LAFC looks to close out regular season with record-breaking goals feat

MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 31 NEWS & NOTES

News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer

LAFC LOOKS TO CLOSE OUT SEASON WITH RECORD-BREAKING GOALS FEAT

With one game remaining in the 2019 MLS regular season, the Los Angeles Football Club are still within reach of breaking a pair of records that have stood since the earliest days of the league.
LAFC has scored 82 goals over its 33 games this season heading into its season finale against the Colorado Rapids at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday afternoon. That total is just three goals away from the all-time MLS single-season record set by the LA Galaxy in 1998 – when they scored 85 goals in their 32 league matches.
LAFC has already become just the second team in league annals to score more than 80 goals in a season – after the Galaxy’s record total, the most previously ever scored in a season was 74 goals, first by D.C. United in that 1998 season, then by Toronto FC in 2017.
MOST TOTAL GOALS (ALL GAMES)

LAFC is also currently on track for the greatest goal differential in a season. With a plus-46 differential (82 goals for, 36 goals against), LAFC is still five goals ahead of the 1998 LA Galaxy’s total of plus-41 (85 goals scored, 44 goals allowed).
GREATEST GOAL DIFFERENTIAL, SINGLE SEASON

LAFC can also make this season the second-most dominant campaign in league history, as defined by the margin of victory over the next club behind in the Supporters’ Shield race. With a win vs. Colorado on Sunday, and a New York City FC loss vs. the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa., LAFC would finish 11 points ahead of the Eastern Conference regular-season winners – the second-largest margin in MLS history. The 12-point difference registered by Toronto FC in 2017, ahead of New York City FC, remains the largest in league annals.
LAFC has also amassed the second-most points in a single season in MLS history, joining Toronto FC and Atlanta United with 69 points over the full campaign, each of whom did in each of the last two seasons respectively. With a win in the season finale, LAFC will overtake the New York Red Bulls total of 71 points set in the 2018 season, the most in MLS history.
LARGEST POINT DIFFERENTIAL, TOP TWO IN OVERALL STANDINGS

MOST STANDINGS POINTS (ALL GAMES, SINGLE SEASON)

MLS GOALSCORERS MAKE THEIR MARK AROUND THE WORLD

As the race for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi has continued its thrilling drive over the season’s conclusion, the top scorers in MLS have left their mark on the goals leaders around the world.
Over the course of the 2018-19 season, including just the 2019 season for leagues on a calendar year cycle, two MLS scorers find themselves in the top six of goalscorers around the world. Baghdad Bounedjah of Al Sadd Sports Club netted 39 goals in 22 matches in the 2018/19 season of the Qatar Stars League, three goals ahead of Lionel Messi, who won the European Golden Boot with 36 goals in 34 matches for FC Barcelona in La Liga.
With one league game still to play, Carlos Vela sits fifth in the worldwide table with his MLS-record equaling 31 goals, two ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimović of the LA Galaxy, who sits sixth overall among the top scorers from the top-flight leagues across the globe. Also fitting in the top 15 is Josef Martínez and his 26 goals this season.
LEADING GOALSCORERS WORLDWIDE (2018/19 SEASON)

League games only

CONSECUTIVE ASSIST STREAK RECORD COULD JOIN GOALSCORING MARK

While Josef Martínez of Atlanta United made headlines around the world with his MLS-record goalscoring streak this season, a second record streak has very quietly come under threat as the season comes to a close – one that is two decades old.
Cristian Pavón of the LA Galaxy has recorded an assist in seven consecutive games, dating back to Aug. 25. The streak is already tied for second-longest in MLS history – and with an assist in the Decision Day presented by AT&T finale vs. the Houston Dynamo, Pavón will equal the all-time league mark set during the 2000 season, by Martin Machón, then with the Miami Fusion.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH ASSISTS (ALL-TIME)

While Martínez saw his record 15-game streak with a goal come to an end a few weeks ago, Carlos Vela of the Los Angeles Football Club has also made his move up the all-time scoring streak chart in his record-breaking season.
Vela has scored in his past eight games, dating back to Aug. 11. The streak is now the fourth-longest goalscoring streak in MLS history, one away from the record that had been set over the past two seasons by Diego Valeri (2017) and Martínez (2018), both of which surpassed the previous mark of seven games which stood from the league’s second season in 1997 (though it was then equaled twice more).
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH GOALS (ALL-TIME)

LAFC LETTING IT FLY AT ALL-TIME LEAGUE RECORD RATE

As part of the drive toward their record-setting campaign, the Los Angeles Football Club have already established another record this season.
LAFC has attempted 606 shots toward goal this season – the most of any team in MLS history. The club’s total of 18.36 shots per game is also the highest of any team in league annals.
The 2019 season will almost certainly see the top two totals in MLS history, as the San Jose Earthquakes are tied for the second-most in a season entering Decision Day presented by AT&T. The Quakes have attempted 20 or more shots in a game already 12 times this season.
MOST TOTAL SHOTS, ONE TEAM (SINGLE SEASON)

NYCFC’S MITRITA MAKES BID FOR FASTEST HAT TRICK FROM THE START

Alexandru Mitrita of New York City FC made his bid for history when he sent his club on its way to a 4-1 win against Atlanta United at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 25.
Mitrita scored NYCFC’s first three goals – all coming within the opening 34 minutes of the game. The three goals in that span marked the fourth-quickest hat trick from the start of the match in MLS history. The triple equaled the 19th-fastest hat trick of any sort in league annals, the fastest scored by an NYCFC player in the club’s history.
QUICKEST HAT TRICKS SCORED FROM START OF GAME

MLS WEEK 31 – LOOK AHEAD

MONTREAL IMPACT vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #397)
Stade Saputo, Montréal, Qué.
4 p.m. ET (TSN 5 / TVA Sports; MSG)
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): Adam Wienckowski; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Kieso; 4th: Marcos de Oliveira; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 60 games; FC/gm: 26.9; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 9; pens: 21
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Impact 5 wins, 25 goals … Red Bulls 10 wins, 35 goals … Ties 2
AT MONTRÉAL: Impact 5 wins, 15 goals … Red Bulls 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 2

• The Impact put an end to a three-game losing skid, playing to a 1-1 draw with Atlanta United at Stade Saputo on Sunday afternoon.
  
• The Red Bulls extended their undefeated run to three games, playing to a scoreless draw with D.C. United at Red Bull Arena.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Goals a quarter-hour apart from Zakaria Diallo and Maximiliano Urruti midway through the second half overcame an early Aaron Long goal, giving the Impact the 2-1 win on May 8 at Red Bull Arena.
  
• The win in the first meeting was the Impact’s first in 10 regular season meetings at Red Bull Arena, though the Impact did win there in the 2016 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Impact have won the past three league meetings in Montréal, last a 3-0 victory at Stade Saputo last Sept. 1.
  

IMPACT:
Bojan Krkic
scored his second MLS goal for the Impact tally, making his seventh league appearance. …
Orji Okwonkwo
recorded his first MLS assist.
RED BULLS:
Luis Robles
backstopped the Red Bulls’ third consecutive shutout, their streak now at 270 minutes since the last goal conceded. Robles was not credited with a single save in posting his ninth shutout of the season, tied for fourth-most in MLS this season.
PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #398)
Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.
4 p.m. ET (PHL 17; YES)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Jeff Hosking; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Fotis Bazakos; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Cory Richardson
MLS Career: 122 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 18; pens: 31
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Union 3 wins, 14 goals … NYCFC 6 wins, 18 goals … Ties 1
AT PHILADELPHIA: Union 3 wins, 7 goals … NYCFC 2 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0

• The Union concluded a three-game road swing to end their road portion of the 2019 season, suffering a 2-0 loss to Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
  
• New York City FC saw their nine-game undefeated run put to an end, falling 2-0 to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Maximiliano Moralez converted a pair of penalty kicks on either side of halftime, then set up a brace from Valentin Castellanos seven minutes apart, as NYCFC stormed back for a 4-2 win on June 29 at Yankee Stadium.
  
• The Union won last year’s meeting at Talen Energy Stadium, a 2-0 victory on Aug. 18, their last win in four meetings in league and MLS Cup play. NYCFC have won the last four meetings in the Bronx, including a 3-1 win a year ago when the clubs met on Decision Day.
  
• The teams also met last year in the Knockout Round just three days after the regular-season finale, with NYCFC cruising to a 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.
  

UNION:
The Union return home following the three-game road swing with an eight-game undefeated streak alive at Talen Energy Stadium, the fourth-longest in the club’s history. The club twice had 10-game home undefeated runs, in 2010-11 and 2015-16.
NYCFC:
The NYCFC nine-game undefeated streak was the second-longest in club history, after a 12-game stretch from April 6-July 3 this year. NYCFC also saw a streak of 15 consecutive games scoring a goal come to an end.
D.C. UNITED vs. FC CINCINNATI
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #399)
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
4 p.m. ET (FloSports; WSTR – Star 64)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): C.J. Morgante; 4th: Ismir Pekmic; VAR: Rosendo Mendoza; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 84 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 32; pens: 18
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 1 win, 4 goals … FCC 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0
AT AUDI FIELD: First meeting.

• D.C. United extended their undefeated run – all by shutout – in a scoreless draw with the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Sunday afternoon. United have recorded four consecutive shutouts for the first time in the club’s 24-year history, the club’s shutout streak now at 414 minutes, dating back to Aug. 31.
  
• FC Cincinnati reached a second consecutive draw, playing to a 1-1 result with Orlando City SC at Nippert Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Allan Cruz netted his seventh goal of the season for the FCC goal.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season, and the second time in their histories. Lucas Rodríguez scored a pair of goals and set up another, and Wayne Rooney had a goal and an assist, as D.C. United eased to a 4-1 win on July 18 at Nippert Stadium.
  

UNITED:
Bill Hamid
was credited with two saves in recording his fourth consecutive shutout, increasing his MLS single-season career-high shutout total to 13 for the year, now one behind Brad Guzan of Atlanta United for the league lead.
FCC:
Emmanuel Ledesma
collected his fifth assist of the season, leading FC Cincinnati this season. …
Joe Gyau
recorded his first career assist in MLS, in his seventh appearance.
TORONTO FC vs. COLUMBUS CREW SC
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #400)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.
4 p.m. ET (TSN 4; STOhio)
REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Jeffrey Greeson; AR2 (opposite): Ian McKay; 4th: David Barrie; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 134 games; FC/gm: 22.2; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 27; pens: 32
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 8 wins, 47 goals … Crew SC 14 wins, 52 goals … Ties 12
AT BMO FIELD: Toronto FC 4 wins, 19 goals … Crew SC 5 wins, 16 goals … Ties 6

• Toronto FC stretched their league undefeated run to nine games, dating back to Aug. 10, reaching a 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Jozy Altidore scored his 11th goal of the season, while Omar Gonzalez netted his first for TFC.
  
• Crew SC extended their undefeated streak to five matches, defeating the Philadelphia Union 2-0 at Mapfre Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Pedro Santos scored his 11th goal of the season to cap the victory, after Youness Mokhtar scored his first goal in MLS.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. David Accam had looked to have given Crew SC a win with an 82nd-minute goal, but Altidore hit for the equalizer in the 90th minute – after earlier setting up a tying goal from Jonathan Osorio – leaving the teams in a 2-2 deadlock Aug. 17 at Mapfre Stadium.
  
• Crew SC took the last meeting at BMO Field, a 2-0 win in the 2018 league season opener for both teams. The Columbus win ended a two-game TFC winning streak at BMO Field in the series, the opening goal the first scored by Crew SC in 404 minutes in Toronto over all competitions.
  
• TFC has come away with points on its past three trips to Columbus, a 2-1 victory on May 10, 2017, its first win in Columbus since 2014, snapping a four-game Crew SC home undefeated streak there in the series in league play (2-0-2).
  

TFC:
Alejandro Pozuelo
recorded his 12th assist of the season, to go with 11 goals; he has two goals and three assists over the last five games. The 12 assists are fifth-most in a season in TFC club history. …
Marky Delgado
increased his single-season career-high in assists with his seventh of the season, his third assist over the last five games.
CREW SC:
Pedro Santos
added his sixth assist of the season, the first time in his three MLS seasons he’s had a goal and an assist in the same game. …
Luis Díaz
recorded his fourth assist of the season, in his 12th league appearance since his arrival in MLS. …
Eloy Room
was credited with three saves in recording his first shutout in MLS, making his 11th appearance.
ORLANDO CITY SC vs. CHICAGO FIRE
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #401)
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
4 p.m. ET (YouTube TV [ORL] / FOX 35 Plus; ESPN+)
REFEREE: Pierre-Luc Lauziere. AR1 (bench): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Chris Penso; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: First game.
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Orlando City 2 wins, 10 goals … Fire 3 wins, 17 goals … Ties 5
AT ORLANDO: Orlando City 0 wins, 3 goals … Fire 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 3

• Orlando City SC concluded their road portion of the season with a third draw in four games, reaching a 1-1 result with FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Benji Michel scored his fourth goal of the season for OCSC, as Nani added his 10th assist.
  
• The Fire extended their undefeated streak to four games with a third draw in that span, reaching a 2-2 result with Toronto FC at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Aleksandar Katai and Fabian Herbers scored goals, as Nicolás Gaítan added his 12th assist of the season.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Dom Dwyer gave Orlando City the lead early in the second half, but CJ Sapong netted the leveler in stoppage time, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw on March 9 at SeatGeek Stadium.
  
• The Fire now have a seven-game undefeated streak in the series, over the past four seasons. Orlando City’s last win vs. Chicago came Sept. 19, 2015, a 1-0 win at Bridgeview, Ill.; the Fire have won three meetings since, with four draws.
  

OCSC:
Dom Dwyer
recorded his fourth assist of the season; he has a goal or an assist in three consecutive games, with two goals and an assist in that span. Dwyer has eight assists in his three seasons with Orlando City SC, after recording nine assists in five-plus years with Sporting KC.
FIRE:
Przemyslaw Frankowski
collected his ninth assist of the season; he has two goals and four assists over his last seven games, since Aug. 14. … The 12 assists from
Nicolás Gaítan
is tied for fourth-most in the Fire’s club history; the record is 14 in a season, set by Jerzy Podbrozny (1998) and Peter Nowak (2000).
ATLANTA UNITED vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #402)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
4 p.m. ET (FS-South; NECN / NBCS-Bos)
REFEREE: Ismail Elfath. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Chris Wattam; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Peter Manikowski
MLS Career: 143 games; FC/gm: 25.5; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 41; pens: 45
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 3 wins, 12 goals … Revolution 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 3
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 2 wins, 9 goals … Revolution 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0

• Atlanta United completed the road portion of their 2019 regular season with a draw, reaching a 1-1 result with the Montréal Impact at Stade Saputo on Sunday afternoon. Julian Gressel netted his fifth goal of the season.
  
• The Revolution claimed the final available spot in the Eastern Conference for the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, defeating New York City FC 2-0 at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Gustavo Bou netted his ninth goal of the season – in his 13th MLS appearance – to cap the Revolution’s return to the postseason for the first time in four years.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Ezequiel Barco scored goals on either side of halftime, leading Atlanta United to a 2-0 win on April 13 at Gillette Stadium. Atlanta United have never lost to the Revolution in their history, with three victories and two draws all-time.
  
• ATLUTD have won both previous meetings at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a 2-1 win last Oct. 6, and 7-0 victory on Sept. 13, 2017, in a match that equaled the all-time MLS margin of victory, the most goals ever scored in a single game by an expansion team. The win at Gillette Stadium was the first after two draws.
  

ATLUTD:
Emerson Hyndman
recorded his third assist in MLS, making his 14th appearance. Hyndman has a goal and two assists over his last five games.
REVOLUTION:
Gustavo Bou
also added an assist, his second in MLS. …
Cristian Penilla
collected his eighth assist of the season, a second consecutive game with an assist, the eight assists a single-season career-high in his two MLS campaigns. …
Wilfried Zahibo
recorded his first assist of the season, his fifth in his two MLS seasons. …
Matt Turner
was credited with six saves in posting his fifth shutout of the season and his second in a row, the club’s shutout streak now at 216 minutes.
HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. LA GALAXY
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #403)
BBVA Stadium, Houston, Texas
3 p.m. CT (KUBE 57; Spec SN)
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Nick Uranga; 4th: Elton Garcia; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 160 games; FC/gm: 22.1; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 41; pens: 71
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo 11 wins, 38 goals … Galaxy 11 wins, 37 goals … Ties 7
AT HOUSTON: Dynamo 7 wins, 22 goals … Galaxy 5 wins, 18 goals … Ties 3

• The Dynamo suffered a second consecutive reversal, falling 2-1 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
  
• The Galaxy had their three-game winning run snapped in dramatic fashion, falling to a late 4-3 defeat by Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Dignity Health Sports Park. Zlatan Ibrahimović netted his 29th goal of the season, a fourth consecutive game with a goal (with six goals in that span), and also added an assist for a third consecutive game.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Ibrahimović netted the opener and Diego Polenta converted a late penalty kick for the match-winner, giving the Galaxy a 2-1 victory on April 19 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
  
• The win in the first meeting ended a four-game Dynamo undefeated streak in the series, the last Galaxy win coming on Oct. 16, 2016, a 1-0 win at BBVA Stadium.
  
• The Dynamo won the last meeting between the teams in Carson, Calif., a 3-2 victory on Decision Day last year, their first at the Galaxy since 2013. The Galaxy had won two of the four meetings in between, with two draws.
  

DYNAMO:
Tomás Martínez
netted his fifth goal of the season, equaling his single-season career-high in his third MLS season, set first last year.
GALAXY:
Cristian Pavón
collected an assist, his eighth of the year, in his 10th MLS appearance. Pavón has an assist now in seven consecutive games, the second-longest such streak in MLS history. …
Uriel Antuna
scored his sixth goal of the season; he has four goals and two assists over the last six games, since Sept. 1. …
Chris Pontius
scored his second goal of the season, his first coming March 16. …
Jonathan dos Santos
recorded his third assist this season, his first since July 12.
FC DALLAS vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #404)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
3 p.m. CT (FCDTV; FS-KC)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Eric Weisbrod; AR2 (opposite): Brian Dunn; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Kevin Terry
MLS Career: 125 games; FC/gm: 24.1; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 17; pens: 48
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 24 wins (1 shootout), 94 goals … Sporting 25 wins (2 shootout), 91 goals … Ties 12
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 14 wins (0 shootout), 54 goals … Sporting 10 wins (2 shootout), 34 goals … Ties 5

• FC Dallas saw their two-game run of draws put to an end, falling 3-0 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Sunday afternoon.
  
• Sporting KC snapped a four-game losing slide, reaching a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon. Krisztian Németh scored his eighth goal of the season, and Daniel Salloí netted his first of the year.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Dominique Badji scored in the first half and Jesús Ferreira in the second, as FCD claimed a 2-0 win on July 20 at Children’s Mercy Park.
  
• Sporting won on their last visit to Toyota Stadium, a 3-0 win last Oct. 21, their first in Frisco, Texas, since 2011; FC Dallas had a five-game home undefeated streak in the series put to an end.
  
• FCD has won the past two meetings in Kansas City, its first there since 2011, the first match there in the series. SKC had won five of the seven meetings in between, with two draws.
  

FCD:
Jesse Gonzalez
saved a penalty kick from Kei Kamara, his second penalty save this season (his first vs. Carlos Vela on May 19). Gonzalez has seen six unsuccessful penalty kicks against him of 17 total he has faced in MLS, including two each of the last two seasons.
SPORTING:
Johnny Russell
recorded his ninth assist of the season, his second in as many games, to go with his nine goals this season. Last year, Russell scored 10 goals and added 10 assists in his first MLS campaign.
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #405)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
1 p.m. PT (YouTube TV [LA] / UniMás KFTR 46; Altitude)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Eduardo Mariscal; AR2 (opposite): Kevin Klinger; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 99 games; FC/gm: 21.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 24; pens: 28
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: LAFC 2 wins, 5 goals … Rapids 1 win, 1 goal … Ties 0
AT BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM: LAFC 1 win, 3 goals … Rapids 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0

• LAFC extended its undefeated streak to five matches, reaching a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Sunday afternoon. Carlos Vela equaled the MLS single-season goalscoring record with his 31st goal of the season, tying the mark established by Atlanta United’s Josef Martínez a season ago, scoring in a fourth game in a row.
  
• The Rapids stayed alive in the chase for a place in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, winning a second consecutive game in a 3-0 defeat of FC Dallas at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Jack Price netted his first goal of the season to send the Rapids on their way, while Kei Kamara netted his 13th goal of the season, the 125th of his MLS league career.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Danny Wilson scored the game’s only goal on 49 minutes, giving the Rapids the victory on June 28 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
  
• 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
scored in his eighth consecutive appearance, dating back to Aug. 11. The eight-game streak is now the fourth longest goalscoring streak in MLS history, one behind the second-place marks set by Diego Valeri (2017) and Josef Martínez (2018). …
Diego Rossi
collected his seventh assist of the season; he has a goal and an assist in the last two games.
RAPIDS:
Diego Rubio
curled home a free kick for his 11th goal of the season, a second consecutive game with a goal. It was his first goal scored directly from a free kick in his four MLS seasons, the first for the Rapids this season. … Rookie
Andre Shinyashiki
recorded his third assist of the season; he leads MLS rookies with seven goals this season. …
Nicolás Mezquida
increased his MLS single-season career-high to six assists. …
Tim Howard
was credited with three saves in posting his fifth shutout of the season, a second consecutive appearance with a shutout (the last Aug. 29).
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #406)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
1 p.m. PT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Logan Brown; AR2 (opposite): Brian Poeschel; 4th: Luis Guardia; VAR: Timothy Ford; AVAR: Cameron Blanchard
MLS Career: 29 games; FC/gm: 20.8; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 6; pens: 5
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 10 wins, 30 goals … Earthquakes 5 wins, 25 goals … Ties 7
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 8 wins, 20 goals … Earthquakes 0 wins, 8 goals … Ties 3

• The Timbers reached a third consecutive draw, playing to a 2-2 result with Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday afternoon. Dairon Asprilla converted a late penalty kick for the Timbers’ equalizer for his first goal of the season.
  
• The Quakes had their losing slide extended, falling to a late goal in a 1-0 defeat by Seattle Sounders FC at Avaya Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Shea Salinas, Danny Hoesen and Cristian Espinoza scored goals in the opening 34 minutes, leading the Quakes to a 3-0 win on April 6 at Avaya 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. The away team has won just twice in the all-time league series, last a Timbers win May 5, 2018, in San Jose.
  

TIMBERS:
Sebastian Blanco
scored his fifth goal of the season, his last coming Aug. 10.
QUAKES:
The Quakes had 23 total attempts at goal in the loss to Seattle – their 12th game this season with 20 or more shots. The Quakes have 583 total shots for the season – tying the second-most in a single season of any team in MLS history (with Sporting Kansas City in 2018; LAFC this year have 606 attempts at goal).
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #407)
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.
1 p.m. PT (JOEtv / YouTube TV [SEA]; FS-North)
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Eric Boria; 4th: Farhad Dadkho; VAR: Alex Chilowicz; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 350 games; FC/gm: 24.6; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 82; pens: 95
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 4 wins, 12 goals … MNUFC 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 1
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 2 wins, 5 goals … MNUFC 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 0

• Jordan Morris netted the game’s only goal deep in stoppage time, giving Sounders FC the victory against the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
  
• Minnesota United FC extended their undefeated run to four games, reaching a 1-1 result with the Los Angeles Football Club at Allianz Field on Sunday afternoon. Michael Boxall scored the MNUFC goal, his second of the season.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Ike Opara gave Minnesota United a first-half lead, but Cristian Roldan leveled for Sounders FC just before the halftime interval, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw on May 4 at Allianz Field.
  
• Sounders FC won the first four meetings between the teams all-time, with an 11-3 advantage in goals. Seattle has won both matchups at CenturyLink Field, including a 3-1 win last April 22 in the last meeting there.
  

SOUNDERS FC:
Stefan Frei
was credited with 10 saves in recording his ninth shutout of the season, tied for fourth-most in MLS this season. The 10 saves are one shy of his single-game career-high; he became the 29th goalkeeper in MLS history to record 10 or more saves while posting a shutout.
MNUFC:
Jan Gregus
recorded his 12th assist of the season, in a five-way tie for sixth-most in MLS this season, his third assist in the last two games. The 12 assists are second-most in a season in MNUFC’s MLS club history.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 (Week 31, MLS Game #408)
BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.
1 p.m. PT (TSN; KMYU-21)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Kyle Atkins; AR2 (opposite): Corey Rockwell; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Joseph Dickerson; AVAR: Rene Parra
MLS Career: 95 games; FC/gm: 23.5; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 32; pens: 53
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps FC 9 wins, 27 goals … Real 8 wins, 23 goals … Ties 4
AT BC PLACE: Whitecaps FC 8 wins, 21 goals … Real 1 win, 7 goals … Ties 1

• Whitecaps FC extended their undefeated streak to three games with a second win in that time, defeating the LA Galaxy 4-3 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday afternoon. Tosaint Ricketts and Michaell Chirinos each netted their first goals of the season, Chirinos with the game-winner late into stoppage time.
  
• Real secured their berth in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, getting a late Jefferson Savarino goal to claim a 2-1 win against the Houston Dynamo at Rio Tinto Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Corey Baird sent RSL on their way after just 35 seconds, the second-fastest goal scored in the club’s history.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Albert Rusnák converted a penalty kick for the game’s lone goal after 21 minutes, giving Real the win March 9 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
  
• The ‘Caps have won the past six meetings at BC Place, dating back to 2014. RSL has won the past four meetings at Rio Tinto Stadium. Each of the last three seasons the teams have split their two meetings, each with a home victory.
  

WHITECAPS FC:
Hwang Inbeom
recorded three assists, equaling the Whitecaps FC club record in their MLS history, set first by Alphonso Davies, June 9, 2018 vs. Orlando City. …
Doneil Henry
scored his fourth goal of the season; he had two goals total over his first six league seasons. …
Theo Bair
scored his second MLS goal, in his 16th appearance of the season. … With goals from Ricketts, Henry and Bair, three Canadian-born players scored in the same game for the first time in MLS history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. …
Erik Godoy
recorded his first career assist in MLS. …
Fredy Montero
collected his third assist of the season; he has two goals and an assist in the last three games.
REAL:
Sebastian Saucedo
recorded his fourth assist of the season, his second in as many games.