This Week in MLS: Zardes Scoring Speaks Loudly for Silently Spectacular Columbus

Zardes Scoring Speaks Loudly for Silently Spectacular Columbus
Columbus Crew SC are the top-ranked team in MLS, and they should be gaining a lot more attention for the dominating force they have been this entire regular season. As a defensive power with only one loss in 12 games, including an MLS-leading nine shutouts, Columbus has been equally as strong offensively by outscoring opponents 20-4 on the
literal backheels
of U.S. National Team forward Gyasi Zardes.
Zardes has a team-leading nine goals, including four in the last three games, which quickly closed the gap in the race for the 2020 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi. Now within only one finish of tying the Los Angeles Football Club forward Diego Rossi’s 10 goals, Zardes has played a pivotal role in Crew SC’s consistency this season, beginning with his five goals over the first six games to start of the season.
With 27 points, Columbus stands atop the league standings three points ahead of the next closest team. To say that teams should take notice of Crew SC would be an understatement.
Homegrown Cooking Secret to FC Dallas and Philadelphia Union Success
FC Dallas and the Philadelphia Union are the two hottest teams in MLS, each riding a three-game winning streak powered by strong performances from Homegrown Players and international attackers. Behind three straight wins, the Union sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with 24 points while FC Dallas is in third place in the Western Conference with 19 points.
Over the three-game winning streak, Philadelphia Homegrown Players have scored or registered an assist on eight of the club’s nine goals. Union 19-year-old midfielder
Brenden Aaronson
produced one goal and one assist, 20-year-old midfielder
Anthony Fontana
scored three goals, 20-year-old defender
Mark McKenzie
registered two assists, and 21-year-old defender
Matt Real
tallied one assist and two goals. Balancing the Homegrown production is German forward
Kacper Przybylko
who scored three goals over the winning streak and has seven goals on the season, tied for the fourth-most in the league.
FC Dallas has similarly scored nine goals over its winning streak behind four goals from Argentine
Franco Jara
and three goals from 25-year-old Colombian
Santiago Mosquera
. Defensively, Dallas has seen 19-year-old defender
Bryan Reynolds
start the club’s four last matches, stepping seamlessly into the starting right back spot following Reggie Cannon’s transfer to Boavista FC in Portugal. Additional Homegrowns bolstering Dallas include 18-year-old midfielder
Tanner Tessman
, who started in all three matches, and 21-year-old midfielder
Brandon Servania
, who similarly appeared in each of the three Dallas wins.
Academy Products Continue Shining in MLS and Abroad
Players developed in MLS academies continue to make major impacts on the field both in MLS and abroad. Within MLS, a total of 69 academy products took the field in matches last week, accounting for seven goals and 10 assists.
Toronto FC 20-year-old forward
Ayo Akinola
scored his sixth goal of the season on Saturday in a 2-2 draw against D.C. United, tied for sixth most in the league. The U.S. U-20 National Team standout has registered 1.29 goals per 90 minutes, tops in the league among players with four goals or more this season. Also among the goalscorers this week was U.S. U-17 National Team and D.C. United midfielder
Griffin Yow
, who scored his first MLS goal on a tremendous
game-tying volley
in the 88
^th
minute against Toronto on Saturday.
Yow’s U.S. FIFA U-17 World Cup squad teammates in Sporting Kansas City 18-year-old midfielder
Gianluca Busio
and Atlanta United 18-year-old defender
George Bello
each registered an assist in last weekend’s play.
Gio Reyna
, a 17-year-old New York City FC academy product and fellow member of the 2019 U.S. FIFA U-17 World Cup team, scored a goal for Borussia Dortmund in the club’s Bundesliga season opener.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga,
Tyler Adams
(New York Red Bulls Academy) played a full 90 minutes for RB Leipzig while
Chris Richards
(FC Dallas Academy) came off the bench in Bayern Munich’s victory. Additional MLS academy products who shined abroad include
Weston McKennie
(FC Dallas academy) who started for Juventus in the Serie A opener, becoming the first American player to play for the club. Former FC Dallas Homegrown
Reggie Cannon
, meanwhile, played a full 90 minutes for Boavista FC in the Portuguese Primeira Liga opener a mere two weeks after transferring to the club.  
MLS Media Availability and Press Conference Calendar


Clubs across MLS continue to offer enhanced media access to players and coaches via video press conferences. Throughout the season, clubs will host match preview press conferences two days before their respective matches. Each club will also host live, virtual postgame press conferences from the stadium immediately following their matches.




A full schedule of media availabilities and press conferences can be found on the MLS Media Resources site by clicking
HERE
.
MLS Regular Season: Week 13 Game Notes
Wednesday, Sept. 23
New England Revolution vs. Montreal Impact, 5 p.m.

• The Revolution returned home and gained a point, playing to a goalless draw with New York City FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
  
• The Impact dropped a 4-1 decision to the Philadelphia Union on Sunday evening – a game played as an Impact home game at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Romell Quioto scored the Impact directly from a free kick in the fifth minute, his sixth of the season and third in as many games – then was sent off before halftime.
  
• The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Teal Bunbury gave the Revolution an early lead, but Romell Quioto and Maxi Urruti scored on either side of halftime to give the Impact the 2-1 win on Opening Day (Feb. 29) at Olympic Stadium. They also met in group play in the MLS is Back Tournament, Gustavo Bou scoring the game’s only goal to give New England the win on July 9.
  
• The Impact have won the last two meetings at Gillette Stadium, ending a four-game Revolution winning streak there in the series dating back to 2016. The Impact have a win and a draw from their last two home games, which ended a two-game Revolution winning streak in Montréal.
  

Atlanta United vs. FC Dallas, 7 p.m.

• Atlanta United had their winless slide extended, falling 2-1 to Inter Miami CF at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• FC Dallas won a third match on the trot, getting a late winner from Ryan Hollingshead to secure a 3-2 win against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening. Carlos Jara gave FCD a two-goal lead with a brace, extending his goalscoring streak to four games.
  
• The teams met once a season ago, FC Dallas taking a 2-1 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on April 20, the first win by the away side in three meetings all-time.
  
• Each team has won once at home on their home ground. Atlanta United won the first meeting between the teams, a 3-0 win on Sept. 10, 2017, in the grand opening of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. FC Dallas claimed a 3-2 victory July 4, 2018 at Toyota Stadium.
  

New York City FC vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m. (TSN)

• NYCFC extended their undefeated run to six games with a second draw in that span, reaching a goalless draw with the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Toronto FC gained a second result from a third consecutive away match, playing to a 2-2 draw with D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday evening. Ayo Akinola netted his sixth goal of the season, tied for sixth in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
  
• The teams have already met this season in league play. Ifunanyachi Achara scored the game’s only goal nine minutes from full time as Toronto FC claimed the victory March 7 at BMO Field. The teams also met in the round-of-16 in the MLS is Back Tournament, as Maximiliano Moralez assisted on goal and scored one, leading NYCFC to a 3-1 win on July 26.
  
• TFC have taken points from the last three league meetings, last year winning 4-0 on March 29 at BMO Field, and reaching a 1-1 draw Sept. 11 at Yankee Stadium. TFC has won three times in 12 regular-season meetings in the series – the first two by 4-0 scorelines at BMO Field, before this year’s win.
  
• The teams also met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals a year ago, Alejandro Pozuelo converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute for his second goal of the game to give TFC a 2-1 win at CitiField. The teams also met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2016, Toronto FC winning 7-0 on aggregate, a 2-0 victory at BMO Field, then 5-0 at Yankee Stadium.
  

Chicago Fire FC vs. Houston Dynamo, 7:30 p.m.

• Fire FC had their winless skid extended, falling 4-1 to Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Saturday evening. Robert Berić scored for a second consecutive game, his fourth of the season.
  
• The Dynamo gained points for the seventh time in the last eight matches, coming back to grab a 2-2 draw with Minnesota United FC at BBVA Stadium on Saturday evening. Darwin Quintero netted his fifth goal of the season, tied for 10th place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
  
• The Fire won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 1-0 win at BBVA Stadium on Aug. 3. It was their first win in Houston since the 2007 season, going 10 consecutive visits without a victory – after the Fire won on their first two visits there ever.
  
• The teams have never met at Soldier Field. The Dynamo won on their last visit to SeatGeek Stadium, a 3-2 win May 20, 2018 – each team won four meetings there, with four draws, in 12 matches.
  

FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.

• FC Cincinnati put an end to a six-game winless slide, their first victory since the MLS is Back Tournament, defeating the New York Red Bulls by the game’s only goal at Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening.
  
• Haris Medunjanin scored the goal through an olimpico – directly from a corner kick – the seventh time in MLS history that’s happened.
  
• The Union won their third game in a row and a fifth in the last six matches, defeating the Montréal Impact 4-1 on Sunday evening in a game played at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. as an Impact home match.
  
• Kacper Przybylko scored a pair of goals for the Union, now with seven goals for the season, tied for fifth place in the MLS Golden Boot standings, a second consecutive match with a goal and his sixth in the last six games.
  
• The teams met twice in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season in MLS, and the Union won both, each by a 2-0 scoreline – March 30 at Nippert Stadium, and May 1 in Chester.
  

Columbus Crew SC vs. Minnesota United FC, 7:30 p.m.

• Crew SC extended their undefeated streak to five games and extended their home shutout streak to record proportions, defeating Nashville SC 2-0 at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Gyasi Zardes sealed the win with his ninth goal of the season, one behind LAFC’s Diego Rossi in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
  
• The shutout was the fifth at home this season for the Crew, matching the most shutouts at home from the start of a season in MLS history (also: New England Revolution, 2005), the first team ever to win its first five home contests all by shutout.
  
• Minnesota United gained a third result in four matches, playing to a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium on Saturday evening. Kevin Molino scored his third goal in the last three games, and Robin Lod netted a third in the last four.
  
• The teams did meet earlier this year in the round-of-16 in the MLS is Back Tournament. The teams reached a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes, then goalkeeper Tyler Miller made one save during the penalty shootout and Minnesota United converted all five of their attempts to advance.
  
• Minnesota United won the lone meeting between the clubs a year ago, Ethan Finlay netting the game’s only goal May 18 at Allianz Field. Crew SC won the first two meetings between the teams, over Minnesota United FC’s first two MLS seasons. Crew SC took a 1-0 win the inaugural meeting, July 4, 2017, at TCF Bank Stadium; they also took a 3-2 win on Oct. 28, 2018 as Gyasi Zardes hit for a hat trick, canceling out a brace from MNUFC’s Francisco Calvo.
  

Sporting Kansas City vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m. (FS1)

• Sporting saw their two-game home undefeated run come to an end, falling late to FC Dallas in a 3-2 decision at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening. Johnny Russell scored both SKC goals; he has each of Sporting’s last three tallies, over the last two games.
  
• Orlando City SC stretched their undefeated streak to six games with a second consecutive win, rolling to a 4-1 win against Chicago Fire FC at Exploria Stadium on Saturday evening. Chris Mueller and Nani each had a goal and an assist; for Mueller, it was his seventh of the season, in fourth place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
  
• The teams met once a season ago, Tesho Akindele scoring the game’s lone goal to lead Orlando City to the win at Exploria Stadium on Aug. 14. Orlando City are undefeated on their home ground vs. Sporting KC, with two wins and a draw in three meetings there
  
• Sporting have won both meetings all-time in KC, including a 1-0 victory in the last encounter between the clubs, on Sept. 8, 2018.
  

Inter Miami CF vs. New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m.

• Inter Miami CF won away from home for the first time in the club’s history, a second victory in the last three matches, defeating Atlanta United 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening. Juan Agudelo and Brek Shea scored the goals, the second of the season for each; Rodolfo Pizarro collected an assist for a third game in a row.
  
• The Red Bulls weren’t able to build upon a first victory in five matches, falling by the game’s lone goal to FC Cincinnati at Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening. Haris Medunjanin scored the only goal from an olimpico – directly from a corner kick.
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories.
  

Nashville SC vs. D.C. United, 8:30 p.m.

• Nashville SC had their four-game undefeated streak put to an end, falling 2-0 to Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• D.C. United gained points for a third time in four games with a second draw in that time, reaching a 2-2 result with Toronto FC at Audi Field on Saturday evening. 17-year-old Griffin Yow netted the 88th-minute equalizer for his first career goal in MLS.
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories.
  

Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9 p.m.

• The Rapids took points for a fifth time in the last six games with a second consecutive victory, defeating the LA Galaxy 2-0 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday evening. Cole Bassett scored his third goal of the season, his second in the last three games.
  
• The Quakes had a two-game undefeated streak put to an end in another heavy defeat, falling 6-1 to the Portland Timbers at Earthquakes Stadium on Saturday evening. Carlos Fierro scored his first career goal in MLS for the San Jose tally.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Chris Wondolowski (163 career MLS league goals) and Kei Kamara (129 career MLS league goals) each tallied, as the teams ended in a 1-1 draw at Earthquakes Stadium on Sept. 5.
  
• The Quakes are undefeated in the six meetings all-time at Earthquakes Stadium, winning four of those, and are undefeated in their last 10 home meetings with the Rapids, since a defeat Aug. 25, 2012. The Colorado goal in last year’s meeting was their first at San Jose since May 18, 2013, snapping a span of 692 scoreless minutes for the Rapids in the Bay Area.
  
• The Rapids are undefeated in the past eight meetings with the Quakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, including a 2-0 win last Aug. 10 in the last matchup there, the last San Jose win in Commerce City coming in 2013. The Rapids have won four times, with four draws. The Rapids win at home on Oct. 13, 2016, ended a 14-game overall winless streak in the series.
  

Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy, 9:30 p.m.

• Real suffered a second reverse in a row, dropping a 2-1 decision to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The Galaxy had their six-game undefeated streak come to an end, their last loss coming during the MLS is Back Tournament, in a 2-0 defeat by the Colorado Rapids at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago, and the Galaxy won both, each by a 2-1 scoreline, with Zlatan Ibrahimović scoring a late game-winner both times, first April 28 at Dignity Health Sports Park, then Sept. 25 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Galaxy have won the last two meetings in Carson; their win in Sandy last year was their first there since 2017.
  
• The teams also met five times in eight seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs, last in the Knockout Round in 2016. The Galaxy have won on three occasions, RSL won via penalty shootout when the clubs met in the 2009 MLS Cup, and also in the Western Conference Semifinals in 2013.
  

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10 p.m.

• The Timbers set an MLS club record with six goals, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 6-1 at Earthquakes Stadium in a second meeting there in four days on Saturday evening. Diego Valeri scored a pair of goals while Diego Chará collected a pair of assists.
  
• Sounders FC won a second consecutive match in impressive fashion, hitting for a 3-0 win against Los Angeles Football Club at CenturyLink Field on Friday evening. Nicolás Lodeiro netted the opening two goals from penalty kicks – now 14-for-14 for his MLS career – while Raúl Ruidíaz scored his eighth goal of the season, sitting in third place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
  
• The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Eryk Williamson scored the opener and set up the late winner as the Timbers took a 2-1 win at CenturyLink Field on Sept. 6; Raúl Ruidíaz scored two goals and set up a third as Sounders FC hit for a late three-goal blitz in 14 minutes on their way to a 3-0 win Aug. 23 at Providence Park.
  
• The last six league meetings in the series have been won by the away team. Sounders FC have won the last three regular-season matchups at Providence Park, the win in 2018 their first win in Portland since 2014. When the Timbers took a 4-1 win on June 28, 2015, the three-goal victory equaled Portland’s largest margin of victory against the Sounders since 1977.
  
• The Timbers have won the last three meetings at CenturyLink Field – their only wins ever in Seattle in MLS regular season games (Sounders FC were 7-0-3 leading up to that match), though the Timbers won at home in the MLS Cup Playoffs meeting between the clubs.
  
• The teams met in 2018 in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Timbers winning in a dramatic penalty shootout in the Western Conference Quarterfinals after ending 4-4 on aggregate. The Timbers won the first leg 2-1 at Providence Park, then Sounders FC won 3-2 in extra time, sending the tie to the decider. It was a second win in a playoff series for the Timbers, also winning the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals.
  
• The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers have met 109 times in all competitions, the most between two U.S.-based clubs, the second-most in U.S./Canadian soccer history. Since their first meeting in 1975 in the old North American Soccer League, Seattle has won 54 times and Portland has won 41, with 14 draws. In MLS league play, Sounders FC have won 12 matches, the Timbers have won nine, and six have been draws.
  

Los Angeles Football Club vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 10:30 p.m. (TSN)

• LAFC weren’t able to expand upon a first victory in three matches, falling 3-0 to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Friday evening.
  
• Whitecaps FC won a second consecutive match and a third in the last four games, defeating Real Salt Lake 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. David Milinković scored his first career MLS goal, while Lucas Cavallini netted his second.
  
• The teams split their two meetings a season ago, each winning on their home ground. Hwang In-beom scored the game’s only goal to lead Whitecaps FC to the victory April 17 at BC Place, their only win in four meetings all-time in the series. On July 6 at Banc of California Stadium, Carlos Vela scored a pair of goals and added an assist, leading LAFC to a 6-1 win.
  

Saturday, Sept. 26
Nashville SC vs. Houston Dynamo, 3:30 p.m. (UniMás / TUDN)

• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories.
  

New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati, 7 p.m.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Alexander Ring and Anton Tinnerholm scored on either side of halftime as NYCFC took a 2-0 win Sept. 12 at Red Bull Arena.
  
• The teams met twice in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season, and New York City FC won both by heavy margins. Héber scored two goals and added an assist and Maximiliano Moralez had a goal and three assists as NYCFC took a 5-2 win on June 6 at Yankee Stadium; Héber and Valentin Castellanos each netted a pair of goals as NYCFC claimed a 4-1 win Aug. 17 at Nippert Stadium.
  

Sunday, Sept. 27
D.C. United vs. New England Revolution, 7 p.m.

• The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Gustavo Bou and Teal Bunbury netted first-half goals as the Revolution took a 2-1 win at Audi Field on Aug. 25. The teams also met during the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament, reaching a 1-1 draw July 17.
  
• The Revolution win in the first meeting was the first by the away team since 2013, a Revolution 2-1 win at RFK Stadium. D.C. United’s last win in league play in Foxborough came April 14, 2012, the Revolution with three wins in the eight meetings since, with five draws.
  
• The teams have also met four times in the MLS Cup Playoffs, with United winning three of the four series all-time, last a 2-1 win at RFK Stadium in the Knockout Round in 2015. They have met five times in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Revolution winning three, last in 2017.
  

New York Red Bulls vs. Montreal Impact, 7 p.m. (TVA Sports)

• The Impact have won the last three meetings between the teams, including the two encounters a year ago, taking a 2-1 win on May 8 at Red Bull Arena, then a 3-0 victory on Decision Day (Oct. 6) at Stade Saputo.
  
• 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 four league meetings in Montréal, all by shutout; the Red Bulls have not scored in their last 398 minutes played in Québec.
  

Chicago Fire FC vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m.

• Fire FC won the last meeting between the teams, a 5-1 win last July 3 at SeatGeek Stadium, as CJ Sapong scored twice and Nicolás Gaitán had a goal and two assists, the most goals allowed by ATLUTD in a single game in their history.
  
• The Fire win ended a three-game Atlanta United winning streak in the series, including a 2-0 win last June 1 in the last matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as Josef Martínez scored a pair of goals.
  

Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season, and the second time in their histories. Kacper Przybylko netted the game-winner in the 63rd minute as the Union took a 2-1 win July 14 during the group stage of the MLS is Back Tournament.
  

Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew SC, 7:30 p.m. (TSN)

• TFC won the last meeting between the teams, a 1-0 win on Decision Day (Oct. 6) at BMO Field. Crew SC had won the previous matchup in Toronto, a 2-0 win in the 2018 league season opener, which 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, including a 2-2 draw in the last meeting at Mapfre Stadium last Aug. 17. A 2-1 victory on May 10, 2017 was TFC’s 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).
  

Minnesota United FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 8 p.m.

• The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Robin Lod netted a pair of goals as Minnesota United FC rolled to a 4-0 win Sept. 6 at Allianz Field; they also reached a goalless draw on July 17 during the MLS is Back Tournament.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago. Minnesota United won the second meeting, a 3-1 win Sept. 15 at Allianz Field, as Darwin Quintero netted a pair of goals. MNUFC have won all three meetings lifetime in Minnesota.
  
• MNUFC has a six-game undefeated streak alive in the series, after the teams also reached a 1-1 draw last July 20 at Rio Tinto Stadium; the teams have reached draws in the last two meetings in Sandy. The lone RSL win in the series came there June 17, 2017.
  

FC Dallas vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m.

• Orlando City SC won the lone meeting between the clubs a season ago, a 2-0 win Aug. 3 at Exploria Stadium, their first victory in five matches all-time in the series. The goals were the scored by OCSC vs. FC Dallas, the opening tally ending a 372-minute scoreless streak in the series.
  
• FC Dallas had won three of the first four encounters, with one draw, including the last match at Toyota Stadium, a 2-0 win Oct. 6, 2018. FCD has won both home matches without conceding a goal (scoring six).
  

Colorado Rapids vs. Sporting Kansas City, 9 p.m.

• The teams are meeting for the third time this season. A pair of teenagers, Colorado’s Cole Bassett and KC’s Gianluca Busio, netted the goals as the teams reached a 1-1 draw Aug. 29 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The teams also met during group play in the MLS is Back Tournament, Graham Zusi scoring the game-winner in second-half stoppage time to give Sporting a dramatic 3-2 win on July 17.
  
• The Rapids have a seven-game undefeated streak at home in the series, Sporting’s last win in Commerce City coming in 2014 in the lone meeting between the teams. The Rapids win in the last meeting at Children’s Mercy last Sept. 21, was their first in the series overall since May 27, 2017, a span of three matches (two of those draws).
  

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers, 10 p.m. (TSN)

• The teams met twice a season ago, each winning on their home ground. Fredy Montero scored the game’s lone goal after just nine minutes as Whitecaps FC took the victory May 10 at BC Place; Sebastian Blanco had a goal and an assist and Diego Valeri added two assists as the Timbers took a 3-1 win Aug. 10 at Providence Park.
  
• The Timbers win in the last meeting ended a three-game Whitecaps FC winning streak in the series, after the Timbers won the prior three matchups. Whitecaps FC have won seven times in 24 all-time MLS meetings between the teams, all coming in the past 16 meetings.
  
• The teams first met on May 16, 1975, in the old North American Soccer League, with the Timbers winning 2-0 at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. The teams have met 94 times in all, across a number of competitions – the Whitecaps hold a 40-36-18 advantage in the all-time record between the clubs. The teams met twice in the NASL playoffs, in 1978 and 1980, with each team advancing on one occasion.
  

Los Angeles Football Club vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Diego Rossi netted a pair of goals as LAFC rolled to a 5-1 on Sept. 2 at Banc of California Stadium.
  
• LAFC has scored four goals or more in the last three matches with the Quakes, the second team in MLS history to achieve that (also, LA Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union, 2013-15). A year ago, LAFC cruised to a 5-0 win on March 30 in San Jose behind a Carlos Vela hat trick; Vela then netted two more goals as LAFC won 4-0 on Aug. 21 at Banc of California Stadium.
  
• LAFC have won all five meetings between the clubs, winning both meetings between the teams in their expansion campaign, taking a 4-3 win on June 9 in San Jose, then a 2-0 victory on Sept. 22 at Banc of California Stadium.
  

LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m.

• The teams met twice a season ago. They reached a 2-2 draw Aug. 17 at Dignity Health Sports Park, then Cristian Roldan netted a pair of goals, including the 89th-minute match-winner, giving Sounders FC the 4-3 win Sept. 1 at CenturyLink Field.
  
• Sounders FC have come away with points on four of their last five trips to Carson, Calif., with two wins and two draws. The Seattle win in 2016 ended an 11-game winless streak there in league and MLS Cup play.
  
• Sounders FC have scored nine goals in the last two home meetings with the Galaxy. Sounders FC claimed a 5-0 victory Aug. 18, 2018 at CenturyLink Field, equaling the club’s record for margin of victory over its 10 MLS seasons, and the Galaxy equaling the biggest margin of defeat in their history (set twice previously). It was their first against the Galaxy at home in league play since 2014 (though Sounders FC did win twice at home in the MLS Cup Playoffs over that timeframe).