Lodeiro reaches double figures in assists in landmark third straight season

MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 23 NEWS & NOTES

News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer

LODEIRO REACHES DOUBLE FIGURES IN ASSISTS IN LANDMARK THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON

Nicolás Lodeiro of Seattle Sounders FC recorded his 10th assist of the season, laying on his club’s opening goal by Jordan Morris during their match against Sporting Kansas City at CenturyLink Field last Saturday evening.
Lodeiro has now contributed at least 10 assists in each of the past three seasons. He is the 12th player in MLS history to record 10 or more assists in at last three consecutive seasons – one of two current players, as Diego Valeri of the Portland Timbers achieved the feat earlier this season.
The all-time league record was set by MLS legend Preki, who recorded 10 or more assists in each of the league’s first eight seasons.
CONSECUTIVE SEASONS WITH 10+ ASSISTS

RAPIDS, IMPACT PUT ON A SHOW IN RECORD GOAL-FILLED MATCH

The Colorado Rapids and Montréal Impact took part in one of the most goal-filled games in MLS history when the Rapids posted a 6-3 victory on Saturday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The nine total goals tied for the sixth-most in a single game in MLS history in league play, and were the most goals scored in a game in five seasons.
In addition, the six goals scored by the Rapids set a club record in their 24th season of play, in their 753rd league match.
MOST GOALS, ONE GAME (BOTH TEAMS)

KAMARA CONTINUES MARCH UP GOALS CHART WITH UNIQUE HAT TRICK

Kei Kamara continued his march up the all-time MLS goalscoring charts on that historic night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, playing a part in a lot of goals in the Colorado Rapids’ 6-3 win vs. the Montréal Impact.
Kamara actually helped open the scoring for the Impact, putting in an own goal for the first tally of the night. By the time the night was over though, Kamara had contributed a hat trick in the club’s record goal output. Kamara became the 15th player in MLS history to score a goal and an own goal in the same game.
Kamara became just the second player in league history to score multiple goals in a game and also score an own goal – and the first ever to do it with a hat trick. Héber of New York City FC netted a pair of goals, and an own goal, in his club’s 5-2 win against FC Cincinnati at Yankee Stadium on June 5.
The hat trick was just the second of Kamara’s MLS league career, the first coming Sept. 2, 2017, while with the New England Revolution in a 4-0 win vs. Orlando City SC. Kamara sits in fifth place in the all-time MLS goalscoring charts, 10 behind fourth-place Jaime Moreno, 30 behind all-time leader Chris Wondolowski.
MOST GOALS, MLS CAREER (LEAGUE)

MLS WEEK 23 – LOOK AHEAD

NEW YORK CITY FC vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #286)
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
7 p.m. ET (YES; KUBE 57)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Kathryn Nesbitt; AR2 (opposite): Claudiu Badea; 4th: Thomas Snyder; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Ian McKay
MLS Career: 92 games; FC/gm: 22.1; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 22; pens: 26
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: NYCFC 1 win, 5 goals … Dynamo 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 2
AT NYCFC: NYCFC 0 wins, 2 goals … Dynamo 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 2

• NYCFC had their two-game winning streak put to an end, falling 3-1 to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The Dynamo went down to a second consecutive 1-0 loss on their home ground, falling to the Chicago Fire at BBVA Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams met once a season ago, the Dynamo taking a 3-1 win on May 25 at BBVA Stadium. It was the Dynamo’s first win against NYCFC, in four meetings all-time.
  
• Both meetings as NYCFC home games have resulted in 1-1 draws, first in 2015 at Yankee Stadium, also in 2017 at the Univ. of Connecticut’s Rentschler Field. NYCFC’s lone win in the series came in 2016 in Houston, a 2-0 triumph.
  

NYCFC:
Alexander Ring
netted the NYCFC goal, his fourth of the season and second in as many games. He has been involved in each of NYCFC’s last four goals over the last two games (two goals, two assists), scoring in back-to-back games for the first time in his MLS career. …
Anton Tinnerholm
collected an assist, his fifth of the season, second in the last four matches.
DYNAMO:
The Dynamo kick off a two-game road swing at NYC, with seven of their final 11 games away from BBVA Stadium. With the next road win, the Dynamo will equal the club’s most wins away from home since 2014 with three.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #287)
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.
1 p.m. PT (JOEtv / YouTube TV [SEA]; NBCS-Bos)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Chris Wattam; AR2 (opposite): Michael Barwegen; 4th: Kevin Broadley; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Jeremy Hanson
MLS Career: 83 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 32; pens: 17
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 4 wins, 18 goals … Revolution 5 wins, 20 goals … Ties 4
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 3 wins, 11 goals … Revolution 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 2

• Sounders FC suffered a 3-2 loss to Sporting Kansas City last time out, on Sunday evening at CenturyLink Field. Jordan Morris scored both Seattle goals, now with seven goals on the season; he has scored each of the past three Sounders FC goals.
  
• The Revolution saw their three-game winning streak and 11-game undefeated run put to an end, falling 2-0 to the Los Angeles Football Club at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening. The 11-game undefeated streak was the second-longest in the club’s 24-year history.
  
• The teams have reached draws in each of their past two meetings. A year ago, they played to a goalless draw at Gillette Stadium on July 7; in 2017, the teams played to a 3-3 draw at CenturyLink Field, Sounders FC coming back from a three-goal deficit to secure a draw.
  
• Sounders FC have scored three goals in back-to-back meetings in Seattle. Sounders FC won 3-0 on March 8, 2015, at CenturyLink Field; the opening Seattle goal ended a 259-minute goalless streak vs. New England, the first goal scored by Sounders FC in the series since 2012.
  
• The Revolution are undefeated in the past four meetings at Gillette Stadium, with back-to-back wins in 2014 and 2016. When the Revolution took a 5-0 victory in 2014 in Foxborough, it was the heaviest defeat in the six-year history of the all-time series, the Revolution’s first victory against Sounders FC since 2010, with two Seattle wins and two draws in between.
  

SOUNDERS FC:
Nicolás Lodeiro
collected his 10th assist of the season, his third consecutive season reaching double figures in assists. …
Handwalla Bwana
recorded his first assist of the season, the second of his MLS career, the first coming last Oct. 8.
REVOLUTION:
The loss to Seattle was the first of the season by the Revolution to a Western Conference club, after going 6-0-2 in their first eight games vs. the West. Away from Foxborough, the Revolution are 2-0-2 vs. Western Conference teams.
TORONTO FC vs. ORLANDO CITY SC
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #288)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ont.
7:30 p.m. ET (TSN; YouTube TV [ORL] / My65)
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Cory Richardson; AR2 (opposite): Adam Garner; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 344 games; FC/gm: 24.6; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 81; pens: 93
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Toronto FC 8 wins, 25 goals … Orlando City 2 wins, 10 goals … Ties 1
AT TORONTO: Toronto FC 4 wins, 13 goals … Orlando City 0 wins, 3 goals … Ties 1

• Toronto FC will be coming off a 2-0 defeat by the New York Red Bulls in their last league match, Saturday evening at Red Bull Arena.
  
• Orlando City SC snapped a brief two-game losing slide, defeating FC Dallas 2-0 on Saturday evening at Exploria Stadium. Tesho Akindele scored a goal and added an assist, his second consecutive game with a goal, now with eight goals for the season.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Jonathan Osorio and Jay Chapman netted goals in the second half as TFC took a 2-0 win on May 4 in Orlando.
  
• Toronto FC have won eight of the 11 meetings all-time, with one draw. TFC has won four of the five meetings all-time at BMO Field, without defeat; Orlando City’s lone result in Toronto came in a goalless draw on Sept. 28, 2016. Both of OCSC’s wins have come on their home ground; TFC has now won there four times, in six visits.
  

TFC:
Ahead of the league match, Toronto FC play the first leg of their Canadian Championship semifinal vs. USL Championship side Ottawa Fury on Wednesday evening. The second leg is set for BMO Field on Aug. 14. TFC have won the Voyageurs’ Cup each of the last three years, seven times in total.
OCSC:
Tesho Akindele
scored a goal and added an assist in the same game for the third time in his MLS career, the second time this season (also: April 6 vs. Colorado). …
Carlos Ascues
netted his first goal in MLS, making his 19th appearance over two seasons. …
Ruan
recorded his fourth assist of the season, his second over the last five games. …
Sacha Kljestan
recorded his second assist of the season, his first coming April 20.
COLUMBUS CREW SC vs. FC CINCINNATI
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #289)
Mapfre Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
7:30 p.m. ET (FS-Ohio; WSTR – Star64)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Gianni Facchini; AR2 (opposite): Philippe Briere; 4th: Thomas Snyder; VAR: Robert Sibiga; AVAR: Jozef Batko
MLS Career: 153 games; FC/gm: 27.5; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 22; pens: 37
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.

• Crew SC extended their undefeated streak to four games with a second draw in that time, reaching a 1-1 result with the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening. Gyasi Zardes netted the Columbus goal, his eighth of the season, his second over the last four games.
  
• FC Cincinnati fell to a fourth defeat in a row, dropping a 2-1 decision to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening. Allan Cruz scored the FCC goal, his fourth of the year.
  
• The Columbus match will be the first in charge for new FC Cincinnati head coach Ron Jans, named as the club’s bench boss on Sunday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories in MLS, the first of two league meetings this season. They will meet again in two weeks’ time, on Aug. 25 at Nippert Stadium.
  

CREW SC:
Luis Díaz
recorded his second assist in MLS, making a fourth consecutive appearance since his arrival.
FCC:
Darren Mattocks
collected his third assist of the season, matching his single-season career-high set twice previously in his eight MLS seasons (2014 with Vancouver; 2016 with both Vancouver and Portland). …
Mathieu Deplagne
recorded his second assist, both coming over the last six games.
FC DALLAS vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #290)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
7 p.m. CT (FCDTV; FS-North)
REFEREE: Alex Chilowicz. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Kieso; 4th: Joseph Dickerson; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 20 games; FC/gm: 24.7; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 3; pens: 7
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: FC Dallas 3 wins, 6 goals … MNUFC 2 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0
AT DALLAS: FC Dallas 2 wins, 4 goals … MNUFC 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0

• FC Dallas had their two-game undefeated run come to end, falling 2-0 to Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Minnesota United FC extended their MLS club-record undefeated streak to seven games, defeating the Portland Timbers by the game’s only goal at Allianz Field on Sunday afternoon. Ethan Finlay netted the game’s only goal on a penalty kick in stoppage time, MNUFC winning a second consecutive game by shutout.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Mason Toye netted the game’s only goal in second-half stoppage time as MNUFC claimed the victory on July 13 at Allianz Field.
  
• FC Dallas won both meetings between the clubs a year ago, without conceding a goal. FCD took a victory by the game’s only goal June 29 at TCF Bank Stadium, then won 2-0 at Toyota Stadium on Aug. 18.
  
• The teams split their two meetings in MNUFC’s inaugural season in MLS, each winning at home. FCD took the first encounter between the clubs, a 2-0 win on April 8 in Frisco, Texas; Minnesota United then claimed a 4-1 victory on Sept. 23 in Minneapolis.
  

FCD:
FC Dallas had a 272-minute shutout streak vs. Minnesota United FC put to an end in the first meeting this season.
MNUFC:
Vito Mannone
was credited with five games in recording a second consecutive shutout, his eighth of the season, now third in the MLS shutout standings. It was the third time this season MNUFC have had back-to-back shutouts, having now not allowed a goal for the last 200 minutes, the fifth-longest in the club’s MLS history (record: 259 minutes, May 11-29).
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. REAL SALT LAKE
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #291)
Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
7:30 p.m. CT (FS-KC; KMYU-12)
REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Jorge Gonzalez; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 88 games; FC/gm: 26.2; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 17; pens: 34
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sporting 9 wins, 35 goals … Real 12 wins, 39 goals … Ties 8
AT KC: Sporting 6 wins, 18 goals … Real 3 wins, 13 goals … Ties 5

• Sporting snapped a quick two-game losing slide, defeating Seattle Sounders FC 3-2 at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday evening. Felipe Gutiérrez scored a pair of goals, now with 10 goals on the season, his third two-goal game this season.
  
• Real extended their undefeated run to four games with a second victory in that time, defeating New York City FC 3-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Matt Besler scored his first goal of the season for the 88th-minute game-winner, the second of his MLS career.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Sam Johnson scored goals 14 minutes apart in the opening half-hour for both goals in the game as RSL took the victory June 29 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real are now undefeated in their past seven home meetings with Sporting in league play (5-0-2), dating back to 2015.
  
• RSL have come away with points on five of their last six trips to Kansas City, including a 1-1 draw there last Sept. 30 in the last meeting at Children’s Mercy Park. Sporting’s 3-0 win there on 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.
  

SPORTING:
Erik Hurtado
scored his first goal of the season, his first with Sporting KC after spending his first six MLS seasons with Vancouver. …
Seth Sinovic
collected his first assist of the season, his last coming last Aug. 25. …
Gerso Fernandes
recorded his fifth assist of the season, matching his MLS single-season career-high set last year.
REAL:
Albert Rusnák
netted his eighth goal of the season, and also added an assist, his fourth. It was the ninth time in his three MLS seasons he had a goal and an assist in the same game. …
Jefferson Savarino
scored his sixth goal of the season, one shy of his MLS single-season career-high set last season. Savarino has three goals and three assists over his last four appearances, since July 13. …
Kyle Beckerman
recorded a pair of assists, now with four on the season. It was the fourth two-assist game of his 20-year MLS career, over 480 appearances, the last coming June 16, 2012 vs. Chivas USA.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. MONTREAL IMPACT
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #292)
SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.
8 p.m. CT (TVA Sports; ESPN+)
REFEREE: Chris Penso. AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Felisha Mariscal; 4th: Allen Chapman; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Kyle Longville
MLS Career: 161 games; FC/gm: 23.7; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 49; pens: 61
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Fire 6 wins, 25 goals … Impact 8 wins, 25 goals … Ties 5
AT CHICAGO: Fire 4 wins, 14 goals … Impact 1 win, 8 goals … Ties 3

• The Fire made it two games without loss, defeating the Houston Dynamo 1-0 at BBVA Stadium on Saturday evening. Nemanja Nikolic scored the game’s only goal for the match-winner, his eighth of the season.
  
• The Impact went down to a 6-3 defeat by the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Saphir Taïder scored his eighth goal of the season.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Omar Browne netted the game’s only goal on his MLS debut, giving the Impact the victory April 28 at Stade Saputo. It was a second consecutive win in the series in Montréal for the Impact.
  
• The Fire win in the last meeting in Bridgeview, Ill., a 1-0 win there last May 9, ended a two-game winless streak in the series on their home ground, their first Bridgeview victory vs. the Impact since 2015. The Impact’s 2-1 win there April 16, 2016, was their first ever at Toyota Park; the visiting team had never won in the series before that season.
  

FIRE:
Kenneth Kronholm
was credited with five saves in recording his second consecutive shutout, his first in MLS (in 12 appearances), now 205 minutes since conceding his last goal. …
Nicolás Gaítan
recorded his ninth assist of the season, his last coming in a three-assist performance July 3. … The Fire won away from Bridgeview for the first time since May 26, 2018, a span of 23 games, fourth-longest in MLS history.
IMPACT:
Maximiliano Urruti
scored his second goal of the season, his first coming May 8. …
Mathieu Choinière
collected the first assist of his MLS career, making his 20th league appearance over two seasons.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #293)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.
7 p.m. MT (Altitude; NBCS-BA)
REFEREE: Tim Ford. AR1 (bench): Jeff Hosking; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Ramy Touchan; VAR: Daniel Radford; AVAR: Peter Balciunas
MLS Career: 9 games; FC/gm: 22.0; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 2; pens: 1
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Rapids 21 wins (2 shootout), 79 goals … Earthquakes 30 wins (1 shootout), 93 goals … Ties 16
AT COLORADO: Rapids 13 wins (1 shootout), 43 goals … Earthquakes 13 wins (0 shootout), 39 goals … Ties 8

• The Rapids set a team record over their 24-year history with six goals in their 6-3 win vs. the Montréal Impact at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.
  
• Kei Kamara netted a hat trick, the second of his MLS career, now with 123 goals for his league career, the fifth-most all-time. Kamara also scored an own goal, the first player in MLS history to net a hat trick and an own goal in the same game.
  
• The Quakes extended their undefeated streak to five games, following four consecutive victories, with a 1-1 draw vs. Columbus Crew SC at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening. The Quakes extended their home undefeated streak to 10 games (8-0-2), since April 6, the seventh-longest in club history.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Vako Qazaishvili and Shea Salinas each netted goals as the Quakes claimed a 3-1 win July 27 at Avaya Stadium.
  
• The Rapids are undefeated in the past seven meetings with the Quakes in Commerce City, the last San Jose win there coming in 2013. The Rapids have won three times, with four draws. The Rapids win at home on Oct. 13, 2016, ended a 14-game overall winless streak in the series.
  
• The Quakes are undefeated in the five meetings all-time at Avaya Stadium, winning four of those. The Rapids goal in this 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.
  

RAPIDS:
Jack Price
recorded three assists, equaling the Rapids club record set six times previously, last by Dominique Badji on July 1, 2017. … Rookie
Andre Shinyashiki
scored his fifth goal of the season, and added his second assist, the first time in his MLS career he had a goal and an assist in the same game. …
Diego Rubio
scored his sixth goal of the season, his second game in a row with a goal, his third goal over his last four appearances. He has scored five goals over his last seven matches, since June 1.
QUAKES:
Magnus Eriksson
converted a penalty kick for the Quakes goal. He has a goal or an assist in three consecutive games, with two goals and one assist.
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #294)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
8 p.m. PT (TSN; KPDX)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Logan Brown; 4th: Greg Dopka; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Fabio Tovar
MLS Career: 90 games; FC/gm: 23.5; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 31; pens: 49
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 10 wins, 37 goals … Whitecaps FC 7 wins, 31 goals … Ties 6
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 6 wins, 22 goals … Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 15 goals … Ties 4

• The Timbers saw their two-game winning run put to a halt, falling by the game’s only goal to Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field on Sunday afternoon.
  
• Whitecaps FC put an end to their nine-game winless skid, defeating FC Cincinnati 2-1 at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening. Felipe Martins netted his first goal of the season, the 84th-minute game-winner, while Hwang Inbeom scored his second goal of the campaign.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Fredy Montero scored the game’s lone goal after just nine minutes as Whitecaps FC took the victory May 10 at BC Place.
  
• Vancouver’s win in the last meeting at Providence Park, a 2-1 win last Aug. 11, was the first for Whitecaps FC in Portland since June 1, 2014, ending a six-game winless streak there. Whitecaps FC have now won the last three meetings in the series, after the Timbers won the prior three matchups. Whitecaps FC have won seven times in 25 all-time MLS meetings between the teams, all coming in the past 17 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 93 times in all, across a number of competitions – the Whitecaps hold a 40-35-18 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.
  

TIMBERS:
The Timbers were held without a goal for the first time since May 10, scoring in 11 consecutive games. They have been blanked just four times this season, equaling sixth-fewest in MLS.
WHITECAPS FC:
Russell Teibert
collected his second assist of the season, his first coming May 10. …
Ali Adnan
recorded his third assist in MLS, his last on May 18.
ATLANTA UNITED vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #295)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
4 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Jose Da Silva; 4th: Sergii Demianchuk; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 250 games; FC/gm: 23.1; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 42; pens: 79
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: ATLUTD 1 win, 7 goals … NYCFC 1 win, 7 goals … Ties 2
AT ATLANTA: ATLUTD 1 win, 5 goals … NYCFC 0 wins, 3 goals … Ties 1

• Atlanta United won a third consecutive home game – all by shutout – defeating the LA Galaxy 3-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
  
• Josef Martínez scored for a ninth consecutive game, netting a late penalty kick, equaling the MLS league record for consecutive games with a goal, which he set in 2017 (then was equaled last year by Diego Valeri).
  
• The teams reached a pair of draws in league play a year ago, a pulsating 2-2 result on April 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, then a 1-1 deadlock June 9 at Yankee Stadium.
  
• The teams then met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Atlanta United advancing 4-1 on aggregate, winning the first leg 1-0 in the Bronx before taking the home leg by a 3-1 scoreline.
  
• The teams split their two encounters in Atlanta United’s inaugural MLS campaign, each winning by a 3-1 scoreline on their home ground, three weeks apart. NYCFC took their victory on May 7 at Yankee Stadium, before Atlanta United won May 28 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
  

ATLUTD:
Brad Guzan
was credited with four saves in recording a third consecutive home shutout, his 11th of the season, leading MLS. Guzan and ATLUTD have not allowed a goal in 270 minutes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. … Atlanta United became the ninth team in MLS history to gain two goals in a game through own goals. They are the second team in league history to score three consecutive team goals through own goals. … ATLUTD advanced to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, defeating Orlando City SC 2-0 at Exploria Stadium in their semifinal Tuesday. The final will be held Aug. 27 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
NYCFC:
Play Houston Dynamo at Yankee Stadium at midweek.
PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #296)
Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pa.
6 p.m. ET (PHL; KUBE 57)
REFEREE: Marcos DeOliveira. AR1 (bench): Kyle Atkins; AR2 (opposite): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; 4th: Danielle Chesky; VAR: Allen Chapman; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 26 games; FC/gm: 24.8; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 3; pens: 9
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Union 6 wins, 18 goals … Dynamo 6 wins, 16 goals … Ties 4
AT UNION: Union 3 wins, 9 goals … Dynamo 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 4

• The Union regained first place in the Eastern Conference in dominant fashion, rolling to a 5-1 win against D.C. United at Audi Field on Sunday evening. Marco Fabian netted a pair of goals, his first multiple-goal game in his MLS career. Fabian also recorded an assist, his first in MLS.
  
• The Union won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 3-1 win on July 25 at BBVA Stadium. The win ended a five-game home winning streak for the Dynamo in the series, after the Union won on their first two visits ever to Houston.
  
• The Union are undefeated in the past four meetings between the teams at Talen Energy Stadium, taking a 2-0 win in the last meeting there between the teams on May 17, 2017. The Union have won the past two games in Chester, Pa.; the Dynamo last won there in 2013.
  

UNION:
Kacper Przybylko
scored his 10th goal of the season, his first since netting five goals in a four-game streak June 26-July 7. …
Alejandro Bedoya
scored his third goal of the season, his last coming April 20, equaling his MLS single-season career-high in his four MLS seasons. …
Haris Medunjanin
recorded a pair of assists, now with eight for the season, the fifth two-assist game of his MLS career, second this season (also: May 4 vs. New England). …
Warren Creavalle
netted his first assist of the season. He has had one assist in seven of his eight seasons in MLS (seven total for his career). …
Andrew Wooten
collected his first career MLS assist.
DYNAMO:
Play New York City FC at Yankee Stadium at midweek.
D.C. UNITED vs. LA GALAXY
Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #297)
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
7:30 p.m. ET (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Kathryn Nesbitt; AR2 (opposite): Claudiu Badea; 4th: Luis Guardia; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Craig Lowry
MLS Career: 118 games; FC/gm: 24.4; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 17; pens: 47
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 14 wins (1 shootout), 56 goals … Galaxy 20 wins (1 shootout), 73 goals … Ties 11
AT D.C.: D.C. United 9 wins (0 shootout), 34 goals … Galaxy 9 wins (0 shootout), 36 goals … Ties 5

• D.C. United went down to defeat in league play at their Audi Field for the first time since April, dropping a 5-1 decision to the Philadelphia Union on Sunday evening.
  
• The Galaxy suffered a second defeat in a row, falling 3-0 to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time at Audi Field. They reached a goalless draw on June 3, 2017, in their final meeting ever at RFK Stadium – which began with United’s first-ever home match, April 20, 1996 (a 2-1 Galaxy win).
  
• The Galaxy are riding a 10-game home undefeated streak vs. D.C. United in Carson, after they reached a 2-2 draw there last year in the lone meeting between the clubs. D.C.’s last victory vs. the Galaxy in Carson came on July 23, 2005, a 2-1 triumph.
  
• United’s last win in the series, a 1-0 victory on March 28, 2015, at RFK Stadium, ended a 10-game Galaxy undefeated streak. The Galaxy had won five of the matches in between, with five draws, dating back to 2008.
  

UNITED:
Fredéric Brillant
scored his first goal of the season, his first in league play in two years with D.C. United, his last goal in MLS coming July 22, 2017 while with New York City FC.
GALAXY:
The Galaxy have come away with points on five of their last six trips to D.C., with four draws in that stretch, dating back to 2009.
LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019 (Week 23, MLS Game #298)
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
7 p.m. PT (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Adam Wienckowski; AR2 (opposite): Jason White; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Eduardo Mariscal
MLS Career: 115 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 17; pens: 29
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: LAFC 0 wins, 1 goal … Red Bulls 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0
AT BANC OF CALIFORNIA STADIUM: First meeting.

• LAFC claimed a second consecutive victory, defeating the New England Revolution 2-0 at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening. Diego Rossi scored his 13th goal of the season, his single-season high in his two MLS campaigns.
  
• The Red Bulls rebounded for a third victory in five outings, defeating Toronto FC 2-0 at Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening. Kemar Lawrence returned from the MLS All-Star Game and scored his first goal of the season.
  
• The teams met once a season ago in LAFC’s inaugural campaign, the Red Bulls taking a 2-1 win on Aug. 5, 2018, at Red Bull Arena.
  

LAFC:
Jordan Harvey
collected two assists, equaling his single-season career-high in his 14 MLS seasons (also: 2011, with Philadelphia and Vancouver). It was the second two-assist game of his MLS career, his first coming Aug. 7, 2011 while with Vancouver. …
Latif Blessing
netted his third goal of the season, his first since scoring in back-to-back games May 24-June 1. …
Eduard Atuesta
recorded his ninth assist of the season, his third over his last four appearances. …
Tyler Miller
was credited with one save in recording his seventh shutout of the season, tied for fourth-most in MLS this season.
RED BULLS:
Luis Robles
was credited with three saves in recording his sixth shutout of the season, his second in the last three matches.