This Sunday on ESPN: Josef Martinez looks to set yet another MLS record

MLS MEDIA RESOURCES: WEEK 19 NEWS & NOTES

News and notes and statistical trends from around Major League Soccer

THIS SUNDAY ON ESPN: JOSEF MARTÍNEZ LOOKS TO SET YET ANOTHER MLS RECORD

It didn’t take long for Atlanta United marksman Josef Martínez to reestablish himself upon return from national team duty.
After missing three MLS matches while with Venezuela at Copa América, Martínez netted a pair of goals in his first game back, a 3-3 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last Sunday.
Dating back to May 29, Martínez has scored two goals in each of his last three league appearances – equaling the MLS record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
In all, a player has hit for multiple goals in three consecutive games on 10 occasions - Martínez has done it twice.
Yet, no player in MLS history has had four multiple-goal games in a row.
Martínez will have a chance to become the sole MLS recordholder on Sunday afternoon, when Atlanta United take on Seattle Sounders FC (
3:55 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes
).
MULTIPLE GOALS IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES

CARLOS VELA ON THE VERGE OF JOINING ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC IN EXCLUSIVE MLS CLUB

Carlos Vela is on the verge of joining one of the most exclusive clubs in Major League Soccer history – and could do so with a third of the 2019 season still to be played.
Vela - the league leader in both goals and assists - netted his 19th goal and 12th assist of the season, in LAFC’s 6-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC last weekend.
If Vela scores one more goal, he will become just the fourth player to reach 20 goals and 10 assists in an MLS season – all of which have occurred over the past four seasons.
Sebastian Giovinco
was the first, with Toronto FC in 2015, when he scored 22 goals and added 16 assists. He was then joined by
Diego Valeri
of the Portland Timbers in 2017 (21 goals, 11 assists), then last year by
Zlatan Ibrahimović
of the LA Galaxy (22 goals, 10 assists). The 38 combined goals and assists by Giovinco in 2015 are the most in a single season in league history.
Vela had already become the 22nd player in MLS history to reach 15 goals and 10 assists in a season in league annals.

BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS LOOKS TO MAINTAIN RECORD RATE IN RIVALRY

When it comes to facing Hudson River rivals New York City FC, New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips finds the back of the net at a record pace – one of the most torrid of any player against an opponent in MLS history.
Wright-Phillips has scored 12 goals in 12 league matches vs. NYCFC, since that club came into the league in 2015. The rate of exactly one goal per game is the second-highest of any player against a single opponent, among players with at least 10 goals and/or 10 appearances vs. an opposing team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Only Taylor Twellman, who netted 13 goals in 14 matches vs. Dallas during his career with the New England Revolution from 2002-09, has averaged better than a goal per game against an opponent. Also at a goal-per-game average is Montréal Impact striker Ignacio Piatti, with 10 goals in 10 appearances vs. Orlando City SC.
Included in Wright-Phillips’ record are four two-goal games; the 12 goals vs. NYCFC are the most against any team in his seven-year MLS career. He will have a chance to add to his total – and perhaps move to the top of the list – when the Red Bulls face NYCFC at Red Bulls Arena on Sunday evening.
MOST GOALS PER GAME VS. SINGLE OPPONENT

Minimum: 10 goals and/or 10 appearances
Credit: Elias Sports Bureau

LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB SETS RECORD IN REACHING 100 POINTS

After just 53 games in their Major League Soccer history, the Los Angeles Football Club have become the fastest club to reach the 100-point mark.
With their 6-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, LAFC has exactly hit 100 points – from 29 wins and 13 draws. Through 53 matches, LAFC has reached the century mark four games ahead of Atlanta United, who reached 100 points in their first 57 games in 2017-18.
Before Atlanta United, the fastest club to reach 100 points was Tampa Bay Mutiny, who did it in the club’s opening 61 matches from the start of Major League Soccer in 1996. The Mutiny achieved the total during the shootout era, when teams received three points for a win in the regulation 90 minutes, one point for a win by shootout, and no points for any loss.
LAFC is also on track to gain the most points from the first two seasons of a club’s history. At 100 points, and with 15 games still to play this season, LAFC are chasing the record set by Atlanta United, who amassed 124 points over the club’s first two seasons.
FASTEST TO 100 STANDINGS POINTS (SINCE 2000)

FASTEST TO 100 STANDINGS POINTS (SHOOTOUT ERA; 1996-99)

LAFC AIMING TOWARD RECORD THREE-GAME STRETCH THIS WEEKEND

In an already record-setting campaign, the Los Angeles Football Club added to their season legacy with a torrid week around the Independence Day holiday.
LAFC started the week with a 5-1 win against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on July 3, then trumped that with a 6-1 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Banc of California Stadium on July 6. The six goals set a club record for goals in a game for the club, playing its’ 53rd league match.
The 11 goals over a two-game span equaled the third-most over such a stretch in league history. The all-time MLS record was set by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1998, when 13 goals over two wins, June 4 vs. Dallas (8-1) and June 7 vs. New England (5-1).
Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the league record for goals over a three-game stretch is currently held by the LA Galaxy, with 15 goals from June 4-18, 1998. LAFC would stand in line to take over that mark with another offensive explosion this Friday evening at the Houston Dynamo.
MOST GOALS, CONSECUTIVE GAMES (ALL-TIME)

-- #MLS --
MLS WEEK 19 – LOOK AHEAD
D.C. UNITED vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Friday, July 12, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #232)
Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
7 p.m. ET (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Drew Fischer. AR1 (bench): Philippe Briere; AR2 (opposite): Brian Poeschel; 4th: Lorant Varga; VAR: Sorin Stoica; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 111 games; FC/gm: 25.4; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 16; pens: 28
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: D.C. United 34 wins (4 shootout), 108 goals … Revolution 27 wins (3 shootout), 90 goals … Ties 13
AT D.C.: D.C. United 24 wins (2 shootout), 69 goals … Revolution 9 wins (1 shootout), 44 goals … Ties 4

• D.C. United had their five-game undefeated run put to an end, falling 2-0 to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on July 4. It was their first reversal since May 18.
  
• The Revolution extended their undefeated streak to seven games, dating back to May 11, defeating the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. It was a third win in four matches with Bruce Arena in charge.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Wayne Rooney converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute, canceling out a Juan Agudelo goal on the hour, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw May 25 at Gillette Stadium.
  
• The Revolution have an eight-game undefeated streak alive at home in the series in league play (3-0-5); United’s last win there came in 2012. United have won the past six meetings in Washington, after a 2-0 win last year in the first meeting Audi Field. D.C. won the final five league meetings at RFK Stadium between the MLS Original clubs, with shutouts in four, dating back to 2014.
  
• The teams have also met four times in the MLS Cup Playoffs, with United winning three of the four series all-time, last a 2-1 win at RFK Stadium in the Knockout Round in 2015. They have met five times in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Revolution winning three, last in 2017.
  

UNITED:
While United were blanked at the attacking end for a seventh time this season, they have come away with points in three of those games.
REVOLUTION:
Teal Bunbury
netted his third goal of the season, his second in as many games. …
Juan Caicedo
hit for his fourth goal of the season; he has a goal and an assist in the last two matches. …
Carles Gil
collected his sixth assist of the season, four of those coming over the last four games. …
Edgar Castillo
recorded his third assist of the season, all coming since May 4.
HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB
Friday, July 12, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #233)
BBVA Stadium, Houston, Texas
8 p.m. CT (UniMás)
REFEREE: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Jeffrey Greeson; AR2 (opposite): Jeff Hosking; 4th: Guido Gonzales Jr.; VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
MLS Career: 124 games; FC/gm: 22.3; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 26; pens: 30
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Dynamo 0 wins, 4 goals … LAFC 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 1
AT HOUSTON: Dynamo 0 wins, 2 goals … LAFC 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 1

• The Dynamo weren’t able to build upon a first win in six matches, falling 3-2 to FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The Los Angeles Football Club set their club record, scoring six goals in a 6-1 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Carlos Vela netted a pair of goals for LAFC, now with 19 on the season, and added an assist, his 12th of the season, both totals leading MLS. It was his fourth multiple-goal game of the season, his fourth game where he’s been involved in at least three goals in the contest.
  
• The teams met twice a year ago, in LAFC’s inaugural season. LAFC took a 4-2 win in the last meeting, Oct. 12 at Banc of California Stadium; the teams reached a 2-2 draw at BBVA Stadium on July 3.
  
• The teams also met in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, the Dynamo advancing to the final following a penalty shootout after the teams played to a 3-3 draw over 120 minutes.
  

DYNAMO:
Romell Quioto
netted his first goal of the season, converting a penalty kick; he has a goal and an assist in the last two games.
LAFC:
Diego Rossi
scored his 10th goal of the season, now in double figures in goals in both of his MLS seasons. It was a second consecutive game with a goal; he has a goal and/or an assist in five consecutive games, with three goals and three assists in that span. …
Adama Diomande
scored his fourth goal of the season, his first since May 11. …
Mark-Anthony Kaye
netted his fourth goal of the year, his last coming May 11. …
Eduard Atuesta
recorded his seventh assist of the season, his third over his last five appearances.
LA GALAXY vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Friday, July 12, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #234)
Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
8 p.m. PT (UniMás)
REFEREE: Nima Saghafi. AR1 (bench): Logan Brown; AR2 (opposite): Mike Rottersman; 4th: Rosendo Mendoza; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Cameron Blanchard
MLS Career: 52 games; FC/gm: 27.2; Y/gm: 4.1; R: 7; pens: 19
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Galaxy 31 wins (4 shootout), 109 goals … Earthquakes 23 wins (1 shootout), 97 goals … Ties 15
AT LA: Galaxy 20 wins (2 shootout), 60 goals … Earthquakes 6 wins (0 shootout), 39 goals … Ties 6

• The Galaxy snapped a three-game losing slide on their home ground, defeating Toronto FC 2-0 at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 4. Zlatan Ibrahimović netted both Galaxy goals, now with 13 for the season, sitting in second place in the MLS Golden Boot standings. It was his third multiple-goal game this season.
  
• The Quakes won for a third time in the last four matches, defeating Real Salt Lake by the game’s only goal at Avaya Stadium on Saturday evening. Danny Hoesen scored the Quakes goal, his fourth of the campaign.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Vako Qazaishvili and Shea Salinas each recorded a goal and an assist as the Quakes cruised to a 3-0 win in the annual game at Stanford Stadium on June 29.
  
• The Quakes have won once in Carson, Calif., since 2012 – a 3-0 win on Aug. 27, 2017; last year, the Galaxy took a win there by the game’s only goal on May 25. The Galaxy won 4-2 on May 27, 2017 at Avaya Stadium in the last match there – just their second victory in the last 18 regular season games in northern California, across four stadiums.
  
• Known as the California Clásico, the Galaxy and Earthquakes have met 85 times in all competitions. In regular season play, the Galaxy have won 31 times and the Quakes 23, with 15 draws, since their first meeting April 28, 1996.
  

GALAXY:
Joe Corona
collected his second assist in MLS, both coming over the last four games. …
Efraín Alvarez
recorded his second career assist, his first coming in the season opener on March 2, when he was the youngest player to both play in a game and record an assist in Galaxy history (aged 16 years, 256 days). …
Emil Cuello
collected his first career assist in MLS, making his seventh appearance. …
David Bingham
was credited with five saves in recording his seventh shutout of the season, third-most in MLS this season.
QUAKES:
Cristian Espinoza
recorded his eighth assist of the season, six of those coming since the start of May. …
Paul Marie
collected his first career MLS assist, making his eighth league appearance over his two seasons. ….
Daniel Vega
was credited with four saves in recording his sixth shutout, his third over the last four games, the six shutouts tied for fourth-most in MLS this season.
ORLANDO CITY SC vs. COLUMBUS CREW SC
Saturday, July 13, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #235)
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
7:30 p.m. ET (YouTube [ORL] / My65; FS-OH)
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Richard Gamache; AR2 (opposite): Kyle Longville; 4th: Elvis Osmanovic; VAR: Caleb Mendez; AVAR: Kevin Klinger
MLS Career: 80 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 2.9; R: 30; pens: 17
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Orlando City 3 wins, 17 goals … Crew SC 5 wins, 21 goals … Ties 3
AT ORLANDO: Orlando City 2 wins, 11 goals … Crew SC 2 wins, 11 goals … Ties 2

• Orlando City SC hit for two late goals in coming back for a 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union in a match delayed a day due to storms, the return match of a home-and-home series between the clubs over the week.
  
• Crew SC fell to a fourth defeat in a row, Seattle Sounders FC hitting for a late winner in a 2-1 result at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Chris Mueller and Tesho Akindele netted goals on either side of halftime as Orlando City took a 2-0 win on June 29 at Mapfre Stadium.
  
• Orlando City have won the last two meetings in the series, snapping 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 two wins and a draw from their past four visits to Orlando, taking points from three consecutive meetings there before OCSC claimed a 2-1 win last Oct. 21. The OCSC win in the first meeting was their first ever in Columbus, on their fifth visit.
  

OCSC:
Dom Dwyer
netted his fifth goal of the season, his last coming May 19. …
Nani
collected his seventh assist of the season, his third in the last three games. … Rookie
Santiago Patiño
scored his first career MLS goal, making his sixth league appearance; he was the No. 3 selection overall in the 2019 SuperDraft.
CREW SC:
Pedro Santos
scored the Crew SC goal, ending a 312-minute goal drought; Santos has scored three of Crew SC’s last five goals.
MONTREAL IMPACT vs. TORONTO FC
Saturday, July 13, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #236)
Stade Saputo, Montréal, Qué.
7:30 p.m. ET (TSN; TVA Sports)
REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Brian Dunn; AR2 (opposite): Jason White; 4th: Marcos de Oliveira; VAR: Geoff Gamble; AVAR: Peter Balciunas
MLS Career: 90 games; FC/gm: 23.5; Y/gm: 3.9; R: 31; pens: 49
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Impact 7 wins, 25 goals … Toronto FC 9 wins, 32 goals … Ties 4
AT MONTREAL: Impact 5 wins, 12 goals … Toronto FC 4 wins, 15 goals … Ties 1

• The Impact fell to a second consecutive defeat, with Minnesota United FC claiming a 3-2 win at Stade Saputo on Saturday evening.
  
• TFC saw their two-game undefeated run come to an end, falling 2-0 to the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 4.
  
• The teams met three times in league play a year ago, each winning their home matches. The Impact won the two games played in Montréal – a 1-0 win on March 17 at Olympic Stadium, and a 2-0 win on Oct. 21 at Stade Saputo. TFC won the lone encounter at BMO Field, a 3-1 win on Aug. 25.
  
• The win during the first meeting last year was the first in Montréal for the Impact vs. TFC since 2015 in all competitions. TFC had won two of three league meetings in between, with one draw; there were also two draws in the Canadian Championship.
  

• The Impact had won two league games in a row at BMO Field before TFC won the past two. They were the first two wins ever for the Impact in Toronto, going 0-6-4 in the first 10 meetings in all competitions at BMO Field.
  
• Before the 2018 season, the teams had met in every season they have been together in MLS in the Canadian Championship, with each team defeating the other once for the title – TFC winning the second of their three titles in a row in 2017, while the Impact won the title in 2014.
  

IMPACT:
Anthony Jackson-Hamel
netted the opening goal for the Impact after 27 seconds, equaling the 15th-fastest in MLS history and the second-fastest in the Impact’s MLS history. It was also the fastest goal in a game at Stade Saputo. …
Rudy Camacho
scored his first career goal in MLS, in his 26th league appearance over two seasons. …
Saphir Taïder
recorded his third assist of the season; he has four goals and two assists over the last seven games.
TFC:
As defending champions, Toronto FC have been advanced directly into the semifinals of the Canadian Championship. The Montréal Impact face a midweek match, traveling to Ontario to take on Canadian Premier League side York9 in the first leg of their quarterfinal series on Wednesday. Vancouver Whitecaps FC also have a midweek match, traveling to face CPL side Cavalry FC in southern Alberta.
CHICAGO FIRE vs. FC CINCINNATI
Saturday, July 13, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #237)
SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview, Ill.
7 p.m. CT (ESPN+; WSTR – Star 64)
REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): C.J. Morgante; AR2 (opposite): TJ Zablocki; 4th: Farhad Dadkho; VAR: Younes Marrakchi; AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
MLS Career: 86 games; FC/gm: 26.3; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 17; pens: 31
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: First meeting.

• The Fire weren’t able to come away with consecutive wins for a second time this season, falling to Sporting Kansas City by the game’s only goal at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening.
  
• FC Cincinnati snapped their six-game losing slide, defeating the Houston Dynamo 3-2 at Nippert Stadium on Saturday evening. Rashawn Dally netted his first career goal in MLS, while Kekuta Manneh added his third of the season, his second in the last five games.
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories, the first of two league meetings this season. They will meet again Sept. 21 at Nippert Stadium.
  

FIRE:
The Fire return to SeatGeek Stadium undefeated in their last eight home matches, the club’s longest undefeated streak on their own ground since a 14-game unbeaten run in Bridgeview over the end of 2016 and start of 2017, which was the second-longest in club history.
FCC:
Emmanuel Ledesma
collected a pair of assists, now with three on the season, the first player in FC Cincinnati’s MLS history with multiple assists in a game. …
Allan Cruz
collected his first career MLS assist, making his 11th league appearance. …
Mathieu Deplagne
recorded his first career MLS assist, in his 19th league outing. … The three goals equaled the most in a game in FCC’s MLS history (also: W 3-0 vs Portland, March 17).
MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. FC DALLAS
Saturday, July 13, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #238)
Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minn.
7 p.m. CT (FS-North; FCDTV)
REFEREE: Baldomero Toledo. AR1 (bench): Jeremy Kieso; AR2 (opposite): Gjovalin Bori; 4th: Chris Penso; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Robert Schaap
MLS Career: 281 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 100; pens: 108
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: MNUFC 1 win, 4 goals … FC Dallas 3 wins, 6 goals … Ties 0
AT MINNESOTA: MNUFC 1 win, 4 goals … FC Dallas 1 win, 2 goals … Ties 0

• Minnesota United FC won a third game on the trot, matching the club’s MLS record set last July, in a 3-2 win against the Montréal Impact at Stade Saputo on Saturday evening. Mason Toye netted a pair of goals; he now has three goals and two assists over the last three matches.
  
• FC Dallas extended their home undefeated run to five matches, defeating D.C. United 2-0 at Toyota Stadium on July 4. Santiago Mosquera netted his first goal of the season, while Dominique Badji scored his fifth goal this year (and third in the last four games) for the FCD win.
  
• 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 4-2 victory on Sept. 23 in Minneapolis.
  

MNUFC:
Kevin Molino
collected a pair of assists, his first two on the 2019 season, the fourth multiple-assist game of his MLS career. Molino has a goal or an assist in four consecutive games, with three goals and two assists in that run. …
Ethan Finlay
netted his third goal of the season; he has two goals and two assists over the last three games.
FCD:
Bressan
recorded his first career assist in MLS, making his 11th appearance. …
Ryan Hollingshead
collected his second assist of the season, his first coming March 30, the two assists one shy of his single-season career-high in MLS (set in both 2015 and 2018). …
Jesse Gonzalez
was credited with one save in recording his fourth shutout of the season, his second in the last four games.
REAL SALT LAKE vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Saturday, July 13, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #239)
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
8 p.m. MT (KMYU-12; LiveWell)
REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho; AR2 (opposite): Claudiu Badea; 4th: Michael Radchuk; VAR: Allen Chapman; AVAR: Jeff Muschik
MLS Career: 149 games; FC/gm: 27.5; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 22; pens: 36
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Real 4 wins, 18 goals … Union 1 win, 15 goals … Ties 6
AT SALT LAKE: Real 3 wins, 11 goals … Union 0 wins, 6 goals … Ties 2

• On a night when goalkeeper Nick Rimando became the first player in MLS history to reach 500 league appearances for his career, Real Salt Lake fell by the game’s only goal to the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium, ending a two-game winning streak.
  
• The Philadelphia Union gained a second result in two matches over the week against Orlando City SC, reaching a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon at Talen Energy Stadium, a match postponed from a night earlier due to inclement weather. Kacper Pryzbylko netted the equalizer on the stroke of full time, his fourth consecutive game with a goal, with five goals in that span.
  
• The Union won the lone meeting between the teams a season ago, a 4-1 win on May 19 at Talen Energy Stadium. It was the Union’s first victory ever in the all-time; Real had won four of the previous 10 meetings, including each of the two years prior.
  
• RSL won the last meeting at Rio Tinto Stadium, a 1-0 win on May 27, 2018, which was their first at home in the series since 2011. Real have won three of the five meetings all-time in Sandy, with two draws.
  

REAL:
Real conceded a goal for the first time in 355 minutes in the loss to San Jose, the third-longest shutout streak in MLS this season.
UNION:
Marco Fabian
netted his third goal of the season, his last coming March 30. …
Fafa Picault
contributed his third assist of the season, his last coming May 25. …
Matt Real
recorded his first career assist in MLS, making a fourth career appearance over two seasons. …
Anthony Fontana
collected his first career assist in MLS, making an eighth career appearance over two seasons.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC vs. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Saturday, July 13, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #240)
BC Place, Vancouver, B.C.
7 p.m. PT (TSN; FS-KC)
REFEREE: Ramy Touchan. AR1 (bench): Chris Wattam; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Mark Allatin; VAR: Alex Chilowicz; AVAR: Mauricio Navarro
MLS Career: 14 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 0; pens: 2
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Whitecaps FC 3 wins, 18 goals … Sporting 8 wins, 30 goals … Ties 4
AT VANCOUVER: Whitecaps FC 2 wins, 10 goals … Sporting 3 wins, 12 goals … Ties 2

• Whitecaps FC had their winless slide extended to five matches, falling 6-1 to the Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium.
  
• Sporting KC put an end to a brief two-game losing slide, defeating the Chicago Fire by the game’s only goal at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Derek Cornelius hit for the equalizer for Whitecaps FC well into second-half stoppage time, canceling out a first-half goal from SKC’s Krisztian Nemeth, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw on May 18 at Children’s Mercy Park.
  
• Each team had swept the season series over the last two years, Sporting rolling to a pair of wins last year in a 6-0 home victory and a 4-1 win at BC Place. Whitecaps FC won both encounters in 2017, both by shutout, a 2-0 win at home, and 1-0 victory in Kansas City.
  

• Sporting have won on three of their seven visits all-time to Vancouver, with two draws. Whitecaps FC have now gained points from their last two trips to Kansas City, their only results ever there. The win at Children’s Mercy Park in 2017 is their only victory in Kansas City in league play.
  

WHITECAPS FC:
Yordy Reyna
scored the ‘Caps goal in the loss at LAFC, his third in the last four matches. …
Jon Erice
collected his second assist in MLS, both coming over the last three games.
SPORTING:
Yohan Croizet
netted the SKC goal vs. Chicago, his third of the season, his second in as many games, all of his goals coming since June 1. …
Felipe Gutiérrez
recorded his second assist of the season; with seven goals and two assists in 19 games this year, he had exactly matched his total from 2018, his first MLS season (that over 20 appearances)
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
Saturday, July 13, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #241)
Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
8 p.m. PT (KPDX; Altitude)
REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Jose da Silva; AR2 (opposite): Chris Elliott; 4th: Matthew Franz; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Jennifer Garner
MLS Career: 341 games; FC/gm: 24.7; Y/gm: 3.1; R: 79; pens: 92
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Timbers 10 wins, 30 goals … Rapids 7 wins, 28 goals … Ties 4
AT PORTLAND: Timbers 8 wins, 16 goals … Rapids 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 0

• The Timbers won a second game in a row by the minimum scoreline, defeating New York City FC 1-0 at Yankee Stadium on Sunday evening. Sebastian Blanco netted the game’s lone goal, his third of the year.
  
• The Rapids had their seven-game undefeated run come to a halt, falling for the first time since May 11 in a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Diego Rubio netted the Rapids goal, his fourth of the season.
  
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Rookie Andre Shinyashiki netted the equalizer deep in second-half stoppage time for his first goal in his professional debut, leaving the teams in a 3-3 draw in the season opener for both clubs, a match played in a blinding snowstorm March 2 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
  
• The Timbers have a four-game undefeated streak alive in the series, winning three consecutive matchups before the draw to start this season. The last Rapids win June 17, 2017, a 2-1 win in Commerce City, Colo.
  

• The visiting team has won just three times in the all-time series, the Timbers winning twice in Commerce City since 2015. The Timbers have an eight-game home winning streak alive vs. Colorado; the Rapids’ lone win in Portland came June 11, 2011.
  

TIMBERS:
Steve Clark
was credited with five saves in recording the shutout, in third in a row in his appearances between the posts. His personal streak of 313 minutes since last conceding is the seventh-longest in MLS this season, the eighth-longest individual streak in the Timbers’ MLS history.
RAPIDS:
Nicolás Mezquida
recorded his fourth assist of the season, his third over the last three games. He has two goals and three assists since May 25.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC vs. ATLANTA UNITED
Sunday, July 14, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #242)
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.
12:55 p.m. PT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes)
REFEREE: Robert Sibiga. AR1 (bench): Nick Uranga; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Joseph Dickerson; VAR: Ricardo Salazar; AVAR: Joshua Patlak
MLS Career: 89 games; FC/gm: 22.2; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 21; pens: 26
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sounders FC 0 wins, 1 goal … ATLUTD 0 wins, 1 goal … Ties 2
AT SEATTLE: Sounders FC 0 wins, 0 goals … ATLUTD 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 1

• Sounders FC won for a second time in three matches, coming back for a dramatic 2-1 win against Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium on Saturday evening.
  
• Nicolas Lodeiro netted both goals in his return from international duty, including the game-winner six minutes deep into second-half stoppage time, the second time in those wins the match-winning goal for Sounders FC has come that late.
  
• Atlanta United made it seven consecutive matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium without loss, gaining a 3-3 draw with the New York Red Bulls on Sunday afternoon.
  
• Josef Martínez scored a pair of goals in his return from international duty, his third consecutive appearance with two goals for ATLUTD, now with 12 goals for the season, sitting in third place in the MLS Golden Boot standings.
  
• The teams have met twice in their histories, and played to a pair of draws, once at each ground. They played to a goalless draw in their first encounter ever, March 31, 2017, at CenturyLink Field; a year ago, they reached a 1-1 result at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 15.
  

SOUNDERS FC:
For the first time in the club’s MLS history, Sounders FC featured a pair of teenagers in the starting lineup, in
Danny Leyva
(16 years, 62 days) and
Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez
(17 years, 103 days).
ATLUTD:
Justin Meram
netted his third goal of the season, all since coming to Atlanta United from Columbus via trade, all over the last three games. …
Pity Martínez
collected his fourth assist of the season; over his last five games, he has a goal and three assists. …
Franco Escobar
collected his third assist of the season, all coming since May 24.
NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. NEW YORK CITY FC
Sunday, July 14, 2019 (Week 19, MLS Game #243)
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.
6:30 p.m. ET (FS1 / FOX Deportes)
REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Jon Freemon; VAR: Drew Fischer; AVAR: Thomas Supple
MLS Career: 115 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 17; pens: 45
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD: Red Bulls 6 wins, 26 goals … NYCFC 4 wins, 13 goals … Ties 2
AT RED BULLS: Red Bulls 4 wins, 13 goals … NYCFC 1 win, 5 goals … Ties 1

• The Red Bulls came back for a 3-3 draw with Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the tying goal in second-half stoppage time, his second goal of the season, his first coming on March 16.
  
• NYCFC saw their club-record 12-game undefeated run finally come to an end, falling by the game’s only goal to the Portland Timbers at Yankee Stadium on Sunday evening.
  
• The Red Bulls have won six of the 12 meetings all-time in league play, with a 26-13 goal differential. Included in that was a 7-0 Red Bulls win on May 21, 2016, at Yankee Stadium, the victory matching the largest margin of victory in MLS history (and the seven goals by the Red Bulls their club record). In all competitions, the Red Bulls have won eight of 14 matches, with two draws, with a 30-13 goal differential.
  
• The teams have met three times in league play a year ago, each winning one, with one draw. The Red Bulls again cruised to another heavy victory in the derby, a 4-0 win on May 5 at Red Bull Arena, and NYCFC winning 1-0 in the Bronx on July 8. The teams reached a 1-1 draw Aug. 22 at Yankee Stadium. The teams also met in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as the Red Bulls eased to another 4-0 victory in the series, also at Red Bull Arena.
  
• Two of NYCFC’s four wins vs. the Red Bulls came in 2017, a 2-0 victory June 24 in the club’s first win ever at Red Bull Arena, and a 3-2 victory at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 6. NYCFC have won three of the last six league meetings, with one draw, over the last two years.
  

RED BULLS:
Daniel Royer
scored a goal, his fifth of the season, and added an assist, his sixth of the year. It was the second time in the last three games he’s had a goal and an assist in the same game, the fifth time in his MLS career he’s had a goal and an assist in the same game and the third time this season (also: March 16 vs. San Jose). …
Brian White
scored his sixth goal of the season, his third over the last four games. …
Alex Muyl
collected a pair of assists, the first multiple-assist game of his MLS career (over four seasons). …
Marc Rzatkowski
collected his fourth assist of the season, his second over his last three appearances. …
Cristian Casseres Jr.
recorded his second career assist in MLS, his first coming April 14.
NYCFC:
New York City FC were held without a goal for the first time since April 6, ending a streak of 11 consecutive games with at least one goal. Of the four times NYCFC have been shut out at the attacking end this year, they have come away with points on two.