provided the assist on Marco Ureña’s (San Jose Earthquakes)
game-winning goal
in a 1-0 victory over Honduras at a rocking Red Bull Arena on Friday. Jamaica’s impact from MLS players was not to be outdone as both
Romario Williams
(Atlanta United) and Darren Mattocks (Portland Timbers) scored a goal to lead the Reggae Boyz to a 2-0 win over Curacao in San Diego on Sunday.
For a complete schedule of Gold Cup matches,
click here
.
Heated rivalries and defensive standouts highlight U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals action
Featuring a test of two champions and the top two teams in the Western Conference, quarterfinal action for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will dazzle this week with winners from last two tournaments meeting head to head on Tuesday, July 11, when Sporting Kansas City and their unblemished MLS home record (6-0-4) host USOC reigning champions FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park (8:30 p.m. ET, USsoccer.com/MLSsoccer.com).
A two-time victor of the competition and the best team in Western Conference with 32 points, Sporting Kansas claimed their coveted USOC hardware in both 2012 and 2015 in nail-biting matches that were decided by penalty decisions. Defending champions FC Dallas are sitting second in the West by only one point, and will be looking to preserve the crown captured last year that broke a 17-year drought of hoisting silverware. With the two stingiest defensive teams in MLS closing in on bragging rights, one of these previous champions will keep their chances alive and move one step closer to the sweet taste of U.S. Open Cup victory.
Also in U.S. Open Cup action this week, the San Jose Earthquakes have a shot of going two-for-two in consecutive California Clasico matches on Monday, June 10 (10:30 p.m. ET, USsoccer.com/MLSsoccer.com) with new Earthquakes head coach Chris Leicht raising eyebrows for a potential San Jose turnaround during the second half of the season. And in an I-95 rivalry rematch, the New England Revolution will be looking to turn the tables on the New York Red Bulls on Thursday, July 13 (7:30 p.m. ET, USsoccer.com/MLSsoccer.com) after Bradley Wright-Phillips finished this
crushing shot
to down the Revolution 3-2 at Gillette Stadium on July 5.
Men in Blazers LIVE MLS All-Star Extravaganza presented by Etihad to take place in Chicago
Men in Blazers
LIVE MLS All-Star Extravaganza presented by Etihad will once again take place during MLS All-Star Week. The show takes place on Monday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Known for their “occasionally intelligent, always passionate take on global football's unspooling narrative,” Roger Bennett and Michael Davies will bring their live show to Chicago’s Harris Theater for a unique, live-streamed event featuring guest appearances by MLS All-Stars and other prominent soccer figures. Fans interested in attending the free show should register for the
MLS Fan Pass
.
Media credential application deadline approaching for the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target
Media planning to cover the star-studded 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target in Chicago, may apply for credentials by
CLICKING HERE
.
With a week of festivities culminating in the annual mid-season showcase, MLS’ biggest names will face reigning European champions Real Madrid for what is sure to be a highlight of this year’s summer of soccer.
MLS All-Stadium credentials, team season credentials and credentials from previous MLS and SUM events will not be recognized for any of the media events surrounding the All-Star Game.
Without exception, credential applications must be received by Friday, July 21.
The best in MLS will face Spanish giants Real Madrid, the newly minted back-to-back reigning UEFA Champions League winners, in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on August 2 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The summer showcase will air at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMás, TSN and TVA Sports domestically as well as more than 170 countries globally.
Tickets to the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target are available via
Ticketmaster.com
or by calling 800-745-3000. Click
here
for more information about the Chicago Fire All-Star Plan and All-Star Group 2-Pack or call the Fire at (888) MLS-FIRE.
Credential questions should be submitted to All-Star Game accreditation officer Paola García,
Paola.Garcia@MLSsoccer.com
.
Sweet Tweets
