This Week in MLS – August 13, 2018

• Could Atlanta’s Josef Martinez be the best MLS finisher of all-time?

• Lodeiro, Sounders pursue sixth straight win against former coach Schmid

• Toronto seeks CCL berth, hosts Whitecaps FC in Canadian Championship

• Heineken Rivalry Week on the horizon: Aug. 22-26

• MLS, FOX Sports to feature all-women’s broadcast team Sunday

• MLS Week 25: Match Notes

Lodeiro, Sounders pursue sixth straight win against former coach Schmid

Seattle Sounders FC have already matched a club record with five consecutive regular-season victories. If Seattle earns its sixth straight on Saturday, it would be against the Sounders’ former head coach.

The LA Galaxy’s Sigi Schmid, who coached in Seattle for eight seasons, travels to face Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer’s club at CenturyLink Field (4 p.m. ET / ESPN, ESPN Deportes). Schmetzer took the head coaching reins in Seattle to lead the host side to a 2016 MLS Cup title and a runner-up performance at the 2017 MLS Cup against Toronto.

Sounders FC are red-hot with an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2), with Uruguayan international Nicolás Lodeiro leading the way. Lodeiro has tallied five goals and two assists over his past six games. He leads Seattle with seven assists and shares the team lead of six goals with Will Bruin. Lodeiro’s latest magic included providing the game-winner – a 63rd-minute free kick that eluded FC Dallas’ defense – en route to a 2-1 victory against the Western Conference leaders on Sunday.

Seattle (9-9-5, 32 points) enters Week 25 just two spots shy of a postseason spot in the West standings, continuing to build on its impressive turnaround from two victories over the first 11 games of 2018. A club-record sixth straight win against Schmid’s star-studded Galaxy roster would certainly add to this potential moment.

Toronto seeks CCL berth, hosts Whitecaps FC in Canadian Championship

Toronto FC are in the midst of their most trying stretch of the 2018 MLS Regular Season, but an opportunity to clinch a berth in the Concacaf Champions League is the type of incentive and moment that could turn things around. Toronto hosts Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Leg 2 of the Canadian Championship on Wednesday at BMO Field (7:30 p.m. ET), with the series currently tied at 2-2.

“We have a massive one on Wednesday night, to win another trophy and to get back into the Concacaf Champions League,” Toronto defender Drew Moor said following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to New York City FC. “We’ll have to put this one behind us and look to go win a trophy.”

Toronto has garnered plenty of hardware over the past year, winning the 2017 Canadian Championship, the 2017 Supporters’ Shield and 2017 MLS Cup, to go along with a runner-up performance at the 2018 Concacaf Champions League in April. CCL Most Valuable Player Sebastian Giovinco and tournament Golden Boot winner Jonathan Osorio will once again lead the TFC offense. Osorio has scored three goals to lead all Canadian Championship players.

Will Toronto rekindle its home-field advantage and defend its Canadian Championship crown, or will Alphonso Davies, Kei Kamara and Vancouver play spoiler to earn a Concacaf Champions League berth?

MLS, FOX Sports to feature all-women’s broadcast team Sunday

For the first time in the history of North America’s big five sports leagues, the TV broadcast crew will be comprised of all women during this Sunday’s MLS match between D.C. United and the New England Revolution on FS1. Coverage kicks off from the brand-new Audi Field at 7:30 p.m. ET, featuring a veteran broadcast team that includes seasoned play-by-play announcer Lisa Byington alongside domestic and international soccer analyst Danielle Slaton, and Emmy Award-winner Katie Witham on the sidelines.

All three women have extensive knowledge of the game, having each played at the collegiate level and from covering competitions, ranging from MLS and the U.S. Men’s National Team to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. 

Heineken Rivalry Week on the horizon: Aug. 22-26

The most intense rivalries in North American soccer will be on display next week as nine must-see matchups highlight an action-packed Heineken Rivalry Week from Aug. 22-26. The exciting games feature world-class talents facing off as the final stretch of the season nears, with clubs battling for both bragging rights and postseason positioning. Among the top storylines to watch out for include:

• Josef Martínez is one goal shy of tying the MLS single-season goals record of 27 and could eclipse the mark when Atlanta United face Orlando City SC on Friday – Orlando City SC vs. Atlanta United (Aug. 24 | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN).

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy play host to Carlos Vela and LAFC on Friday in the third ever El Trafico matchup following dramatic comebacks led by Ibrahimovic in the first two matchups this season. Ibrahimovic is two goals away from joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only active players to reach the elusive 500-goal mark in their careers – LA Galaxy vs. LAFC (Aug. 24; 10:30 p.m. ET | ESPN).

• Wayne Rooney has reignited D.C. United since his arrival and helped create marquee moments at brand new Audi Field. Now the legend will travel to face the rival New York Red Bulls for the first time where he will square off against fellow British star Bradley Wright-Phillips as the team looks to continue its climb up the Eastern Conference – New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United (Aug. 26; 7 p.m. ET | FS1).

• Domènec Torrent faces the New York Red Bulls for the first time since leaving Pep Guardiola’s side to take over NYCFC. Torrent will look toward the recently returned David Villa to overpower a record-breaking Bradley Wright-Phillips as both clubs battle for the best record in MLS – NYCFC vs. New York Red Bulls – (Aug. 22; 7 p.m. ET | FS1).

• In the midst of a five-game winning streak, red-hot Seattle Sounders FC will hit the road to face a Portland Timbers squad that recently set a franchise record with a 15-game unbeaten mark. Seattle, led by Nicolás Lodeiro, is looking to once again use a late season run to clinch a postseason berth against the Timbers in a rivalry that dates back to the 1970s – Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC (Aug. 26; 9:30 p.m. ET | FS1).

• MLS is teaming up with world famous art event Secret Walls to bring three Heineken Rivalry Week-themed murals to fans across the country. Secret Walls will host live freestyle art events in Los Angeles and New York ahead of the highly anticipated Heineken Rivalry Week matchups, in addition to a third artwork in Portland. For more information on MLS-themed Secret Walls events, click here.

MLS Week 25: Match Notes:

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• The Galaxy made it five games without loss at StubHub Center, reaching a 2-2 draw with Minnesota United FC on Saturday evening.

• The Rapids won a second consecutive game, both at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 on Saturday evening. Bismark Adjei-Boateng scored the game-winner three minutes into second-half stoppage time, his first career MLS goal.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. The Rapids got second-half goals from Kellyn Acosta and Sam Nicholson, the latter a game-winner in the 90th minute, for a 2-1 win on Aug. 4 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

• The Rapids’ victory snapped a four-game winless streak, and two-game losing streak, in league play in the series, their first vs. the Galaxy since a 1-0 win at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, on March 12, 2016.

• The Galaxy have a five-game undefeated streak in Carson in the series, with two wins and three draws over the span. The last Rapids win there was on May 3, 2014, a 1-0 victory.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

D.C. United vs. Portland Timbers, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• D.C. United extended their undefeated streak to three games with a second win, getting a remarkable goal from Luciano Acosta deep into stoppage time for a 3-2 win against Orlando City SC at Audi Field on Sunday evening.

• The Timbers saw their undefeated streak end at 15 games – equaling the club’s record in its MLS history – falling 2-1 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park on Saturday evening. It was the first home defeat after 16 matches, the second-longest home undefeated run in the club’s MLS history.

• Luciano Acosta netted a hat trick, completing it with the game-winner in the 96th minute, the latest goal in stoppage time to complete a hat trick in MLS history. Acosta has three goals and two assists over the past three games.

• The Timbers won the lone meeting the teams last season, a 4-0 win on Oct. 15, their third consecutive victory at home in the series.

• D.C. United won the final meeting between the teams at RFK Stadium, a 2-0 win on Aug. 13, 2016, their first home win ever vs. the Timbers in three matches all-time. The win ended a Timbers three-game winning streak and five-game undefeated streak in the series, United’s last win in the series coming on May 29, 2011, in the first meeting ever between the teams.

Los Angeles Football Club vs. Real Salt Lake, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN)

• LAFC saw their winless streak extended to five games in league play, suffering a second consecutive loss in their 2-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday evening, the first home loss in club history.

• Real Salt Lake extended their undefeated streak to four games with a third draw in that time, reaching a 1-1 draw with the Montréal Impact at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.

• Joao Plata scored his seventh goal of the season; he has four goals and three assists over his past six matches.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Diego Rossi scored two goals and added three assists. He is the seventh player in league history to be involved in five goals in a single game when LAFC cruised to a 5-1 win on March 10 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

• Sounders FC extended their undefeated streak to eight games with a fifth consecutive win – tying the club’s record in their MLS history – defeating FC Dallas 2-1 at CenturyLink Field on Sunday evening. Nicolas Lodeiro scored the game-winner directly from a free kick, his fifth goal in the past six games.

• Romain Alessandrini scored for a third consecutive game in the Galaxy’s 2-2 draw with Minnesota United FC at StubHub Center on Saturday evening. Alessandrini has a goal or an assist now in his past six games, with five goals and four assists in that span.

• Sounders FC have not defeated the Galaxy at CenturyLink Field in league play since 2014. Three of the past four meetings in Seattle have ended in draws, with the Galaxy winning there 1-0 on July 9, 2016. Over that timeframe, Sounders FC did win twice at home in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

• Sounders FC have come away with points on their past three trips to StubHub Center, with wins in two, over each of the last two years. The win in Carson in the final meeting in 2016 was their first victory at the Galaxy since 2009, ending an 11-game winless streak there in league and MLS Cup play.

• The teams have met four times in the past eight seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Galaxy advancing on three occasions before Sounders FC won in the Knockout Round in 2015.

Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• The Union completed a three-game road swing with a second win over that time, defeating the New England Revolution 3-2 at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening.

• Jack Elliott scored a pair of goals – the second and third of his MLS career – both coming in the opening 24 minutes. Elliott is the first defender in Union club history to net two goals in a game.

• NYCFC turned around a brief two-game winless run, getting a late goal for a 3-2 win against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Sunday afternoon.

• Ismael Tajouri-Shradi scored a pair of goals for his third multiple-goal game, and he now has 10 goals in his first MLS season, tied for ninth in the MLS Golden Boot standings.

• NYCFC won both meetings in 2017, a 2-0 victory on April 14 at Talen Energy Stadium, and a 2-1 win on June 3 at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC have won the past three meetings between the teams.

• NYCFC have won on two of their four visits all-time to Chester, also winning there in 2015, NYCFC’s first season in MLS. NYCFC have won the last two meetings in the Bronx.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 7 p.m. ET (TSN, ESPN+)

• Whitecaps FC extended their undefeated streak to three games with a second win in that time, defeating the Portland Timbers 2-1 at Providence Park on Saturday evening. Kei Kamara netted his 10th goal of the season, the fifth time in his MLS career he’s reached double figures in goals.

• The Red Bulls won their second game in a row, and it was their eighth victory in their past 10 league games, when they defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 at Toyota Park on Saturday evening.

• Bradley Wright-Phillips netted his 15th goal of the season. He is the first player in MLS history to score 15 goals or more in five consecutive seasons. The goal was the 101st of his league career, and he is now tied for ninth-most in MLS history with Taylor Twellman.

• The Red Bulls have won the past two league meetings between the teams, including a 3-0 win last Oct. 7 at Red Bull Arena in the last encounter, their only two victories vs. Whitecaps FC in eight meetings all-time in league play.

• Vancouver had won the three previous meetings, each year from 2013-15; the first three encounters between the clubs were all 1-1 draws.

• The teams also met last year in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions League. The teams reached a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena in the first leg; in the return match, Whitecaps FC took a 2-0 win to advance 3-1 on aggregate.

Montreal Impact vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET (TVA Sports, ESPN+)

• The Impact had their winless streak extended to four games with a third draw in that time, reaching a 1-1 deadlock with Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.

• The Fire saw their MLS club-record losing slide extended to seven games, falling 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls at Toyota Park on Saturday evening.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Kevin Ellis scored the game’s lone goal in the 89th minute as the Fire took the victory on May 9 at Toyota Park.

• The Fire have won on two of their past three visits to Stade Saputo, winning once in each of the last two seasons, including a 1-0 win during their last Sept. 2 in the last meeting in Montréal.

• The Fire win in the first meeting 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 on April 16, 2016, was their first ever at Toyota Park; the visiting team had never won in the series before that season.

FC Dallas vs. Minnesota United FC, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• FC Dallas have suffered losses in back-to-back games for the first time this season, falling 2-1 to Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Sunday evening. Dominique Badji scored the FCD goal, his first since coming over from the Colorado Rapids via trade, and his eighth of the season.

• MNUFC ended a two-game losing skid, gaining a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy at StubHub Center on Saturday evening. Romario Ibarra scored his first MLS goal, while Darwin Quintero collected his ninth assist; he has a goal and/or an assist in six consecutive games, with four goals and seven assists in that span.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Roland Lamah scored the game’s lone goal in the 59th minute as FC Dallas took the victory June 29 at TCF Bank Stadium.

• The teams met twice in Minnesota United FC’s inaugural campaign, each winning on their home ground. FC Dallas won 2-0 when the clubs first met on April 8 at Toyota Stadium; MNUFC returned the favor with a 4-1 victory on Sept. 23 at TCF Bank Stadium.

Sporting Kansas City vs. Portland Timbers, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• Sporting won a second consecutive game on the heels of a five-game winless run, becoming the first visiting team to win at Banc of California Stadium in a 2-0 defeat of the Los Angeles Football Club on Saturday evening.

• Diego Valeri scored his ninth of the season, a second consecutive game with a goal and his third in the last four games. Valeri has a goal and/or assist now in four games in a row, with three goals and two assists in that span.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. They reached a goalless draw on June 9 at Providence Park.

• The road team has won five of the 13 meetings all-time in the series. Each team won on their home ground in 2016, the only team home-field advantage prevailed in a season series. Sporting have come away with points on six of their eight visits to Providence Park, including four victories; the Timbers have gained points on three of their past four visits to Kansas City (one win, two draws).

Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• The Dynamo suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, falling 1-0 to Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. The streak is one game shy of the club record, set in 2014.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Kyle Beckerman hit for a late game-winner to snap a tie and give RSL a 2-1 victory on May 30 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

• The Real win in the first meeting ended a three-game Dynamo winning streak in the series. The Dynamo’s win on Sept. 17, 2016, at Rio Tinto Stadium was their first ever in Sandy in seven visits all-time. It ended an eight-game undefeated streak for Real at home in the series (5-0-3).

• The Dynamo have won the past two encounters at BBVA Compass Stadium, ending a two-game RSL winning streak in Houston – Real’s first wins ever there. Real suffered eight defeats and one draw in their first nine road games against the Dynamo.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Toronto FC, 10 p.m. ET (TSN, ESPN+)

• The Quakes weren’t able to build upon a first victory in 13 games, falling 2-1 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.

• TFC saw their three-game undefeated run put to an end, falling 3-2 to New York City FC at BMO Field on Sunday afternoon. Sebastian Giovinco scored his eighth goal of the season, a fourth consecutive game with a goal. Giovinco has a goal and/or an assist in seven consecutive games, with five goals and four assists in that span.

• Toronto FC won the lone meeting between the teams last season, a 4-0 win on Sept. 9 at BMO Field, their third consecutive home win in the series. The Quakes had come away with results in their first five trips to BMO Field (2-0-3), winning there last on March 24, 2012.

• The Quakes are undefeated in the past three home meetings in the series, including a 2-1 win on July 16, 2016, in the first meeting in the series at Avaya Stadium. TFC last won in northern California in 2010, a 3-1 victory at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew SC, 4 p.m. ET (TSN, ESPN+)

• Atlanta United return to action after a weekend off, extending their undefeated streak to five games last time out in a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on Aug. 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

• Josef Martínez scored both ATLUTD goals and now has 26 for the season, one away from the all-time MLS single-season goalscoring record. Martínez has scored goals in seven consecutive games, and has scored each of the past eight goals scored by Atlanta United.

• Crew SC won their third game on the trot, defeating the Houston Dynamo 1-0 at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening. Gyasi Zardes scored for a third consecutive game and now has 14 goals on the season, sitting in fourth place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Martínez and Hector Villalba scored on either side of halftime, leading Atlanta United to a 2-0 win June 13 at Mapfre Stadium.

• The teams met twice in league play in Atlanta United’s inaugural season, the games coming two weeks apart, and the expansion side won both, taking a 3-1 win on June 17 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, and a 2-0 victory on July 1 at Mapfre Stadium.

• The teams also met in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, with Crew SC advancing via a dramatic penalty kick shootout after the teams played to a scoreless draw over 120 minutes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

D.C. United vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Deportes)

• Wayne Rooney collected two assists in D.C. United’s 3-2 win against Orlando City SC at Audi Field, his first assists in MLS. Rooney has a goal and two assists over the past three games.

• The Revolution had their winless streak extended to six games with a fourth loss in that time, falling 3-2 to the Philadelphia Union at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening.

• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Cristian Penilla scored twice, including converting a late penalty kick for the game-winner, overcoming a pair of goals from Yamil Asad, leading the Revolution to a 3-2 win on June 30 at Gillette Stadium.

• This marks the teams’ first meeting at Audi Field; United won the final five league meetings at RFK Stadium between the MLS Original clubs, including a 1-0 win last Aug. 26 in the final matchup on East Capitol Street. The Revolution have a seven-game undefeated streak alive at home in the series in league play (3-0-4); United’s last win there came in 2012.

• The teams have also met four times in the MLS Cup Playoffs, with United winning three of the four series all-time, last a 2-1 win at RFK Stadium in the Knockout Round in 2015.

Los Angeles Football Club vs. Colorado Rapids, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

• LAFC lost at home for the first time in their club history, after five wins and five draws in their opening 10 matches at Banc of California Stadium, in the 2-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday evening. The 10-game home undefeated streak is the second-longest by an expansion club in their first MLS season (Atlanta United, 12 games, 2017).

• Kellyn Acosta recorded assists on both Colorado goals in the Rapids’ 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Since his arrival at Colorado, Acosta has been involved in four of the five goals the Rapids have scored.

• The teams are meeting for the first time ever. They will face off again on Oct. 6 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.