Fernandez on verge of record-breaking scoring start: Week 17 News & Notes

MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 17 NEWS & NOTES

News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer
TIMBERS’ BRIAN FERNÁNDEZ ON VERGE OF RECORD-BREAKING SCORING START
Brian Fernández of the Portland Timbers has set Major League Soccer alight with his start to his career in the league – and now he is on the verge of setting an all-time record.
With his goal in last weekend’s 4-0 win for the Timbers against the Houston Dynamo at Providence Park, Fernández scored for the fourth time in his first four games in MLS, equaling the league’s all-time record for consecutive games with a goal from the start of an MLS career.
Fernández has matched the mark set last by Charlie Davies with D.C. United in 2011. The first to do it was Alex Pineda Chacón with the Miami Fusion in 2001. Then, Carlos Ruiz did it the next year after joining the LA Galaxy.
Fernández’s four games with a goal have also come over an uninterrupted span of games. Pineda Chacon did not play in the Miami Fusion’s second game of the season (4/14/01 at New England), while Davies did not play in D.C. United’s third game (4/3/11 at Colorado). Ruiz did not miss any games with the LA Galaxy during his streak.
Fernández has already set another MLS record, after also scoring in the Timbers’ two matches thus far in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, contained within his four-game streak in league play. Fernández is the first player in MLS history to score goals in each of his first six games over all competitions since coming into the league.
MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH GOAL FROM START OF MLS CAREER

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau
Fernández has scored five goals over his four-game streak, the second-most among the record holders. With a goal in the Timbers’ match at the Montréal Impact on Wednesday evening, not only will Fernández hold the record for consecutive games with a goal from the start of a career; he also will be in sight of the most goals over the opening five matches from the opening of an MLS career.
Adama Diomande last year became the record-holder, netting seven goals in his first five matches after coming to MLS and the Los Angeles Football Club. Three players have scored six goals in their first five MLS games, including Josef Martínez with Atlanta United in 2017.
MOST GOALS, FIRST FIVE GAMES FROM START OF MLS CAREER

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau
MIDSEASON LOOK: LAFC ON TRACK TOWARD BEST SINGLE SEASON
As the Los Angeles Football Club reach the halfway point of their season this Friday evening against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the second-year club is already on track for one of the greatest seasons in Major League Soccer history.
Through their opening 16 matches, LAFC has scored 39 goals – an average of 2.44 goals per game. That would be the second-highest goals-per-game average in MLS history were the club to maintain it over the second half of the season – behind only the all-time record of 2.66 goals per game set by the LA Galaxy in 1998.
Over the first 23 seasons of MLS, 16 teams have averaged 2 goals per game or better over the course of an entire season. LAFC last year joined that list, scoring 68 goals over 34 matches for a 2.00 goals per game average.
MOST GOALS PER GAME (ALL GAMES), SINGLE SEASON

Through their opening 16 games this season LAFC have also allowed just 13 goals, averaging less than a goal per game at 0.81. Over the span of MLS history, 18 clubs have conceded less than a goal per game, with the record of 0.67 goals allowed per contest set by Real Salt Lake in 2010.
FEWEST GOALS ALLOWED PER GAME (ALL GAMES), SINGLE SEASON

With their plus-26 goal differential, LAFC currently have the seventh-best goal difference in MLS history. Of the eight best goal differentials over an entire season in MLS history, four have occurred over the past two seasons, including the New York Red Bulls (plus 29) and Atlanta United (plus 26) a season ago.
GREATEST GOAL DIFFERENTIAL, SINGLE SEASON

ATLANTA UNITED HOME SHUTOUT STREAK AMONG ALL-TIME BEST
Atlanta United will return home to Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a chance to move up the all-time charts for consecutive shutout minutes on their home ground when they face the Montréal Impact on Saturday evening.
Atlanta United have posted shutouts in each of their past five home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, last conceding a goal on their home ground in a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas on April 20.
The club’s current streak of 456 minutes since allowing a goal at home is the 17th-longest such streak in MLS history. But with another shutout this weekend, Atlanta United would rocket up the charts, into a tie for the sixth-longest in league annals.
CONSECUTIVE MINUTES AT HOME WITHOUT ALLOWING A GOAL

Credit: Elias Sports Bureau
MLS WEEK 17 – LOOK AHEAD (MIDWEEK)
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #195)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
7 p.m. ET (NBCS-Bos; PHL 17)
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): CJ Morgante; AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson; 4th: Elvis Osmanovic; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Tom Felice
MLS Career: 49 games; FC/gm: 26.8; Y/gm: 4.1; R: 6; pens: 19
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 6 wins, 30 goals … Union 14 wins, 46 goals … Ties 4
AT NEW ENGLAND: Revolution 3 wins, 15 goals … Union 5 wins, 17 goals … Ties 2

• The Revolution return to league play for the first time since June 2, extending their undefeated streak to four games last time out in a 2-1 win vs. the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park.
  
• Carles Gil assisted on both Revolution goals, his first multiple-assist game in MLS.
  
• The Union made it two wins in a row in their last league match, a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against the New York Red Bulls at Talen Energy Stadium on June 8.
  
• Ilsinho netted a pair of goals, including the 72nd-minute game-winner, his third multiple-goal game in his four MLS seasons. Ilsinho also added an assist, the third time in his MLS career he’s had three combined goals and assists in the same game.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. All three Union substitutes scored – just the second time in MLS history that occurred – as they equaled their club record in a 6-1 win on May 4 at Talen Energy Stadium.
  
• The Union have won seven of the past eight meetings between the clubs, outscoring New England 22-3 in those victories. The only Revolution win in the series since 2015 came on July 29, 2017, at Gillette Stadium, a 3-0 victory. The Revolution’s last win in Chester, Pa., came in 2015, when they won both meetings there.
  

REVOLUTION:
Cristian Penilla
netted his third goal of the season in the win at the LA Galaxy. Penilla has a goal and an assist over the last two league games; he has been involved in four of New England’s last six goals in MLS play, since May 11 (two goals, two assists). …
Teal Bunbury
scored his first goal of the season, his first since last Aug. 4, the final of his single-season career-high 11 goals in 2018 (in his ninth MLS campaign). … The game was the first in charge for new Revolution boss Bruce Arena, second all-time in MLS with 203 coaching victories.
UNION:
Jamiro Monteiro
and
Ilsinho
kick-started the Union’s comeback from two goals down in the win against the New York Red Bulls, netting goals in consecutive minutes in the 60th and 61st minutes. It was the first time the Union have scored goals in consecutive minutes in their MLS history. …
Alejandro Bedoya
collected his second assist of the season, his first coming May 4.
MONTREAL IMPACT vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #196)
Stade Saputo, Montréal, Qué.
7:30 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; KPTV)
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Andrew Bigelow; AR2 (opposite): Richard Gamache; 4th: Fotis Bazakos; VAR: Jon Freemon; AVAR: Philippe Briere
MLS Career: 17 games; FC/gm: 20.5; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 6; pens: 5
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Impact 3 wins, 14 goals … Timbers 2 wins, 10 goals … Ties 2
AT MONTREAL: Impact 2 wins, 9 goals … Timbers 2 wins, 6 goals … Ties 0

• The Impact return to action after winning for a second time in three games in their last match, a 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders FC at Stade Saputo on June 5. Saphir Taïder netted both goals, now with seven goals this season, equaling his total from last year, his first in MLS.
  
• The Timbers returned to league play and won for the first time in their return to Providence Park this season, rolling to a 4-0 win against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening.
  
• Brian Fernández scored for a fourth consecutive game since joining the Timbers, tying the league record for consecutive games with a goal from the start of an MLS career, set previously by Alex Pineda Chacon (2001), Carlos Ruiz (2002), and Charlie Davies (2011).
  
• Diego Valeri scored one goal and set up three others in the Dynamo win. The three assists equaled the Timbers’ MLS club record, set five times previously (four by Valeri himself), and Valeri is the first player in Portland’s MLS history to be involved in four goals and assists in the same game.
  
• The teams played to a 2-2 draw in their lone meeting a season ago, July 21 at Providence Park. The Impact have come away with points on all three visits to Providence Park, with draws on the last two trips after a 2-1 win on March 9, 2013, in the first meeting in Portland.
  
• The Impact won the last meeting between the teams at Stade Saputo, a 4-1 victory on May 20, 2017. The Timbers had won on their previous two trips to Montréal; the only home win by either team in the series came in 2012 by the Impact at Olympic Stadium, the first meeting between the teams.
  

IMPACT:
Saphir Taïder
netted both goals in the Impact win against Seattle Sounders FC, his second career two-goal in MLS. Taïder has scored each of the Impact’s last three goals. … Omar Browne collected his second assist in MLS; he has two goals and two assists in seven league matches.
TIMBERS:
Jeremy Ebobisse
scored his fifth goal of the season, his last coming April 27. …
Marvin Loria
scored his first Timbers and MLS goal, making his league debut. …
Steve Clark
was credited with one save in making his first shutout of the season, in his fifth start.
D.C. UNITED vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #197)
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
8 p.m. ET (FloSports; YouTube [ORL] / My65)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Jeff Hosking; AR2 (opposite): Jason White; 4th: Lukasz Szpala; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Steve Taylor
MLS Career: 15 games; FC/gm: 24.6; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 2; pens: 4
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 5 wins, 16 goals … Orlando City 4 wins, 15 goals … Ties 1
AT D.C.: D.C. United 3 wins, 10 goals … Orlando City 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 0

• D.C. United reached a third consecutive draw while seeing their winless streak reach five games last time out in league play, playing to a 1-1 result with the San Jose Earthquakes at Audi Field on June 1.
  
• Orlando City SC return to league play for the first time since June 1, winning for a second time in three games in their last MLS match, a 3-0 win at the Montréal Impact at Stade Saputo on June 1.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Wayne Rooney set up one goal then scored directly from a free kick, leading D.C. United to a 2-1 win on March 31 in Orlando.
  
• D.C. United have won the last two meetings in the series, taking a 3-2 victory last Aug. 12 in the first matchup at Audi Field, ending a four-game undefeated streak for Orlando City SC in the series. Orlando City have won once in D.C., ending their RFK Stadium history with a 2-1 win on Sept. 9, 2017.
  
• D.C. United’s win in the first meeting ended a four-game home undefeated streak for Orlando City in the series, United winning for the first time in Orlando in the first meeting ever between the clubs in 2015.
  

UNITED:
Luciano Acosta
scored for a second consecutive game, now with five goals this season. … United extended their home undefeated streak to four games, with a second consecutive draw, in the 1-1 result with the Earthquakes.
OCSC:
Nani
scored his eighth goal of the season in Orlando City SC’s 3-0 win at the Montréal Impact in their last league match; he has scored half of Orlando City’s goals since the start of April. …
Tesho Akindele
netted his fifth goal of the season, his third in the last three matches. It’s two goals shy of his single-season career-high in MLS, set in his rookie season of 2014 while with FC Dallas. …
Will Johnson
scored his first goal of the season, his first since last March 31. …
Chris Mueller
collected his third assist of the year, his first since March 31. …
Cristian Higuita
recorded his first assist of the season, his first since collecting assists in back-to-back games Aug. 19-26, 2017.
TORONTO FC vs. ATLANTA UNITED
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #198)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.
8 p.m. ET (TSN; FS-South)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Kieso; AR2 (opposite): Claudiu Badea; 4th: Chris Penso; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 112 games; FC/gm: 24.4; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 17; pens: 41
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 1 win, 10 goals … ATLUTD 1 win, 9 goals … Ties 3
AT ATLANTA: Toronto FC 1 win, 6 goals … ATLUTD 0 wins, 3 goals … Ties 1

• Toronto FC saw their winless streak extended to eight games in a 3-0 loss to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on June 22.
  
• Atlanta United return to league play for the first time since June 1, winning a second consecutive match last time out in a 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The win was a fifth in a row for Atlanta United by shutout at home, now 456 minutes since their last goal allowed on their home ground (since April 20).
  
• Josef Martínez netted both Atlanta United goals, a second consecutive two-goal game for Martínez, who now has 10 goals on the season, netting each of ATLUTD’s last four goals. He has five goals over the last three games.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Hector Villalba and Julian Gressel scored on either side of halftime as Atlanta United took a 2-0 win on May 8 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
  
• The teams have now split their last two meetings; Toronto FC won the final meeting between the teams last season, a 4-1 win at BMO Field on Decision Day (Oct. 28), the first win by either team in the all-time series.
  
• The teams reached 2-2 draws in each of their first three meetings, two of those at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
  

TFC:
Toronto FC return home looking for a first victory in six matches at BMO Field, equaling their longest drought at home since 2013.
ATLUTD:
Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez
collected his second assist in MLS, both coming in the last three games. …
Franco Escobar
recorded his second assist of the season, both coming over the last three games. Escobar has a goal or an assist in three consecutive games, with one goal and two assists in the span. …
Brad Guzan
was credited with three saves in recording his eighth shutout of the season, his second in as many games. The eight shutouts now lead MLS this season. …
Dion Pereira
collected his first assist in MLS, in his seventh appearance.
FC DALLAS vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 (Week 16, MLS Game #199)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
8 p.m. CT (TSN; FCDTV)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Gianni Facchini; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Victor Rivas; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 146 games; FC/gm: 27.6; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 21; pens: 34
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 10 wins, 28 goals … Whitecaps FC 6 wins, 24 goals … Ties 5
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 7 wins, 16 goals … Whitecaps FC 1 win, 8 goals … Ties 1

• FC Dallas extended their undefeated streak to three games with a second win in that time, defeating Toronto FC 3-0 at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Dominique Badji netted a pair of goals, the third multiple-goal game of his MLS career, while Jesús Ferreira collected a pair of assists, his second career two-assist game (his first coming March 30 of this season).
  
• Whitecaps FC stretched their undefeated streak to five games with a fourth draw in that time, reaching a 2-2 result with the Colorado Rapids at BC Place on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Ali Adnan and Lucas Veneto scored before halftime as Whitecaps FC took a 2-1 win on May 25 at BC Place.
  
• The Whitecaps FC win in the first meeting was the first for the home team in the series since 2016. FCD won 2-1 in Vancouver last year, ending a seven-game home undefeated streak for Whitecaps FC in the series, who were 3-0-4 over the span.
  
• Whitecaps FC have come away with points on their last two trips to Toyota Stadium. Their 4-0 win there in 2017 was the club’s first ever in Frisco, Texas; FC Dallas had won the first seven meetings at home, outscoring Vancouver 14-2.
  

FCD:
Ricardo Pepi
made his MLS debut for FC Dallas just hours after signing a Homegrown contract with the club, in the club’s 3-0 win against Toronto FC at Toyota Stadium on Saturday evening. At age 16 years, 164 days, Pepi became the sixth-youngest player to appear in an MLS league game. …
Paxton Pomykal
collected his second MLS assist, his first coming on March 9. …
Bressan
scored his first goal in MLS, in his eighth league appearance. …
Michael Barrios
recorded his sixth assist of the season, his first since May 4, equaling his total from a season ago. …
Jesse Gonzalez
was credited with two saves in posting his third shutout of the season, the last coming April 27.
WHITECAPS FC:
Fredy Montero
scored his sixth goal of the season in Whitecaps FC’s 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids on June 22 at BC Place, his second consecutive game with a goal, and his third in the last four games. Montero has a goal or an assist in each of his last four games.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #200)
Avaya Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
7:30 p.m. PT (NBCS-BA; KUBE 57)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Luis Guardia; VAR: Allen Chapman; AVAR: TJ Zablocki
MLS Career: 86 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 21; pens: 25
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Earthquakes 8 wins, 29 goals … Dynamo 13 wins, 36 goals … Ties 3
AT SAN JOSE: Earthquakes 6 wins, 18 goals … Dynamo 4 wins, 13 goals … Ties 2

• The Quakes extended their undefeated run to four games with a second consecutive draw last time out, reaching a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas at Avaya Stadium on June 8.
  
• Chris Wondolowski scored his eighth goal of the season – all coming over a four-game span since May 18. Wondolowski had netted each of the Quakes’ last eight goals, equaling the third-longest streak of team goals scored by an individual player in MLS history.
  
• The Dynamo saw their winless run reach three games with a second loss in that time, falling 4-0 to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Alberth Elis and Tomás Martínez netted goals eight minutes apart after the break to bring the Dynamo back for a 2-1 win on April 13 at BBVA Stadium.
  
• The Dynamo have won two of the five meetings between the teams (with one draw) at Avaya Stadium, the last meeting there a 2-2 draw last April 14. The Quakes have won once at BBVA Stadium in eight meetings, a 1-0 win in 2015.
  
• The two teams have shared a pitched rivalry since the Earthquakes returned to the league in 2008, after the Dynamo moved to Houston from San Jose in 2006. The Dynamo have won 13 meetings and the Quakes eight, with three draws.
  

QUAKES:
Magnus Eriksson
scored his third goal of the season, his last coming April 20. Eriksson also added an assist, the second time in his MLS career he’s had a goal and an assist in the same game (also: April 20 vs. Sporting Kansas City). …
Tommy Thompson
recorded his first assist of the season, his first in MLS league play since Aug. 19, 2017. …
Marcos Lopez
collected the first assist of his MLS career.
DYNAMO:
The Dynamo conceded a season-high four goals in the loss at Portland – they had allowed more than one goal in a game just once previously this season (2-1 loss at LA Galaxy, April 19).
MLS WEEK 17 – LOOK AHEAD (WEEKEND)
NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. CHICAGO FIRE
Friday, June 28, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #201)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
8 p.m. ET (UniMás)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Jeffrey Greeson; 4th: Marcos de Oliveira; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Kevin Klinger
MLS Career: 88 games; FC/gm: 23.4; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 31; pens: 49
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Red Bulls 18 wins, 74 goals … Fire 28 wins, 93 goals … Ties 12
AT RED BULLS: Red Bulls 13 wins, 45 goals … Fire 12 wins, 43 goals … Ties 3

• The Red Bulls return to league play after having a two-game winning run put to an end last time out, falling 3-2 to the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium on June 8. Kaku scored his second goal of the season, both coming in the last three games.
  
• The Fire reached a third draw in four games, playing to a 1-1 result with Real Salt Lake at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening. Aleksandar Katai scored the lone Fire goal, directly from a free kick.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. An own goal was the only score as the Fire took the victory, March 30 at SeatGeek Stadium.
  
• The Fire have won two of the last three meetings in the series, winning the last matchup at Red Bull Arena, a 2-1 win last year on April 21. The win ended a three-game winning streak in the series for the Red Bulls in Harrison, N.J., their first win overall vs. the Red Bulls since Aug. 26, 2015.
  
• The Fire win in the first meeting ended a four-game winless streak in the series on their home ground (0-2-2). When the Red Bulls started the streak with a win Oct. 25, 2015, it was their first win ever in Bridgeview. The Red Bulls’ last away win against Chicago had come May 14, 2005, a 3-0 win at Soldier Field; in between, the Fire were unbeaten in 14 home games in the league series (9-0-5).
  

RED BULLS:
Brian White
scored his fourth goal of the season, his third over the last six matches since returning to the lineup. …
Kyle Duncan
collected his first assist of the season, the second of his MLS career (in two seasons). …
Alex Muyl
recorded his first assist of the league season, his last coming last Sept. 30.
FIRE:
The direct free kick from
Aleksandar Katai
was his second in his two MLS seasons, the first coming last May 26 vs. Orlando City SC.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB
Friday, June 28, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #202)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
8 p.m. MT (UniMás)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Philippe Briere; AR2 (opposite): Chris Wattam; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 78 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 30; pens: 16
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 0 wins, 0 goals … LAFC 2 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0
AT COLORADO: Rapids 0 wins, 0 goals … LAFC 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0

• The Rapids extended their undefeated streak to six games in a 2-2 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place on Saturday evening. Rookie Andre Shinyashiki scored his fourth goal of the season, his third over the last six games.
  
• LAFC return to MLS play after winning a second game in a row and extending their undefeated streak to eight games in their last league match, a 3-2 win against the Portland Timbers in the reopening of Providence Park on June 1.
  
• Carlos Vela scored his league-leading 16th goal of the season for LAFC, his fifth consecutive game with a goal, and also added his league-leading 10th assist, his third over the last two games and fifth in the last five.
  
• 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.
  

RAPIDS:
Nicolas Mezquida
collected assists on both Rapids goals vs. Vancouver, his first career multiple-assist game in MLS. He did not have more than one assist in any of his first five seasons in MLS, all with Whitecaps FC. …
Diego Rubio
scored his third goal of the season, his second in as many games, his last coming June 1 (he missed a game through suspension). …
Kei Kamara
recorded his first assist of the season, his last coming last Oct. 17 while with Vancouver.
LAFC:
Diego Rossi
scored his eighth goal of the season, his second in the last four matches. … Latif Blessing netted his second goal of the season, both coming over the last two games. …
Tristan Blackmon
collected his first career assist in MLS, in his 13th appearance (over two seasons). …
Jordan Harvey
recorded his third assist of the year, his most in a single season since 2011, when he had a career-high five (between Philadelphia and Vancouver).
MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. FC CINCINNATI
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #203)
Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minn.
3 p.m. CT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson; 4th: Fotis Bazakos; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 19 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 4; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.

• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories, the only league meeting this season.
  
• MNUFC return to league play after suffering a third consecutive loss, falling 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on June 8.
  
• FC Cincinnati had their losing slide extended to five games in their last match, a 2-0 loss to the LA Galaxy at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening.
  

MNUFC:
MNUFC had their away shutout streak extended to 290 minutes in the Colorado match.
FCC:
Rookie
Rashawn Dally
made his MLS debut, starting and playing 73 minutes. Dally had made his FCC debut in the U.S. Open Cup win vs. Louisville City FC; he started the season on loan to USL side Memphis 901 FC. … The Galaxy match drew the first sellout of Nippert Stadium in FCC’s MLS history, with an attendance of 32,250.
ATLANTA UNITED vs. MONTREAL IMPACT
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #204)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
6 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; FS-South)
REFEREE: Ramy Touchan. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Rosendo Mendoza; VAR: Tim Ford; AVAR: Kyle Longville
MLS Career: 12 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 0; pens: 2
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 3 wins, 9 goals … Impact 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 0
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 2 wins, 6 goals … Impact 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0

• Atlanta United won both meetings between the teams a year ago, one at each ground. Kevin Kratz netted twice – both directly from free kicks – as Atlanta United took a 4-1 win on April 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, then Josef Martínez scored both goals as ATLUTD claimed a 2-1 win on July 28 at Stade Saputo.
  
• Atlanta United have won the last three meetings in the series. The teams split their two meetings in Atlanta United’s inaugural season in MLS. The Impact took a 2-1 win on April 15 at Stade Saputo; Atlanta United returned the favor with a 2-0 victory on Sept. 24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
  

IMPACT:
Play Portland Timbers at Stade Saputo at midweek.
ATLUTD:
Play Toronto FC at BMO Field at midweek.
NEW YORK CITY FC vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #205)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
7 p.m. ET (YES; PHL 17)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Richard Gamache; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Marcos de Oliveira; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Kevin Klinger
MLS Career: 15 games; FC/gm: 24.6; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 2; pens: 4
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 5 wins, 14 goals … Union 3 wins, 12 goals … Ties 1
AT YANKEE STADIUM: NYCFC 3 wins, 9 goals … Union 0 wins, 5 goals … Ties 1

• NYCFC extended their club-record undefeated streak to 10 games in their last league match, a 5-2 win against FC Cincinnati on June 6.
  
• Maximiliano Moralez collected three assists in the FC Cincinnati win, tying the NYCFC club record, and he also scored a goal, the first time in the club’s five MLS seasons a player has been involved in four goals and assists in a single game.
  
• The teams met twice during the regular season last year, splitting the two matches, each winning at home. The Union took a 2-0 win on Aug. 18 at Talen Energy Stadium, then NYCFC rolled to a 3-1 win on Decision Day at Yankee Stadium, their third consecutive win in the Bronx in league play in the series.
  
• The teams also then met in the Knockout Round just three days after the regular-season finale, NYCFC cruising to a 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.
  

NYCFC:
Héber
netted a pair of goals and added an assist against FC Cincinnati on June 6 and now has three goals over the past two games. He became the first player in MLS history to score two goals and also an own goal in the same game. …
Anton Tinnerholm
collected a pair of assists, his first career multiple-assist game in MLS. …
Alejandru Mitrita
scored his fourth goal of the season, his second in the last three games. …
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi
netted his fourth goal of the year, all coming over the last nine games, since April 13.
UNION:
Play New England Revolution at Talen Energy Stadium at midweek.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #206)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
7:30 p.m. ET (NBCS-Bos; KUBE 57)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Gianni Facchini; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Lukasz Szpala; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 146 games; FC/gm: 27.6; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 21; pens: 34
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 12 wins, 35 goals … Dynamo 5 wins, 25 goals … Ties 7
AT NEW ENGLAND: Revolution 12 wins, 35 goals … Dynamo 5 wins, 25 goals … Ties 7

• The Revolution have a six-game undefeated streak alive in the all-time series, extending it with a 2-0 win last March 31 at BBVA Stadium in the only meeting between the teams a year ago.
  
• The Revs have won the last three matches between the clubs in Foxborough, including a 2-0 win in the last meeting there, April 8, 2017. The Revolution have come away with points on their last trips to Houston, with a pair of wins.
  

REVOLUTION:
Play the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium at midweek.
DYNAMO:
Play the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium at midweek.
COLUMBUS CREW SC vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #207)
Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
7:30 p.m. ET (FS-OH; YouTube [ORL] / My65)
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Andrew Bigelow; AR2 (opposite): Logan Brown; 4th: Luis Guardia; VAR: Younes Marrakchi; AVAR: Cameron Blanchard
MLS Career: 17 games; FC/gm: 20.5; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 6; pens: 5
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Crew SC 5 wins, 21 goals … Orlando City 2 wins, 15 goals … Ties 3
AT COLUMBUS: Crew SC 3 wins, 10 goals … Orlando City 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 1

• Crew SC saw their winless skid reach five matches, falling 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City at Mapfre Stadium on Sunday evening.
  
• The teams split their two meetings a season ago, each winning on their home ground. Crew SC got a dramatic game-winner from Wil Trapp in a 3-2 win on July 21 at Mapfre Stadium, then Sacha Kljestan scored the match-winner from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time as OCSC took a 2-1 win at home on Oct. 21.
  
• The Orlando City win in the second meeting snapped a six-game Crew SC undefeated streak in the series, including four wins. The last OCSC victory in the series had come Aug. 1, 2015.
  
• Crew SC have not lost to Orlando City in four meetings on their home ground, with three wins, including two in a row. Crew SC have two wins and a draw in their past four visits to Orlando City Stadium.
  

CREW SC:
Harrison Afful
made his first league appearance since March 30, returning from injury after missing 11 games. Afful will miss the Orlando City match through suspension after he was sent off in the 74th minute vs. Sporting KC.
OCSC:
Play D.C. United at Audi Field at midweek.
D.C. UNITED vs. TORONTO FC
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #208)
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
8 p.m. ET (TSN; FloSports)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Nick Uranga; AR2 (opposite): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; 4th: Yusri Rudolf; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Walter Heatherly
MLS Career: 86 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 21; pens: 25
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 14 wins, 50 goals … Toronto FC 10 wins, 42 goals … Ties 7
AT D.C.: D.C. United 6 wins, 30 goals … Toronto FC 4 wins, 21 goals … Ties 4

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. TFC took 36 total attempts toward goal – tied for the second-most in a single game in MLS history, and the most ever from a team without scoring a goal – as the teams reached a goalless draw May 15 at BMO Field.
  
• D.C. United won the inaugural meeting in the series at Audi Field, taking a 1-0 win last Oct. 17 through a Wayne Rooney goal, their first win in the series since 2016. TFC ended their history at RFK Stadium by coming away with points on four of their final five visits there. United have come away with points on five of their last seven trips to BMO Field, over the past five seasons, including two victories.
  

UNITED:
Play Orlando City SC at Audi Field at midweek.
TFC:
Play Atlanta United at BMO Field at midweek.
REAL SALT LAKE vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #209)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
8 p.m. MT (KMYU-12; FS-KC)
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): C.J. Morgante; AR2 (opposite): TJ Zablocki; 4th: Kevin Broadley; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 49 games; FC/gm: 26.8; Y/gm: 4.1; R: 6; pens: 19
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Real 11 wins, 37 goals … Sporting 9 wins, 35 goals … Ties 8
AT SALT LAKE: Real 8 wins, 24 goals … Sporting 3 wins, 17 goals … Ties 3

• Real snapped a brief two-game losing skid with a result, gaining a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Sporting extended their undefeated streak to three games, defeating Columbus Crew SC by the game’s only goal at Mapfre Stadium on Sunday evening.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago. Real got goals from four different goalscorers in a 4-2 triumph against Sporting, July 4 at Rio Tinto Stadium; the teams then reached a 1-1 draw Sept. 30 at Children’s Mercy Park.
  
• Real are undefeated in their past six home meetings with Sporting in league play (4-0-2), dating back to 2015. RSL have come away with points on five of their last six trips to Kansas City; Sporting’s 3-0 win there April 29, 2017 snapped a seven-game winless streak in league play in the all-time series vs. RSL (0-4-3), their first victory since 2013.
  

REAL:
Albert Rusnák
scored his sixth goal of the season, his fourth from the penalty spot.
SPORTING:
Felipe Gutiérrez
scored his seventh goal of the season, his third in the last two games. Gutiérrez has scored each of Sporting’s last three goals. …
Gerso Fernandes
collected his third assist of the season, his first since a two-assist game March 30. …
Benny Feilhaber
recorded his third assist of the season, his first since rejoining SKC via trade from the Colorado Rapids. …
Tim Melia
was credited with two saves in recording his second shutout of the season, his first coming March 10 (vs. Philadelphia).
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. LA GALAXY
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #210)
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, Calif.
7 p.m. PT (NBCS-CA+; SpecSN)
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Jeff Hosking; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Eduardo Mariscal
MLS Career: 338 games; FC/gm: 24.6; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 79; pens: 90
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Earthquakes 22 wins (1 shootout), 94 goals … Galaxy 31 wins (4 shootout), 109 goals … Ties 15
AT EARTHQUAKES: Earthquakes 16 wins (1 shootout), 55 goals … Galaxy 11 wins (2 shootout), 49 goals … Ties 9

• The Galaxy won for a third time in the last four matches on Saturday evening, a 2-0 win against FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium. Favio Alvarez netted his second goal in MLS, both coming in the last three games, and also collected his first league assist.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago. Romain Alessandrini scored the game’s only goal in a Galaxy win May 25 in Carson; then on June 30 at Stanford Stadium, Chris Wondolowski and Zlatan Ibrahimović each netted a brace as the teams ended up in a 3-3 draw.
  
• The Quakes have won once in Carson since 2012 – a 3-0 win on Aug. 27, 2017. The Galaxy won 4-2 on May 27, 2017 at Avaya Stadium in the last match there – just their second victory in the last 17 regular season games in northern California, across four stadiums.
  
• Known as the California Clásico, the Galaxy and Earthquakes have met 84 times in all competitions. In regular season play, the Galaxy have won 31 times and the Quakes 22, with 15 draws, since their first meeting April 28, 1996.
  
• The teams have met each of the last seven years at Stanford Stadium, and the game has drawn crowds in excess of 50,000 fans on each occasion, drawing 50,743 last year, with an average of 50,424 for the seven contests.
  

QUAKES:
Play Houston Dynamo at Avaya Stadium at midweek.
GALAXY:
David Bingham
was credited with three saves in recording his sixth shutout of the season, his third in the last four games. The six shutouts are tied for third in MLS this season. …
Emmanuel Boateng
scored his first goal of the season, his last coming last Sept. 23 vs. Seattle.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Saturday, June 29, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #211)
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.
7 p.m. PT (TSN; JOEtv / YouTube [SEA])
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Kieso; AR2 (opposite): Mike Rottersman; 4th: Elton Garcia; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 112 games; FC/gm: 24.4; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 17; pens: 41
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 10 wins, 33 goals … Whitecaps FC 7 wins, 27 goals … Ties 6
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 5 wins, 15 goals … Whitecaps FC 4 wins, 14 goals … Ties 1

• Sounders FC return to league play after falling to a third consecutive loss last time out, a 2-1 defeat by the Montréal Impact at Stade Saputo on June 5.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. They reached a goalless draw March 30 at BC Place.
  
• Sounders FC have won the past three meetings in Seattle, over the last three seasons. Sounders FC have come away with points on six of their last seven visits to BC Place, over the last five seasons.
  
• The teams have met the most times of any rivalry in soccer history in the USA and Canada. Since the clubs first met at Empire Stadium on June 9, 1974, in the old North American Soccer League, they have played 135 times over all competitions. The Sounders have won 65, the Whitecaps 49, and there have been 22 draws.
  

SOUNDERS FC:
Victor Rodríguez
scored his second goal of the season for the Seattle tally, converting a penalty kick, his first goal coming March 16.
WHITECAPS FC:
Play FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium at midweek.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. FC DALLAS
Sunday, June 30, 2019 (Week 17, MLS Game #212)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
8 p.m. PT (UniMás; KPTV)
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Eric Boria; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Hanson; 4th: Elton Garcia; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Apolinar Mariscal
MLS Career: 149 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 33; pens: 66
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 6 wins, 27 goals … FC Dallas 8 wins, 37 goals … Ties 7
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 5 wins, 15 goals … FC Dallas 1 win, 10 goals … Ties 3

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Jesús Ferreira and Reto Ziegler netted goals as FC Dallas took a 2-1 win on April 13 at Toyota Stadium. The win in the first meeting ended a four-game undefeated streak for the Timbers in the league series, which followed a four-game FCD winning streak in the series.
  
• When FC Dallas won 3-1 at Portland on April 13, 2016, it was their first victory ever at Providence Park; the Timbers had won four of the first six league meetings there with two draws. The Timbers have won once in 12 league visits all-time to Toyota Stadium, in 2014.
  
• The teams also met in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs last year, with the Timbers taking a 2-1 win at Toyota Stadium on their way to an eventual appearance in MLS Cup.
  

TIMBERS:
Play Montréal Impact at Stade Saputo at midweek.
FC DALLAS:
Play Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Toyota Stadium at midweek.