- Sporting Kansas City’s Németh currently leads CCL goalscoring headed into semifinal
- FOX to broadcast Eastern and Western Conference leaders D.C. vs. LAFC Saturday
- Teenagers spearheading FC Dallas attack to blazing start
- Philadelphia Union’s Dooley wins eMLS Cup presented by PlayStation
- Week 6 Notes
What to know This Week in MLS
1. Top in the East faces Top in the West Saturday on FOX:
D.C. United and the Los Angeles Football Club meet this Saturday in a battle of East vs. West as MLS Golden Boot contenders Carlos Vela and Wayne Rooney look to outscore each other on FOX (3 p.m. ET).
2. Alejandro Pozuelo is electric as Toronto stays hot in 2019:
Debuting with two goals and an assist last Friday, Toronto FC’s newest signing not only lifted TFC to a 3-0-0 record
but did it in style
.
3. Golazos Galore:
From
to
, 42 goals were scored in MLS last week, maintaining the 3.2 goals-per-game average for the season.
4. CCL Golden Boot leader Németh leads SKC:
Krisztián Németh, atop the Golden Boot race in the Concacaf Champions League, leads Sporting Kansas City against Monterrey this Thursday in the CCL Semifinals at Liga MX’s Monterrey.
5. Teens Pomykal, Ferreira fuel FC Dallas in West:
Academy products Paxton Pomykal and Jesús Ferreira factored in all four goals Saturday against Real Salt Lake as the youth have served FC Dallas well, leading the club into a tie for second in the West.
Concacaf Champions League goalscoring leader Németh, SKC face Monterrey
Sporting Kansas City’s
Krisztián Németh
has been on top of his game for both MLS play and Concacaf Champions League action this year. Fresh off a hat trick during a
7-1 rout of the Montreal Impact
on Saturday, Németh will look to continue his stellar performance in the CCL when SKC visits Liga MX’s Monterrey on Thursday in the first leg of the tournament semifinals (10 p.m. ET / UDN, YahooSports.com; 9:45 p.m. ET / Matchday Central Pregame Show on MLSsoccer.com).
Németh is tied for first in the CCL Golden Boot race with Tigres UANL’s Enner Valencia with four goals, as he spearheads a Sporting side looking to advance to its first CCL final. Monterrey won three straight CCL crowns (2011-13) and currently sits third in the Liga MX standings. After this week’s matchup, SKC hosts the second semifinal leg on Thursday, April 11, at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
With Németh and Scottish forward
Johnny Russell
leading the charge, can SKC replicate Toronto FC’s 2018 run and secure a second straight CCL finalist appearance by an MLS club?
Teenagers spearheading FC Dallas attack to blazing start
A pair of teenagers receiving the first consistent playing time in their MLS careers are posing a dangerous threat on the offensive end and have FC Dallas off to a hot start to the season. Academy products
Paxton Pomykal
(19-year-old midfielder) and
Jesús Ferreira
(18-year-old forward) have rewarded new head coach
Luchi Gonzalez
’s faith by putting them in the starting lineup, as the duo played a part in all four goals in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Real Salt Lake, putting Dallas in a tie for second in the Western Conference standings.
Dallas ranks second in the league in academy product minutes as Pomykal is tied for the club lead with two goals while Ferreira’s two assists also tie for top marks on the team. Dallas will next face a team with a youth movement of their own in the Philadelphia Union on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+), as 18-year-old midfielder
Brenden Aaronson
has started each of the club’s previous three matches, scoring his first career MLS goal in the process.
While Pomykal and Ferreira have shined for their club this season, the pair could also represent the United States at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in May. Both players have suited up for the USYNT in recent months, and a trip to Poland would further cement 2019 as a breakthrough year for the teens.
Battle of Leading Scorers: Rooney vs. Vela, on FOX
The two top teams in MLS are home to the league’s top two goalscorers in
Wayne Rooney
(D.C. United) and
Carlos Vela
(Los Angeles Football Club).
The two teams, both unbeaten in league action will face off at Audi Field on the FOX Broadcast Network (3 p.m. ET).
Rooney’s heroics have led Eastern Conference No. 1 D.C. United to an undefeated 3-0-1 record this season with his four goals and three assists providing a helping hand in seven of the club’s nine goals,
. Not to be outdone, LAFC’s Vela has helped his club to an unbeaten 4-0-1 record with
. The Mexico National Team star has been virtually unstoppable in 2019, charting a league-leading six goals and three assists that have single-handedly equaled D.C. United’s entire goals total this season.
Vela might have greater goal production, but Rooney could be making a greater Impact. In two seasons, LAFC is 7-2-4 when Vela scores, while D.C. United is an unbeaten 8-0-1 when Rooney finds the back of the net.
Philadelphia Union’s Dooley wins eMLS Cup presented by PlayStation
The Philadelphia Union’s
Cormac Dooley (doolsta)
lifted the 2019 eMLS Cup trophy on Saturday. With the victory, Dooley earns $15,000 and 850 EA SPORTS FIFA19TM Global Series Points. Dooley defeated the LA Galaxy’s
Giuseppe Guastella (GGGodfather)
in the eMLS Cup Final by a combined 2-1 aggregate score over the course of the two-legged championship series.
With the first- and second-place finishes, Dooley and Guastella will represent the United States in the inaugural FIFA eNations Cup taking place in London from April 13-14. Twenty of the top eNational Teams will compete in the invite-only exhibition on the Road to the 2019 FIFA eWorld Cup.
The EA SPORTS FIFA 19
TM
Global Series Playoffs this June will welcome the top 60 players on the PlayStation 4 and the top 60 players on the Xbox One leaderboards. This will be the players’ last chance to earn EA SPORTS FIFA 19 Global Series Points to grant them qualification to the 2019 FIFA eWorld Cup, where the winner will be crowned the undisputed FIFA 19 World Champion. For more information on eMLS, visit
mlssoccer.com/eMLS
.
MLS Regular Season: Week 6 Notes
Friday, April 5
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. LA Galaxy, 10 p.m. ET (TSN 1)
- Whitecaps FC gained their first point of the season after opening with three consecutive defeats, reaching a scoreless draw with Seattle Sounders FC at BC Place on Saturday evening.
- The Galaxy won for a third time in four games to start the year, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park. Zlatan Ibrahimović scored a pair of goals – both from the penalty spot.
- The Galaxy won the second meeting between the teams last year, a 3-0 win on Sept. 29 at Dignity Health Sports Park, their first win in the series in five games (since July 4, 2016 in Carson).
- Whitecaps FC have a five-game undefeated streak on their home ground in the series (2-0-3), the last Galaxy win at BC Place coming on April 12, 2014. The teams reached a goalless draw in the lone meeting in Vancouver last year on March 24.
- There has been a shutout in 11 of the past 13 meetings between the teams, dating back to 2013, including three scoreless draws.
Saturday, April 6
New York City FC vs. Montreal Impact, 1 p.m. ET (TVA Sports)
- NYCFC suffered their first defeat of the season after three consecutive draws to open, falling 4-0 to Toronto FC at BMO Field on Friday evening.
- The Impact conceded the most goals in a single game in the club’s MLS history, falling 7-1 to Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening. Saphir Taïder scored the lone Impact goal late, his third of the year.
- NYCFC has a three-year and six-game undefeated streak alive in the series, with three wins and three draws over that time.
- NYCFC won 3-0 last July 11 at Yankee Stadium, their first win in the Bronx vs. the Impact since the first meeting ever between the teams in 2015. They had reached draws there the previous two matchups, after the Impact’s lone win in the series came on Aug. 1, 2015.
- The teams played to a 1-1 draw in the lone meeting at Stade Saputo, on Sept. 22. NYCFC had won the first three meetings all-time in Montréal; the Impact have never won at home in the series.
D.C. United vs. Los Angeles Football Club, 3 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Deportes)
- D.C. United remained undefeated on the season with a third win in four outings, defeating Orlando City SC 2-1 at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday evening.
- Wayne Rooney scored a goal and added an assist – the goal coming directly from a free kick, already his third in his time in MLS (from 16 total goals). Rooney now has four goals and three assists this season, having played a part in seven of United’s nine goals scored in 2019.
- LAFC remained undefeated on the season with a fourth win in five outings, setting a club record for the biggest victory in their two MLS seasons in a 5-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes.
- Carlos Vela netted a hat trick, his first in his MLS career and the second in LAFC club history – now sitting atop the MLS Golden Boot standings with six goals for the season.
- The teams played once in LAFC’s inaugural season, reaching a 1-1 draw on May 26 at Banc of California Stadium.
Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire, 3 p.m. ET (TSN 4, CTV)
- Toronto FC won their third game on the trot to open the season, strolling to a 4-0 win against New York City FC at BMO Field on Friday evening. It was an MLS debut to remember for Alejandro Pozuelo, scoring two remarkable goals from chip shots and adding an assist.
- The Fire claimed their first victory of the 2019 season, defeating the New York Red Bulls by the game’s only goal at SeatGeek Stadium – the only tally coming from an own goal.
- The teams met three times a year ago, and TFC came away with points from all three, winning the last two a week apart, a 2-1 victory on July 21 in Bridgeview, Ill., and a 3-0 win on July 28 at BMO Field.
- TFC now has a nine-game undefeated streak alive in the series (8-0-1), dating back to Sept. 26, 2015. The Fire’s last victory in the series came on April 4, 2015, a 3-2 win at SeatGeek Stadium, which capped a 12-game Fire undefeated streak in the series (6-0-6), dating back to 2010.
- TFC has won the past three meetings in Bridgeview, its only wins ever there. The Fire had come away with five wins and five draws in the first 10 meetings all-time in Bridgeview. TFC is undefeated in the past eight encounters at BMO Field.
New York Red Bulls vs. Minnesota United FC, 7 p.m. ET
- The Red Bulls fell to their second consecutive defeat – both by the game’s only goal – dropping a decision to the Chicago Fire at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
- MNUFC lost their second game in a row following a pair of wins to start the campaign, falling 2-1 to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening. Darwin Quintero scored his third goal of the season – all coming from penalty kicks.
- The Red Bulls have won both meetings between the clubs, and both by 3-0 scorelines, one at each ground. The Red Bulls last year won on March 24 at TCF Bank Stadium; they claimed the victory when the clubs met on July 22, 2017, at Red Bull Arena in Minnesota United’s inaugural MLS season.
Orlando City SC vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m. ET
- OCSC suffered their second loss of the season in five matches, falling 2-1 to D.C. United at Orlando City Stadium on Sunday evening. Dom Dwyer netted his third goal of the year, all in the past four matches.
- The Rapids are still looking for a first win in the new season, suffering a third loss in five outings in a 4-1 defeat by the Houston Dynamo at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Kei Kamara scored the lone Rapids tally, the 114th goal of his MLS league career, now tied for fifth-most all-time with Ante Razov.
- Orlando City SC have never lost to the Rapids, now with three wins and a draw in the four meetings all-time between the clubs.
- OCSC has won the past two encounters, including a 2-1 victory last April 29 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in the lone meeting between the teams. Orlando City have won both meetings all-time in Florida, both by 2-0 scorelines, last in 2017.
Philadelphia Union vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET
- The Union won their second game in a row after a winless opening to the season, defeating FC Cincinnati 2-0 at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening. David Accam scored his third goal, all over the past two matches, while Marco Fabián netted his second of the year.
- FC Dallas won for a second consecutive match and a third time in four games, defeating Real Salt Lake 4-2 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Paxton Pomykal, 19, netted a pair of goals – the first two of his MLS career – and 18-year-old Jesús Ferreira also scored, his second career tally, and added a pair of assists.
- FC Dallas won the lone meeting between the teams last year, a 2-0 win on April 21 at Toyota Stadium, the 10th time in 11 matchups all-time they have taken points (6-1-4).
- The Union won the last time the teams met at Talen Energy Stadium, a 3-1 victory on May 5, 2017, their only win in the series all-time. FC Dallas are 5-0-1 all-time vs. the Union in Frisco, Texas.
Columbus Crew SC vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Crew SC won their third game in the past four matches – all coming by shutout – defeating Atlanta United 2-0 at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Gyasi Zardes netted his third goal of the season.
- The Revolution snapped a four-game winless run to open the season for their first victory, defeating Minnesota United FC 2-1 at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jalil Anibaba and Brandon Bye scored; Carles Gil contributed an assist, now involved in four of New England’s five goals this season (three goals, one assist).
- Crew SC won the second meeting between the teams a year ago, a 1-0 victory on May 19 at Gillette Stadium, their fourth victory over the last six meetings in league play dating back to 2016. The Revolution’s only win in that span came on May 21, 2017, a 2-1 victory in Foxborough.
- The teams reached a 2-2 draw at Mapfre Stadium on April 21 in their other meeting a year ago. The Crew have a five-game undefeated streak alive at home in the series (4-0-1); the last Revolution league win in Columbus was on Oct. 27, 2013, though the Revolution won the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series there in 2014.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers, 8 p.m. ET
- The Quakes suffered their fourth loss of the season in four matches, falling 5-0 to the Los Angeles Football Club at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening. The loss matched the largest defeat in San Jose club history.
- The Timbers saw their winless start continue with a third defeat in four matches, falling 2-1 to the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday evening. Jeremy Ebobisse netted his second goal of the season, while Diego Valeri contributed a third assist, tied for the MLS league lead.
- The Timbers won both meetings between the teams a season ago, a 1-0 win on May 5 at Avaya Stadium, and a 2-1 win on July 7 at Providence Park.
- The Timbers’ victory in the first meeting was their first ever at Avaya Stadium in five meetings all-time, just the second victory by a visiting team in the all-time league series (the first coming in 2014, a Portland 2-1 win at Buck Shaw Stadium).
- The Timbers have never lost to the Quakes at home in their MLS history. The Timbers have won eight of 11 meetings between the teams in Portland (with three draws), including the past six meetings there.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 10 p.m. ET
- Sounders FC had their season-opening winning streak ended but still remain undefeated on the new year, following a goalless draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday evening.
- Real suffered a third consecutive defeat, dropping a 4-2 decision to FC Dallas at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.
- Real won both meetings between the teams a year ago, claiming both ends of a home-and-home series over consecutive weekends, first a 1-0 win on May 26 at CenturyLink Field, then a 2-0 win on June 2 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
- The RSL win in Seattle was just their second there all-time, the first since May 12, 2012, also a 1-0 victory. Sounders FC had won the previous seven league meetings between the teams at CenturyLink Field.
- Real have won their past seven home games vs. Seattle; Sounders FC last won in league play in Sandy on May 28, 2011, a span of eight games (they did win there in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2012).
Sunday, April 7
FC Cincinnati vs. Sporting Kansas City, 3 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- FC Cincinnati had their two-game winning streak and three-game undefeated streak put to an end, falling 2-0 to the Philadelphia Union at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening.
- Sporting scored the most goals in a single game in club history, the sixth team in MLS history to net seven goals or more in one game in a 7-1 defeat of the Montréal Impact at Children’s Mercy Park.
- Krisztián Németh scored a hat trick, his first in MLS, the ninth in SKC club history (and third in the last three seasons), while Johnny Russell added a pair of goals, now with three in the past two games.
- The teams are meeting for the first time in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural MLS season.
