LAFC take best start in league history into El Tráfico on ESPN Friday

MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 20 NEWS & NOTES

News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer

LAFC TAKE BEST START IN LEAGUE HISTORY INTO EL TRÁFICO ON ESPN FRIDAY

As the Los Angeles Football Club head into the first El Tráfico derby of the season this weekend against rivals the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park (10 p.m. PT on ESPN), they do so having gotten off to the fastest start of any team in any season in Major League Soccer history.
Through their opening 20 games this season, LAFC have amassed 46 points – from 14 wins, four draws and two defeats. That is the most of any club in league annals since the end of the shootout era (starting in 2000) according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Since the 2000 season, just nine teams have had at least 40 points from their first 20 matches – including three last season in the New York Red Bulls (ended season with 71 points), Atlanta United (ended season with 69 points) and New York City FC (finished year with 56 points). The previous best through the opening 20 games was set by D.C. United in 2006 with 45 points (completing that season with 55 points).
POINTS LEADERS THROUGH FIRST 20 MATCHES

Credit
: Elias Sports Bureau

RED BULLS’ ROYER CONTINUES SPOTLESS RECORD FROM THE SPOT

Daniel Royer of the New York Red Bulls scored a goal from a penalty kick for the first time in the 2019 season, netting the first of his two goals in his club’s 2-1 win against New York City FC in the first Hudson River Derby of the year last Sunday at Red Bull Arena.
It was the seventh penalty kick goal in Royer’s four seasons in MLS – from seven total attempts. Among active players in Major League Soccer, he is one of four players with at least seven goals from the spot who have not missed a single attempt along the way.
The active leader is Benny Feilhaber of Sporting Kansas City, who has converted all 12 of his penalty kick attempts over his nine years in MLS. Nicolás Lodeiro is a perfect 10-for-10 from the penalty spot for Seattle Sounders FC over his four seasons in Major League Soccer, while Zlatan Ibrahimović of the LA Galaxy has converted all eight of his spot kicks since his arrival in MLS last season.
All-time, Feilhaber and Lodeiro are the only players in MLS history to have never missed a penalty kick while taking at least 10 attempts.
PENALTY KICK CONVERSION (ACTIVE PLAYERS ONLY)

Minimum: 7 penalty kick goals
PENALTY KICK CONVERSION (ALL-TIME)

Minimum: 10 penalty kick goals

FC CINCINNATI’S CRUZ MAKES EARLY-STRIKE EXPANSION HISTORY

When Allan Cruz gave FC Cincinnati the lead after just 45 seconds last Saturday evening, sending his club on its way to a 2-1 win against the Chicago Fire at SeatGeek Stadium, it was the earliest goal in the club’s brief MLS history.
Cruz became the fourth player for an expansion club to score in the first minute of a game in the club’s inaugural season, the last Frank Lampard, who did for New York City FC at D.C. United late in their inaugural season of 2015.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC were the first MLS expansion club to have a goal in the first minute – something they did twice in their inaugural MLS season of 2011, by Eric Hassli on Aug. 7, then Camilo Sanvezzo on Oct. 12. Those two goals – coming at 33 and 42 seconds respectively – are also the fastest goals ever scored by an expansion team.
Cruz’s goal was the fifth scored in the opening minutes of matches this season – one of three all scored after 45 seconds of play. The earliest goal this season was netted by Tsubasa Endoh of Toronto FC, after 27 seconds on June 26 vs. Atlanta United, then Anthony Jackson-Hamel of the Montréal Impact scored after 28 seconds on July 6 vs. Minnesota United FC.
FIRST-MINUTE GOALS (EXPANSION TEAMS)

FCC GOALKEEPER RICHEY STANDS TALL FOR MULTIPLE PENALTY KICKS

FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Spencer Richey also played his part in some expansion team history, in preserving his club’s 2-1 win against the Chicago Fire.
Richey faced a pair of penalty kicks from the Chicago Fire’s Nicolás Gaitan – and was not beaten by either, seeing an attempt in the 25th minute hit the left post, then later in first-half stoppage time making a save on a second try.
It was the seventh time in Major League Soccer history a goalkeeper saw two unsuccessful penalty kicks against him in the same game. Five of those occasions have seen the ‘keeper save both attempts. Richey was the first goal for an expansion team to stand tall against the two spot kicks against him.
MULTIPLE PENALTY KICKS UNSUCCESSFUL VS. ONE GOALKEEPER (SINGLE GAME)

GALAXY ‘KEEPER BINGHAM HAS ONE OF BIGGEST NIGHTS EVER IN GOAL

LA Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham did his part for his club, despite a 3-1 loss to his former club in the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday evening at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Bingham was officially credited with 13 saves in the match – equaling the fifth-most in a single match in Major League Soccer history. The record is still held by Tony Meola, who saved 15 shots from D.C. United while with the MetroStars during the 1997 season.
MOST SAVES, SINGLE GAME (REGULAR SEASON)

MLS WEEK 20 – LOOK AHEAD

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #244)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
7 p.m. ET (TSN; NBCS-Bos)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Logan Brown; AR2 (opposite): Claudiu Badea; 4th: Thomas Snyder; VAR: Alan Kelly; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 90 games; FC/gm: 22.2; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 21; pens: 26
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Revolution 4 wins, 16 goals … Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 12 goals … Ties 3
AT FOXBOROUGH: Revolution 3 wins, 7 goals … Whitecaps FC 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 1

• The Revolution extended their undefeated streak to eight matches in league play, reaching a 2-2 draw with D.C. United at Audi Field on Friday evening, the club’s longest stretch without a defeat since the 2015 season.
  
• The teams reached a 3-3 draw in the lone meeting between the clubs a year ago, May 26 at BC Place. The ‘Caps have won once in four home meetings with the Revolution, a 4-3 win there in 2013.
  
• The Revolution won the last meeting at Gillette Stadium, a 1-0 win on Aug. 12, 2017. That was the first home win for either team in the series since the Whitecaps FC win in Vancouver in 2013.
  

REVOLUTION:
Teal Bunbury
scored for a third consecutive game, now with four goals for the season. …
Juan Caicedo
collected his third assist of the season; he has a goal or an assist in three consecutive games, with one goal and two assists in that span. …
Carles Gil
scored his fifth goal of the season, with a goal and an assist in the last two matches. …
Jalil Anibaba
collected his second assist of the season, his most in a single campaign since recording a single-season career-high four in 2015, with Sporting KC. … The draw kept head coach Bruce Arena undefeated since his return to MLS, now with three wins and two draws in five matches since taking over the reins of the club.
WHITECAPS FC:
Whitecaps FC had their winless run stretched to six games, matching their streak from March 2-April 12.
ATLANTA UNITED vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #245)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
7 p.m. ET (FS-South; KUBE 57)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Kieso; 4th: Sergii Demianchuk; VAR: Jon Freemon; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 158 games; FC/gm: 23.8; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 47; pens: 60
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 1 win, 4 goals … Dynamo 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 0
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 1 win, 4 goals … Dynamo 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 0

• Josef Martínez scored in his fifth consecutive appearance for ATLUTD, his second is as many games since his return from Copa América duty, with eight goals over his streak, dating back to May 24.
  
• The Dynamo suffered a loss for the first time this season at their BBVA Stadium home, falling 3-1 to the Los Angeles Football Club on Friday evening. The Dynamo’s home undefeated run ended after 10 games, tied for the fourth-longest in club history.
  
• The teams have met twice in their histories, each winning once at home by large margins. Atlanta United won the first meeting between the teams 4-1, on May 20, 2017, at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Dynamo returned the favor last year in a 4-0 win on March 3 at BBVA Stadium in the season opener for both clubs.
  

ATLUTD:
Pity
Martínez
recorded his fifth assist of the season, a second consecutive game with an assist and his fourth assist over his last six matches dating back to June 1 (also with a goal in that span).
DYNAMO:
Romell Quioto
scored for a second game in a row in the loss to Los Angeles Football Club, his first two goals this season. …
Tomás
Martínez
collected his second assist of the season; he has a goal and an assist over his last two appearances.
TORONTO FC vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #246)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.
8 p.m. ET (TSN; MSG)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Cory Richardson; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Yusri Rudolf; VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 150 games; FC/gm: 27.5; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 22; pens: 36
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 8 wins, 33 goals … Red Bulls 15 wins, 57 goals … Ties 7
AT BMO FIELD: Toronto FC 6 wins, 23 goals … Red Bulls 4 wins, 20 goals … Ties 5

• TFC defeated the Montréal Impact 2-0 at Stade Saputo on Saturday evening. Alejandro Pozuelo scored his eighth goal of the season, to go with eight assists; he has a goal and/or an assist in nine of his 17 appearances in MLS.
  
• The Red Bulls defeated New York City FC 2-1 in the first Hudson River Derby of 2019, at Red Bull Arena on Sunday afternoon. Daniel Royer netted both Red Bulls goal, the fifth multiple-goal game of his MLS career.
  
• The Red Bulls won both meetings between the teams a season ago, once at each ground, winning by the game’s lone goal July 1 at BMO Field, and taking a 2-0 win on Sept. 22 at Red Bull Arena.
  
• The win in the first meeting last year was the first for the Red Bulls in Toronto since 2013, ending a five-game home undefeated streak for TFC in the series.
  
• The Red Bulls are 11-2-2 all-time in home matches vs. Toronto FC. When Toronto took a 2-0 win on March 6, 2016, it was its first win ever at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls were 5-0-1 all-time in Harrison before the TFC win; the triumph also snapped an eight-game home undefeated streak for the Red Bulls vs. TFC (7-0-1), which began Oct. 25, 2009.
  

TFC:
Jozy Altidore
scored directly from a free kick for his sixth goal of the season, putting a late capper on the win against Montréal. It was Altidore’s second goal coming directly from a free kick in his MLS career, the first coming on Sept. 18, 2016, vs. the New York Red Bulls. …
Marky Delgado
collected his third assist of the season; all have come over the last eight games, dating back to May 26. …
Quentin Westberg
was credited with four saves in recording his third shutout of the season.
RED BULLS:
Cristian Casseres Jr.
recorded his third assist of the season, his second in as many games. …
Marc Rzatkowski
collected his fifth assist of the year, a second consecutive game with an assist, and his third in the last five matches.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. COLUMBUS CREW SC
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #247)
SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.
7 p.m. CT (ESPN+; FS-OH)
REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Lorant Varga; VAR: Tim Ford; AVAR: Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein
MLS Career: 125 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 26; pens: 30
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Fire 26 wins (1 shootout), 88 goals … Crew SC 19 wins (0 shootout), 95 goals … Ties 19
AT FIRE: Fire 16 wins (0 shootout), 49 goals … Crew SC 6 wins (0 shootout), 37 goals … Ties 11

• The teams evenly split their league season series a year ago, each winning once at home with a third match a draw. The Fire won by the game’s only goal in Bridgeview on April, then Crew SC took a 3-0 win on May 12 at Mapfre Stadium. They reached a 1-1 draw in Bridgeview, Ill., on Aug. 23.
  

FIRE:
Nicolás Gaitán
netted his fourth goal of the season for the Fire; he has two goals and three assists over the past three games.
CREW SC:
Crew SC are undefeated in their past eight home meetings in the series (6-0-2), the last win for the Fire in Columbus coming in 2013.
FC CINCINNATI vs. D.C. UNITED
Thursday, July 18, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #248)
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
8 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Adam Garner; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Hanson; 4th: Elton Garcia; VAR: Malik Badawi; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 282 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 100; pens: 109
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.

• FC Cincinnati won a second consecutive match, defeating the Chicago Fire 2-1 at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening. It matches the longest winning streak of the club’s MLS history, also winning two games in a row March 17-24.
  
• Allan Cruz netted his third goal of the season for FCC; he has a goal and an assist over the last two games. Fanendo Adi also netted a goal, his first in MLS play for FCC (he scored in the club’s fourth-round win in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup vs. Louisville City FC).
  
• D.C. United gained a result for the sixth time in seven games, coming back for a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution at Audi Field on Friday evening. Leonardo Jara and Quincy Amariwka netted the United goals, each their first of the season.
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories, the first of two league meetings this season. They will meet again on Decision Day (Oct. 6) at Audi Field.
  

FCC:
Kekuta Manneh
collected his third assist of the season, now with a goal or an assist in three consecutive games, with a goal and two assists in that span.
UNITED:
Paul Arriola
collected his first assist of the season, his last coming last Aug. 19, when he had eight assists on the campaign. …
Wayne Rooney
recorded his sixth assist of the season, to go with 10 goals on the year, in his 20th appearance; he had 12 goals and 7 assists in 20 appearances in his first MLS season.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Thursday, July 18, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #249)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
7 p.m. PT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Joseph Dickerson. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Michael Barwegen; 4th: Farhad Dadkho; VAR: Allen Chapman; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 21 games; FC/gm: 26.5; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 4; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 1 win, 6 goals … Orlando City 3 wins, 9 goals … Ties 0
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 1 win, 3 goals … Orlando City 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0

• The Timbers stretched their undefeated streak to three games, reaching a 2-2 draw with the Colorado Rapids at Providence Park on Saturday evening.
  
• Orlando City SC gained a second consecutive result, defeating Columbus Crew SC by the game’s only goal at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Homegrown product Benji Michel scored his first career goal in MLS for the match-winner.
  
• The teams met once a season ago, Orlando City SC taking a 3-2 win on April 8 in Orlando. It was OCSC’s second win in two meetings at home in the series, also winning there 4-1 in 2016.
  
• The Timbers won the last matchup between the clubs at Providence Park, a 3-0 win on Sept. 24, 2017. OCSC won the first meeting in Portland, the first-ever encounter between the teams, a 2-0 win in 2015.
  

TIMBERS:
Diego Valeri
scored his fifth goal of the season, his last coming June 22, to go with 10 assists.
OCSC:
Ludovic Sané
collected his first career assist in MLS, in his second season (in 30 appearances). …
Brian Rowe
was credited with one save in recording his fifth shutout of the season, his third over the last six matches. …
Ruan
recorded his third assist of the season.
LA GALAXY vs. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB
Friday, July 19, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #250)
Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
7 p.m. PT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Ian Anderson; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Kevin Stott; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 247 games; FC/gm: 23.1; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 41; pens: 77
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Galaxy 1 win, 7 goals … LAFC 0 wins, 6 goals … Ties 2
AT GALAXY: Galaxy 1 win, 5 goals … LAFC 0 wins, 4 goals … Ties 1

• The Galaxy fell to a 3-1 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday evening, despite a heroic effort from goalkeeper David Bingham, who was officially credited with 13 saves on the night, equaling the fifth-most in a single game in MLS history.
  
• LAFC won their third game on the trot, defeating the Houston Dynamo 3-1 at BBVA Stadium on Friday evening. Adama Diomande netted a pair of goals, the fifth multiple-goal game of his MLS career, now with three goals over his last two games, while Diego Rossi also added his 11th goal of the season.
  
• The teams met three times in LAFC’s inaugural campaign. The Galaxy took a dramatic 4-3 victory in the first ever LA derby, coming back from a three-goal deficit behind a pair of goals from Zlatan Ibrahimović, playing in his first MLS game, on March 31 at Banc of California Stadium.
  
• The teams played to draws in their final two meetings, a 2-2 result on July 26 at Banc of California Stadium, and a 1-1 match Aug. 24 in Carson, Calif.
  

GALAXY:
Rolf Feltscher
scored his first goal of the season, the second of his MLS career, his first coming last Sept. 15 vs. Toronto FC. …
Jonathan dos Santos
recorded his second assist of the season, in his first game back after missing three matches while on Concacaf Gold Cup duty.
LAFC:
Lee Nguyen
recorded a pair of assists, the eighth multiple-assist game of his MLS career, his first with LAFC. …
Adama Diomande
also collected an assist, his fifth of the season, the second time in his MLS career he’s been involved in three goals in a game (the first: a hat trick June 30, 2018 vs. Philadelphia). … Rookie
Peter-Lee Vassell
recorded his first career assist in MLS, making his sixth appearance. …
Josh Perez
collected his first career assist in MLS, in his 10th game over two seasons.
TORONTO FC vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Saturday, July 20, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #251)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.
8 p.m. ET (TSN; KUBE 57)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Claudiu Badea; AR2 (opposite): Brian Poeschel; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 18 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 3; pens: 6
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 5 wins, 25 goals … Dynamo 7 wins, 33 goals … Ties 10
AT BMO FIELD: Toronto FC 4 wins, 14 goals … Dynamo 3 wins, 12 goals … Ties 4

• The Dynamo won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 5-1 victory on April 21 at BBVA Stadium. It was the first victory for either team in Houston since 2011; they had reached five consecutive draws there, all at BBVA Stadium.
  
• TFC won the last matchup in Toronto, a 2-0 victory at BMO Field on April 28, 2017. The TFC win ended a four-game winless streak in the series; their last win vs. the Dynamo had come July 12, 2014, a 4-2 win at BMO Field.
  

TFC:
Play the New York Red Bulls at midweek at BMO Field.
DYNAMO:
Play Atlanta United at midweek at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. CHICAGO FIRE
Saturday, July 20, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #252)
Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.
7:30 p.m. ET (PHL 17; ESPN+)
REFEREE: Rubiel Vazquez. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Kieso; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Jon Freemon; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 21 games; FC/gm: 20.8; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 6; pens: 5
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Union 9 wins, 35 goals … Fire 8 wins, 34 goals … Ties 5
AT UNION: Union 6 wins, 20 goals … Fire 2 wins, 15 goals … Ties 2

• The Union had their two-game undefeated run put to an end last time out, falling 4-0 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago, and the Union won both. They took a 3-1 win on May 30 at Talen Energy Stadium, then captured a 4-3 victory on July 11 in Bridgeview, Ill.
  
• The Union win in the second meeting was the first for the visiting team since 2013, when the Fire won in Chester, Pa. The home team had won each of the previous six matches in the series.
  
• The Union have won the past three meetings in Chester; the Union’s home win in 2016 snapped a seven-game winless streak overall in the league series. The Fire had won four meetings in a row in Bridgeview before the Union win last year.
  

UNION:
The Union were blanked at the attacking end for just the fourth time this season, ending a streak of eight consecutive games with a goal.
FIRE:
Play Columbus Crew SC at midweek at SeatGeek Stadium.
COLUMBUS CREW SC vs. MONTREAL IMPACT
Saturday, July 20, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #253)
Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
7:30 p.m. ET (TVA Sports; FS-OH)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): C.J. Morgante; AR2 (opposite): Mike Kampmeinert; 4th: Greg Dopka; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 90 games; FC/gm: 22.2; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 21; pens: 26
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Crew SC 9 wins, 29 goals … Impact 7 wins, 28 goals … Ties 3
AT COLUMBUS: Crew SC 7 wins, 22 goals … Impact 1 win, 11 goals … Ties 2

• The Impact dropped a 2-0 decision to Toronto FC in the first 401 Derby of the year, at Stade Saputo on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Harry Novillo scored the game’s only goal as the Impact took the win at Stade Saputo on April 13.
  
• The Impact have won the past two meetings in the series, also winning last Oct. 6 in a 3-0 triumph in Montréal. That victory ended a three-game Crew SC winning streak and five-game undefeated streak in the series, their first victory vs. Columbus since April 9, 2016, a 2-0 win in Montréal.
  
• Crew SC have won seven of the 10 meetings all-time in Columbus, with two draws, including a 3-2 win there on March 10, 2018 in the last matchup at Mapfre Stadium. The lone Impact win there came in 2015.
  

CREW SC:
Play the Chicago Fire at midweek at SeatGeek Stadium.
IMPACT:
After not dropping consecutive games all season, the Impact have now suffered three reversals in a row.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. FC DALLAS
Saturday, July 20, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #254)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
7:30 p.m. CT (FS-KC+; FCDTV)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Kathryn Nesbitt; AR2 (opposite): Jose da Silva; 4th: Lukasz Szpala; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Kyle Atkins
MLS Career: 116 games; FC/gm: 24.4; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 17; pens: 46
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sporting 25 wins (2 shootout), 91 goals … FC Dallas 23 wins (1 shootout), , 92 goals … Ties 12
AT KC: Sporting 15 wins (0 shootout), 57 goals … FC Dallas 9 wins (1 shootout), 38 goals … Ties 7

• Sporting won for a second consecutive match, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-0 at BC Place on Saturday evening. Gerso Fernandes scored a goal, his first of the season, and also added an assist, while Felipe Gutiérrez netted his eighth goal of the season.
  
• FC Dallas dropped a 1-0 decision to Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams met twice a year ago, and the visiting team won both. Michael Barrios netted a hat trick in a 3-2 FCD victory on July 28 at Children’s Mercy Park, then Sporting claimed a 3-0 win on Oct. 21 at Toyota Stadium.
  
• The win in the first meeting was the first for FC Dallas at Children’s Mercy Park since 2011, the first match there in the series. SKC had won five of the seven meetings in between, with two draws.
  
• Sporting’s win in the second meeting was their first in Frisco, Texas, since June 12, 2011, a 4-1 win; FC Dallas had a five-game home undefeated streak in the series put to an end.
  
• The teams also met in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Sporting taking a 3-2 win in their fifth-round tie in Kansas City. They have met three times in the Open Cup since 2015.
  

SPORTING:
Krisztian Németh
collected his second assist of the season, his first coming April 14.
… Johnny Russell
recorded his fourth assist of the season, his last on April 27. …
Tim Melia
was credited with four saves in recording his fourth shutout of the season, his second in a row, his shutout streak now at 180 minutes.
FCD:
FC Dallas face Sevilla FC of La Liga in Spain in a friendly at Toyota Stadium at midweek. Following the match, FC Dallas’ USL League One affiliate, North Texas SC, will play a 45-minute period against Sevilla’s reserves.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Saturday, July 20, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #255)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
7 p.m. MT (Altitude; YES)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; AR2 (opposite): TJ Zablocki; 4th: Malik Badawi; VAR: Younes Marrakchi; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 158 games; FC/gm: 23.8; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 47; pens: 60
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 0 wins, 2 goals … NYCFC 2 wins, 10 goals … Ties 2
AT COLORADO: Rapids 0 wins, 1 goal … NYCFC 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 2

• The Rapids extended their road undefeated streak to four matches with a third consecutive draw on their travels, reaching a 2-2 result with the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Saturday evening.
  
• Jonathan Lewis netted his third goal of the season, all since coming to the Rapids from NYCFC via trade, while Sam Nicholson got his first of the year.
  
• NYCFC have gone down to back-to-back defeats for the first time all season, following their 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena in the first Hudson River Derby of the season.
  
• Héber netted his seventh goal of the season, all in 11 games since coming to MLS.
  
• NYCFC have never lost to the Rapids in four meetings between the clubs all-time, last year taking a 4-0 win on May 19 at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC also won by a heavy margin in the first meeting between the teams in the Bronx, a 5-1 triumph in 2016.
  
• The teams have reached draws in two meetings in Commerce City, Colo.: a scoreless result there in 2015, and a 1-1 contest in the last meeting at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Sept. 16, 2017.
  

RAPIDS:
Danny Wilson
collected his first assist of the season, the second of his MLS career in two seasons (in 33 appearances).
NYCFC:
Maximiliano Moralez
collected his 12th assist of the season, now in a tie for the MLS assist lead with Carlos Vela of LAFC. Moralez has a goal and/or an assist in eight of his last nine games, dating back to May 4, with six goals and nine assists in that span. …
Anton Tinnerholm
recorded his fourth assist of the season, his second in the last five games.
REAL SALT LAKE vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Saturday, July 20, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #256)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
8 p.m. MT (KMYU-12; FS-North)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Eric Boria; AR2 (opposite): Felisha Mariscal; 4th: Elvis Osmanovic; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Cameron Blanchard
MLS Career: 81 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 31; pens: 17
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Real 1 win, 6 goals … MNUFC 2 wins, 8 goals … Ties 1
AT SALT LAKE: Real 1 win, 2 goals … MNUFC 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 1

• Real Salt Lake won for a third time in four games, rolling to a 4-0 win against the Philadelphia Union at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Jefferson Savarino netted a pair of goals, his third multiple-goal game in his MLS career, and also added an assist, the third time he’s been involved in three goals and assists in a single game in league play.
  
• Minnesota United FC have won four consecutive games for the first time in their MLS history, following their victory by the game’s only goal vs. FC Dallas at Allianz Field on Saturday evening.
  
• Mason Toye scored his fourth goal of the season and his MLS career, all coming over MNUFC’s four-game winning streak; Toye has a goal and/or an assist in each of those four games, with four goals and two assists in that span.
  
• The teams reached a 1-1 draw in their second meeting a year ago, Sept. 15 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real won the first match between the teams in Sandy, winning by the game’s lone goal June 17, 2017.
  
• Minnesota United FC have won both meetings between the clubs at home, a 3-2 win last July 14, and a 4-2 win April 1, 2017, in the first-ever matchup in the series.
  

REAL:
Nick Rimando
was not forced to make a save in recording his fifth shutout of the season, the 149th of his MLS league career, his third over the last four matches. …
Albert Rusnák
scored his seventh goal of the season, his last coming June 22. …
Damir Kreilach
netted his fourth goal of the season, his first since May 18. …
Everton Luiz
recorded his second career assist in MLS, his first coming May 24. …
Aaron Herrera
collected his third assist, his second in the last three games.
MNUFC:
Vito Mannone
was credited with six saves in recording his sixth shutout of the season, now in a six-way tie for fourth-most in MLS this season. The six shutouts are single-season record for Minnesota United in their MLS history, previously held by Bobby Shuttleworth (5, 2017).
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Saturday, July 20, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #257)
BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.
7 p.m. PT (TSN; NBCS-BA)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Gianni Facchini; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal; VAR: Tim Ford; AVAR: Kevin Klinger
MLS Career: 150 games; FC/gm: 27.5; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 22; pens: 36
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps FC 8 wins, 31 goals … Earthquakes 4 wins, 25 goals … Ties 9
AT VANCOUVER: Whitecaps FC 7 wins, 21 goals … Earthquakes 1 win, 12 goals … Ties 3

• The Quakes won for a fourth time in five league matches, defeating the LA Galaxy 3-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday evening. Vako Qazaishvili scored his fifth goal of the season, his fourth in the last five games, and added his third assist of the year, the second time in that span he’s had a goal and an assist in the same game.
  
• Whitecaps FC won the final two meetings between the teams a year ago, once at each ground, the matches coming a week apart – a 3-2 win on Aug. 25 at Avaya Stadium, and a 2-1 triumph Sept. 1 at BC Place. They also reached a 2-2 draw in their first meeting, May 16 in Vancouver.
  
• The Whitecaps FC win in the second matchup ended a six-game Quakes undefeated streak in the league series, dating back to 2015. It was also the first Whitecaps FC win at San Jose, in 10 meetings there all-time.
  
• The Whitecaps FC win in the final meeting ended a three-game winless run in the series at BC Place. The Quakes’ 2-1 win on Aug. 12, 2016, at BC Place was the first ever for the away team in the all-time series. The Quakes had lost on each of their six previous visits to Vancouver.
  

WHITECAPS FC:
Play the New England Revolution at midweek at Gillette Stadium.
QUAKES:
Jackson Yueill
scored his second goal of the season and the second of his MLS career, and also added his third assist, the first time he’s been involved in multiple goals in a game in his 53 league appearances. …
Danny Hoesen
scored his fifth goal of the season, his second in as many games.
ATLANTA UNITED vs. D.C. UNITED
Sunday, July 21, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #258)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
4 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Jason White; AR2 (opposite): Michael Barwegen; 4th: Nima Saghafi; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 151 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 34; pens: 66
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 2 wins, 9 goals … D.C. United 5 wins, 13 goals … Ties 0
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 2 wins, 7 goals … D.C. United 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 0

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Paul Arriola and Luciano Acosta netted goals on either side of halftime as D.C. United took a 2-0 win in the season opener for both clubs, March 3 at Audi Field.
  
• Home form ruled in the 2018 series between the clubs, each winning by 3-1 scorelines on their own ground. Atlanta United won twice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium – on March 11 and July 21 – and D.C. United won Sept. 2 at Audi Field.
  
• Atlanta’s wins were their first against D.C. United, who took all three meetings in ATLUTD’s expansion season, winning 3-1 at Bobby Dodd Stadium on April 30 before taking the next two at RFK Stadium.
  

ATLUTD:
Play the Houston Dynamo at midweek at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
UNITED:
Play FC Cincinnati at midweek at Nippert Stadium.
FC CINCINNATI vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Sunday, July 21, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #259)
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
6 p.m. ET (WSTR – Star 64; NBCS-Bos)
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Cory Richardson; 4th: Greg Dopka; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Peter Manikowski
MLS Career: 341 games; FC/gm: 24.7; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 81; pens: 93
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Cincinnati 1 win, 2 goals … Revolution 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0
AT CINCINNATI: First meeting.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season and in their histories. Kekuta Manneh and Kenny Saief scored on either side of halftime as FC Cincinnati claimed a 2-0 win on March 24 at Gillette Stadium, the first away win in FCC’s MLS history.
  

FCC:
Play D.C. United at midweek at Nippert Stadium.
REVOLUTION:
Play Vancouver Whitecaps FC at midweek at Gillette Stadium.
ORLANDO CITY SC vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Sunday, July 21, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #260)
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
7:30 p.m. ET (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Logan Brown; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Sergii Demianchuk; VAR: Rosendo Mendoza; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 125 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 26; pens: 30
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Orlando City 4 wins, 15 goals … Red Bulls 5 wins, 17 goals … Ties 1
AT ORLANDO: Orlando City 2 wins, 6 goals … Red Bulls 1 wins, 6 goals … Ties 1

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Sacha Kljestan netted the game’s lone goal against his former club as Orlando City took the win March 23 at Red Bull Arena.
  
• The win in the first meeting was the first for the visiting team in the series since 2015 – Orlando City’s first year in MLS – when each team won at the other’s ground. The Red Bulls had won four consecutive meetings at Red Bull Arena. Orlando City have won the last two home meetings in the series, last a 4-3 win on March 31 of last year.
  

OCSC:
Play the Portland Timbers at midweek at Providence Park.
RED BULLS:
Play Toronto FC at midweek at BMO Field.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Sunday, July 21, 2019 (Week 20, MLS Game #261)
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.
6:30 p.m. PT (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Hanson; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal; VAR: Tim Ford; AVAR: Kevin Klinger
MLS Career: 113 games; FC/gm: 25.4; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 17; pens: 28
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 10 wins, 38 goals … Timbers 7 wins, 34 goals … Ties 6
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 7 wins, 18 goals … Timbers 1 win, 8 goals … Ties 3

• Sounders FC won for a second match in a row last time out, defeating Atlanta United 2-1 at CenturyLink Field. Raúl Ruidíaz scored his first match back following Copa América duty, his third consecutive MLS appearance with a goal, now with seven for the season, while Nicolás Lodeiro collected his ninth assist of the season, a third game in a row with a goal or an assist.
  
• The teams met three times in the regular season a year ago, and the Timbers won twice, once at each ground. Sebastian Blanco scored the game’s lone goal in a Timbers win in Portland on May 13, then defender Larrys Mabiala netted twice as the Timbers took a 3-2 win at CenturyLink Field on June 30. An own goal gave Sounders FC the 1-0 win on Aug. 26 at Providence Park.
  
• The Timbers have won four of the past six league meetings in Portland, with one draw, over the last three seasons. Sounders FC last won in Portland in 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 win at CenturyLink Field on June 30 was their first win ever in Seattle in an MLS regular season game (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 also met 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 104 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 52 times and Portland has won 38, with 14 draws. In MLS league play, Sounders FC have won 10 matches, the Timbers have won seven, and six have been draws.
  

SOUNDERS FC:
Harry Shipp
scored his third goal of the season, his last coming in back-to-back games April 21-24. …
Jordan Morris
collected his second assist of the season, his first coming on March 16. …
Cristian Roldan
recorded his second assist of the season, his first coming April 6.
OCSC:
Play Orlando City SC at midweek at Providence Park.