Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
BC Place — Vancouver
Sept. 15 — 10 pm ET
WATCH: TSN2, ESPN+

Streaking Cascadia Cup rivals square off at BC Place Saturday when the Vancouver Whitecaps FC put a six-game unbeaten streak on the line against a Seattle Sounders squad that has won eight straight in 11 unbeaten in a match with major playoff implications.

The Whitecaps are coming off a second straight win, beating the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-1, on Sept. 1, while the Sounders knocked off Sporting Kansas City, 3-1, that day.

This is the second meeting this season with the Sounders winning 2-0 at CenturyLink Field on July 21 thanks to Nico Lodeiro's first-half brace.

• Sounders win streak nearing historic heights
• Robinson expects reinvigorated derby vs. Seattle
• Seattle: "Let's keep this train moving" post-Deuce
• Jona, Josef among MLSers in action internationally
• Independent Panel rescinds Marshall red card
• Check out all of MLS' mascots including Phang
• 'Caps commemorate 10 years with Teibert in doc

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Vancouver (11-9-7) won for the third time in six games without defeat after defeating the San Jose Earthquakes for a second consecutive match.

Alphonso Davies and Nicolas Mezquida scored a goal in each half before Vako pulled the Quakes back a goal in second-half stoppage time.

“We’re both in the same boat,” Carl Robinson said. “We’re both on good runs. Obviously they’ve strung [together] eight consecutive wins. I’ve watched all their games and I think they’ve deserved most of them. I think they’ve been lucky in one or two of them, but so have we.

“It’s a new game of football. There’ll be freshness in the game, as with all derbies. Whenever you play Seattle or Portland there’ll be energy, mistakes, wrong decisions, and it’ll be down to the players as to who will win the game.”

• Suspended: M - Yordy Reyna
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Jose Aja (left quad injury), M - Jordon Mutch (right foot injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Stefan Marinovic — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Aaron Maund, Brett Levis — Aly Ghazal, Felipe — Cristian Techera, Russell Teibert, Alphonso Davies — Kei Kamara

Seattle Sounders FC

Sitting just above the playoff line, Seattle (12-9-5) defeated Sporting Kansas City, 3-1, at CenturyLink Field on Sept. 1.

After falling behind on Diego Rubio’s 2nd-minute goal, Raul Ruidiaz leveled 10 minutes later and following an own goal by Graham Zusi, Lodeiro converted a 56th-minute penalty kick.

“Two teams that are playing at a pretty high level, it should be a very exciting match,” Brian Schmetzer said. “The added bonus, the flavor, the little bit of sparkle, to the match is the Cascadia Cup. I know we can go up there and get a result and that will come back to us. That’s something we’re aware of as well so there’s lots to play for up there.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: D - Jordy Delem
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: F - Jordan Morris (torn ACL), F - Felix Chenkam (herniated disc); QUESTIONABLE: M - Victor Rodriguez (right hamstring strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Stefan Frei — Kelvin Leerdam, Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall, Brad Smith — Gustav Svensson, Osvaldo Alonso — Cristian Roldan, Nico Lodeiro, Harry Shipp — Raul Ruidiaz

All-Time Series

• Overall: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7 wins, 26 goals … Seattle Sounders FC 9 wins, 31 goals … 5 draws
• At Vancouver: Whitecaps FC 3 wins, 12 goals … Sounders FC 4 wins, 16 goals … 4 draws
• Last meeting at Vancouver: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1, Seattle Sounders FC 1 (Aug. 23, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Eric Weisbrod, Jeremy Kieso
4th Official: Drew Fischer
VAR: Geoff Gamble

Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United FC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy
Sept. 15 — 9:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Real Salt Lake hope to feast on more home cooking to continue a march up the Western Conference standings against a Minnesota United side looking to snap a six-match winless streak.

This is the second meeting this season with the Loons claiming a 3-2 victory at TCF Bank Stadium on July 14. Ibson, Darwin Quintero and Miguel Ibarra scored in a 17-minute span to open up a 3-0 lead before RSL roared back on a Joao Plata brace in the final 13 minutes.

Real Salt Lake and Minnesota have met just three times prior in league play, with the home team winning each of the three previous matches.

• Three key moments in RSL's rise up the table
• Stejskal: How Kreilach's new role unleashed RSL
• Why RSL's Savarino will get you out of your seat

Real Salt Lake

After scoring 14 goals in three consecutive wins, Real Salt Lake (13-10-5) are hoping the international break didn’t cool them off.

RSL became the first team in MLS history to score six goals in back-to-back games, the last a 6-2 victory over the LA Galaxy with Damir Kreilach scoring a hat trick and Albert Rusnak adding a brace.

“I think it’s confidence now, not overconfidence,” Mike Petke said. “We’re very grounded right now, we understand who we are, we understand our capabilities, practice over the last month has been so much more intense and so much more specific from the players, getting on each other and making sure we’re connecting passes and making the right movements. I think we’ve grown up a heck of a lot from last year to this year.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: D - Justen Glad, D - Brooks Lennon, D - Marcelo Silva
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Tony Beltran (right knee surgery), M - Jordan Allen (knee surgery), GK - Alex Horwath (Achilles surgery), M - Luke Mulholland (back injury), D - David Horst (Achilles surgery), F - Ricky Lopez-Espin (knee surgery), GK - Connor Sparrow (knee injury); QUESTIONABLE: D - Marcelo Silva (ankle injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Nick Rimando — Brooks Lennon, Nick Besler, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera — Joao Plata, Kyle Beckerman, Sunny — Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach

• Notes: Kreilach has scored one-third of Real Salt Lake’s goals over their last two games (four of their 12). He had six goals in his first 25 league appearances. … Real Salt Lake have won three straight MLS matches, outscoring opponents 14-3 in that time – becoming the first team in league history to score 6+ goals in consecutive MLS games in the process. The club has not won four consecutive league games since 2013.

Minnesota United

Not rewarded for being the better side in the first half, Minnesota (9-16-2) took the lead early in the second half only to concede twice in quick succession to fall to D.C. United, 2-1, Wednesday night at Audi Field.

Angelo Rodriguez opened the scoring two minutes into the second half with his first MLS goal, but Ulises Segura and Darren Mattocks struck four minutes apart as the Loons suffered a fifth loss in the last six games.

“I thought our game plan was good and I thought we set up well," Adrian Heath said. "The disappointment was the goals were soft, from our point of view. We concede too many of them. We are not nasty enough at times. We probably did not make the most of the opportunities we had on the counter attack as well. We had some really good opportunities tonight. Overall I am disappointed we did not take something from the game."

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: M - Miguel Ibarra
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: M - Sam Cronin (cervicogenic dysfunction), M - Kevin Molino (torn left ACL), M - Ethan Finlay (torn ACL); QUESTIONABLE: D - Eric Miller (undisclosed injury)

Projected Starting XI
(3-4-1-2, right to left)
GK: Bobby Shuttleworth — Michael Boxall, Brent Kallman, Francisco Calvo — Miguel Ibarra, Rasmus Schuller, Collen Warner, Jerome Thiesson — Ibson — Angelo Rodriguez, Darwin Quintero

• Notes: Bobby Shuttleworth now has eight games this season with 5+ saves, one short of the career high he set last season. … Minnesota have lost five of their last six games (1D), getting outscored 14-6 in that time. Another loss would tie the club’s MLS record for the longest losing streak.

All-Time Series

• Overall: Real Salt Lake 1 win, 5 goals … Minnesota United 2 win, 7 goals … 0 draws
• At Salt Lake: Real Salt Lake 1 win, 1 goal … Minnesota United 0 wins, 0 goals … 0 draws
• Last meeting at Salt Lake: Real Salt Lake 1, Minnesota United FC 0 (June 17, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Chris Penso
Assistant Referees: CJ Morgante, Felisha Mariscal
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
VAR: Tim Ford

Con ventaja corta, Nacional se impuso ante Junior en el Atanasio

Un gol de Daniel Bocanegra bastó para que Nacional se fuera adelante en la serie contra Junior. La vuelta será en Barranquilla el próximo miércoles.

ATLÉTICO NACIONAL

1 0

JUNIOR

ATLÉTICO NACIONAL: CHRISTIAN VARGAS; DANIEL BOCANEGRA, FELIPE AGUILAR, ALEXIS HENRÍQUEZ (CHRISTIAN MAFLA, MIN. 45), DIEGO BRAGHIERI; JORMAN CAMPUZANO (CARLOS CUESTA, MIN. 76), GONZALO CASTELLANI, ALDO LEAO RAMÍREZ; STEVEN LUCUMÍ, DAYRO MORENO, OMAR DUARTE (CARLOS RIVAS, MIN. 45).

JUNIOR: LUIS CHUNGA; MARLON PIEDRAHITA, DEIVY BALANTA, WILLER DITTA, GERMÁN GUTIÉRREZ; ENRIQUE SERGE (DANIEL MORENO, MIN. 78), LEONARDO PICO, SEBASTIÁN HERNÁNDEZ, FABIÁN SAMBUEZA (JARLAN BARRERA, MIN. 70), KEVIN ALADESANMI (LUIS DÍAZ, MIN. 45), YONY GONZÁLEZ.

MARCADOR: 1-0, DANIEL BOCANEGRA, MIN. 53.

ÁRBITRO: GUSTAVO MURILLO. AMONESTÓ A DEIVY BALANTA (MIN. 14), JORMAN CAMPUZANO (MIN. 34), FERNANDO MONETTI (MIN. 89), GONZALO CASTELLANI (MIN. 90). EXPULSÓ A SEBASTIÁN HERNÁNDEZ (MIN. 90+3).

INCIDENCIAS: PARTIDO DE IDA POR LOS CUARTOS DE FINAL DE LA COPA ÁGUILA 2018. DISPUTADO EN EL ESTADIO ATANASIO GIRARDOT DE MEDELLÍN. 8,842 ESPECTADORES.

Noche fría y de poco público en el Atanasio, a pesar de venir ganando en la Liga, Atlético Nacional no tuvo el acompañamiento de otros partidos definitivos. Estos cuartos de final de la Copa disfrazados de fecha 5 comenzó con un juego ofensivo y ordenado del equipo que de a poco va mostrando su ascenso, pero que todavía no es del gusto del aficionado que lo hace sentir por su ausencia. 

Al minuto 7, Alexis Henríquez sufrió un golpe con el arquero José Luis Chunga que terminó llevando la peor parte el samario, el cual no aguantó sino un tiempo en cancha. El local era dueño de la pelota y se lo hacía notar a un Junior que trataba de sacarse la presión jugando por el sector derecho con Sebastián Hernández, Marlon Piedrahíta y Fabián Sambueza. La visita tuvo opciones pero no inquietaron a Christian Vargas que nuevamente sacó el cero en su arco. 

Dayro Moreno y Steven Lucumí fueron lo más destacado en la primera mitad para un local que lucía un juego ofensivo pero sin ser certero. Los centros desde el costado no tenían destinatario y la zaga tiburona no tenía mayores dificultades. 

En la etapa complementaria, Herrera sacó a Henríquez y a Duarte quien fue anulado por el rival y no logró esa movilidad en el frente de ataque de otros partidos. Dándole paso a Carlos Rivas quien pasó a la banda derecha en lugar de Lucumí que estaba en el sector izquierdo. En la otra variante, Christian Mafla entró como lateral, dejando a Diego Braghieri como central zurdo. 

La visita movió sus fichas también, entró Jarlan Barrera para darle más volumen de juego con Hernández, luego Luis Díaz entró a reforzar el ataque. 

El partido se tornaba equilibrado con llegadas en las ambas áreas, hasta que en el minuto 8, una falta contra Dayro Moreno derivo en un tiro libre que logró capitalizar Daniel Bocanegra en un gran cobro desde el sector izquierdo. El tolimense rompió una racha de 127 partidos sin anotar un gol por esa vía, todo un antirrecord. 

Tras el gol, los locales fueron más ofensivos y generaron varias llegadas que entre el arquero y la mala puntería evitaron que se ampliara el marcador. Al minuto 30 de la etapa complementaria un centro de Díaz le pegó entre el hombro y el pecho al recién ingresado Carlos Cuesta, todo el banco visitante lo protestó como penal, pero el árbitro Gustavo Murillo no sancionó. 

Al final, un par de ocasiones de Dayro Moreno pudieron ser el 2 y hasta el 3-0 pero la falta de cabeza fría privó al nacido en Chicoral celebrar. La última jugada del partido fue un tiro libre que le hace Sebastián Hernández a Dayro Moreno que recibe la tarjeta roja directa. Cobró Bocanegra pero salió desviado. 

Resultado corto para un Nacional que fue más en el trámite y oportunidad para un Junior que con todas sus fichas esperará en el Metropolitano darle vuelta al marcador. 

Houston Dynamo vs. Portland Timbers | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Houston Dynamo vs. Portland Timbers
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
BBVA Compass Stadium — Houston
Sept. 15 — 8:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

The Portland Timbers can move up to third place in the Western Conference with a win over a Houston Dynamo side that is winless in their last 10 games.

The Timbers are coming off a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids, extending an unbeaten streak to three, while the Dynamo dropped a 4-2 decision to FC Dallas in the Texas Derby on Sept. 1, their seventh loss in their last eight games.

This is the second meeting this season with the Timbers winning 2-1 at Providence Park on July 28. After Romell Quioto canceled out Sebastian Blanco’s 7th-minute goal, Fanendo Adi scored what proved to be his last goal in a Portland uniform with an 80th-minute winner.

• Check out all of MLS' mascots including Phang
• Blanco takes Player of the Week with twin assists
• Doyle: (Almost) status quo & more from Week 28
• Dynamo's Quioto states desire to move to Europe
• Cabrera on Dynamo: "Now it’s about pride"

Houston Dynamo

After consecutive draws at BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston (7-13-7) fell to FC Dallas, 4-2, at Toyota Stadium on Sept. 1.

Santiago Mosquera struck for a brace in a three-minute span after Michael Barrios opened the scoring in the 10th minute to give the hosts a 3-0 lead. Mauro Manotas pulled the Dynamo back a goal in the 53rd minute before Reto Ziegler and Alberth Elis exchanged penalty kick conversions.

“We’re going to continue working, we’re going to continue fighting because we cannot be forgetting how to defend, how to work together,” Wilmer Cabrera said. “We need to come back and we have to give us the option to show ourselves. Now it’s about pride, to prove ourselves that we can come back, we can play and we can avoid making so many mistakes.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: M - Boniek Garcia, M - Darwin Ceren, M - Adam Lundqvist
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), M - Juan David Cabezas (left quad injury), F - Mac Steeves (left hip injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Joe Willis — Andrew Wenger, Philippe Senderos, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley — Boniek Garcia, Darwin Ceren— Alberth Elis, Tomas Martinez, Romell Quioto — Mauro Manotas

Portland Timbers

After four straight losses, Portland (12-7-8) are unbeaten in three consecutive games after defeating the Rapids, 2-0, Saturday at Providence Park.

Blanco set up goals by Jeremy Ebobisse just before the halftime break and Diego Valeri midway through the second half. Now, the Timbers open up against Houston for the opener of three games in eight days.

“Definitely this stretch is even more important because these points are going to get you the possibility to accomplish the goals to be in the playoffs,” Giovanni Savarese said. “Every game is crucial, every point is important and we’re looking at it that way.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: M - Sebastian Blanco
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Roy Miller (right thigh injury), GK - Jake Gleeson (bilateral tibial stress fracture), GK - Jeff Attinella (hamstring injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-2-1, right to left)
GK: Steve Clark — Zarek Valentin, Larrys Mabiala, Liam Ridgewell, Jorge Villafana — Diego Chara, Lawrence Olum, Andy Polo — Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco — Jeremy Ebobisse

All-Time Series

• Overall: Houston Dynamo 4 wins, 20 goals … Portland Timbers 5 wins, 21 goals … 4 draws
• At Houston: Dynamo 3 wins, 11 goals … Timbers 0 wins, 6 goals … 3 draws
• Last meeting at Houston: Houston Dynamo 2, Portland Timbers 2 (July 29, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Jair Marrufo
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Jeffrey Greeson
4th Official: Marcos Deoliveira
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

México cae en Tennessee ante el odiado rival

Con solitaria anotación de Adams en el segundo tiempo, Estados Unidos se adjudica el triunfo en el segundo partido del regreso de Ricardo Ferretti.

Estados Unidos

1 0

México

ESTADOS UNIDOS: STEFFEN; MOORE (YEDLIN, MIN 85), CARTER, MIAZGA, LICHAJ (ROBINSON, MIN 56); TRAPP, ACOSTA (ROLDÁN, MIN 85), ADAMS, MCKENNIE (GREEN, MIN 40), WEAH (DELGADO, MIN 90); ZARDES (WOOD, MIN 80).

MÉXICO: GONZÁLEZ; ARTEAGA, ALANÍS, AYALA, ABELLA; GUZMÁN (GALLARDO, MIN 80), ÁLVAREZ, AGUIRRE, ALVARADO (PULIDO, MIN 74), LAINEZ (HERNÁNDEZ, MIN 75); ZALDÍVAR.

MARCADOR: 1-0, MIN 71, ADAMS.

INCIDENCIAS: PARTIDO AMISTOSO CELEBRADO EN EL ESTADIO NISSAN STADIUM.

Dos selecciones completamente renovadas plagadas de muchos jóvenes se enfrentaron en una edición más del ‘clásico de la CONCACAF’, en un duelo que sirvió para ir probando jugadores de cara al siguiente proceso mundialista.

El dominio de los primeros minutos lo tuvo el conjunto norteamericano, que fue el primero en aproximarse al marco enemigo mediante el remate desviado de Zardes.

Rebasados los 10 minutos, el ‘Tricolor’ se asentó mejor en el terreno de juego y comenzó a generar llegadas en el marco de Steffen, como al 9’ con el centro a primer poste de Abella que no pasó a mayores y al 14’, con el disparo desviado de Guzmán en un intento de despeje por parte de los locales.

La más clara del primer tiempo aconteció al minuto 15 cuando se ejecutó el tiro de esquina a primer poste donde apareció Édson Álvarez que sacó el potente cabezazo que alcanzó a sacar con la uñas el portero norteamericano. Cinco minutos más tarde, buena jugada de asociación colectiva de la Selección Mexicana, en el cual Abella metió el servicio a primer palo ante la llegada de Guzmán que remató directamente a la ubicación de Steffen.

Minutos después, por fin se volvieron a aproximar los Estados Unidos con el cobro del tiro libre directo de Acosta que pegó en la barrera, mientras que el contrarremate salió desviado.

La táctica fija fue un factor fundamental para los dirigidos por Ricardo Ferretti, quienes de nueva cuenta al minuto 30’ se acercaron a la portería con el testarazo de Ayala que se fue ligeramente por arriba, sin embargo, al 36’ Lainez realizó el desborde por el costado derecho para meterse hasta el área chica, donde puso la diagonal retrasada ante la llegada de Alvarado que, pese al esfuerzo en la barrida, no pudo hacer un buen contacto para marcar el primero.

La primera etapa cerró con un par de disparos del hombre más peligroso de las barras y las estrellas, Gyasi Zardes, que pasaron desviados del marco de Hugo González.

Para la parte complementaria el partido se tornó un tanto aburrido con la tenencia de la pelota inclinada a los Estados Unidos, pero sin lograr ser profundos, no obstante, al 65’ un pequeño connato de bronca entre Miazga y Lainez terminó por desestabilizar a algunos elementos de la selección azteca que, al minuto 67’, evidenció a Zaldívar que se fue expulsado por una fuerte entrada con los tachones por delante.

Llegó el primero

Estados Unidos aprovechó la ventaja numérica sobre el terreno de juego para tomar la ventaja en el marcador, ya que en un servicio a la altura del manchón penal proveniente del lado izquierdo, lo culminó de gran forma Adams al conectarla con la parte interna del pie derecho, mandándola al fondo de las redes para anotar el 1-0.

México lo intentó poco sobre la recta final del juego, aunque la más cercana la tuvo Elías Hernández dentro del área al pegarle de volea por arriba del arco.

En la siguiente fecha FIFA a celebrarse en el mes de octubre, la Selección Mexicana estará jugando los partidos en territorio nacional, donde todo parece indicar que Costa Rica y Chile serán los futuros rivales.

FC Dallas vs. Columbus Crew SC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

FC Dallas vs. Columbus Crew SC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
Toyota Stadium — Frisco
Sept. 15 — 8 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

FC Dallas are looking to maintain their lead atop the Western Conference standings when they host a Columbus Crew SC team that has lost just once in their last six games.

FC Dallas, which have a one-point lead over Sporting Kansas City, are coming off a 4-2 win over the Houston Dynamo in the Texas Derby, while Crew SC, which trail third-place New York City FC by six points in the East, last defeated the Cityzens, 2-1, at home on Sept. 1.

• Check out all of MLS' mascots including Phang
• Barrios, Mosquera claim El Capitan for FCD
• Sarachan: Steffen has "moved up the ladder"
• Jona, Josef among MLSers in action internationally
• Sarachan praises Trapp as a born leader
• Zardes' road back to USMNT went through Columbus
• Torrent on Berhalter: "I love this coach"
• "Like he never left": Meram's game-winning return

FC Dallas

FC Dallas (14-6-7) captured El Capitan after defeating the Dynamo, 4-2, at Toyota Stadium on Sept. 1.

Santiago Mosquera struck for a brace in a three-minute span after Michael Barrios opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Reto Ziegler converted from the penalty spot after Mauro Manotasnetted Houston’s first goal. Alberth Elis struck for a cosmetic penalty kick in the 72nd minute.

“Sometimes with Santi, he has all these [abilities] to provide to the team and within the game and we’re trying to capture that so he can use it well," Oscar Pareja said. "Then the injuries, obviously break his consistency in the field. It’s not easy. But I’m delighted to see him tonight with such energy and working hard for his teammates.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: F - Francis Atuahene (left calf strain), D - Kris Reaves (left foot stress fracture)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Jesse Gonzalez — Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Marquinhos Pedroso — Victor Ulloa, Carlos Gruezo — Michael Barrios, Maxi Urruti, Santiago Mosquera — Dom Badji

Columbus Crew SC

Columbus (12-8-7) went into the international break on a high note, defeating NYCFC, 2-1, at MAPFRE Stadium on Sept. 1.

After falling behind in the 53rd minute on a goal by Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, Harrison Afful and Justin Meram scored two minutes apart for Crew SC ’s fourth win in their last six games.

“I think Dallas is a very good team,” Gregg Berhalter said. “When I look at them throughout the years, it’s a very aggressive team, very aggressive on both sides of transition — offensive transition, defensive transition. They have some good playmakers on their team. I think it’s a good group. We know it’s going to be a very difficult game for us.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: M - Artur, M - Federico Higuain
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: M - Eduardo Sosa (right knee meniscectomy), M - Cristian Martinez (left ankle injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Zack Steffen — Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Lalas Abubakar, Milton Valenzuela — Artur, Wil Trapp — Pedro Santos, Federico Higuain, Justin Meram — Gyasi Zardes

All-Time Series

• Overall: FC Dallas 17 wins, 63 goals … Columbus Crew SC 19 wins, 63 goals … 10 draws
• At Dallas: FC Dallas 12 wins, 37 goals … Crew SC 6 wins, 25 goals … 3 draws
• Last meeting at Dallas: FC Dallas 1, Columbus Crew SC 1 (April 2, 2016)

Officials

Referee: Chico Grajeda
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Michael Kampmeinert
4th Official: Joseph Dickerson
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez

Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 29
Talen Energy Stadium — Chester
Sept. 15 — 7:30 pm ET
WATCH: TVAS, ESPN+

It’s a huge six-pointer in the Eastern Conference playoff race when the Philadelphia Union host the Montreal Impact Saturday night at Talen Energy Stadium.

Fifth place in the East, the Union have four wins in a five-match unbeaten run following a 2-2 draw at Orlando on Sept. 1, while the sixth-place Impact have only lost one of their last five games and come in off a 3-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 1.

This is the second meeting this season with the Union claiming a 2-0 win at Stade Saputo on May 12. Cory Burke scored two minutes before halftime and Haris Medunjanin added a late insurance goal against the 10-man Impact, who saw Daniel Lovitz sent off in the 67th minute for DOGSO following Video Review.

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• Report: Union bring in Polish striker for trial
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• FiveThirtyEight: MTL, RSL inch closer to playoffs
• Massive win over RBNY cushions Impact hopes

Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia (12-11-4) were moments from a fifth straight victory, but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw at Orlando on Sept. 1.

After Dom Dwyer put the hosts in front, Burke leveled in the 32nd minute and Fafa Picault put the Union in front two minutes from full time before Scott Sutter scored the stoppage-time equalizer.

“We control our own destiny, which is a good thing,” Jim Curtin said. “But we obviously have a little bit of a break now. A perfect time to recharge some of the batteries, get some guys some treatment for injuries, take a look at some young players this week, some academy kids that are in and impressing, so overall a good time to refresh, recharge, and go into now what will be a big September for the club.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Matt Real (left knee sprain), M - Ilsinho (quad strain); QUESTIONABLE: M - Anthony Fontana (right hamstring strain), M - Borek Dockal (ankle sprain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis — Haris Medunjanin, Derrick Jones — CJ Sapong, Alejandro Bedoya, Fafa Picault - Cory Burke

Montreal Impact

Montreal (11-14-3) made it two wins in three games with a decisive 3-0 victory over the Supporters' Shield-leading New York Red Bulls at Stade Saputo on Sept. 1.

Rod Fanni opened the scoring with his first MLS goal on the half-hour mark, followed eight minutes later by Bacary Sagna’s first league tally. Ignacio Piatti closed out the scoring in second-half stoppage time.

"The remaining six games will look like this one, that is, with a need to get a good result," head coach Remi Garde said. “We must put the same ingredients and the same parameters that allowed us to beat one of the best teams on the circuit, who came to Montreal with great confidence.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: M - David Choiniere (ankle surgery), D - Kyle Fisher (quad injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Evan Bush — Bacary Sagna, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz — Micheal Azira, Samuel Piette, Saphir Taider — Alejandro Silva, Quincy Amarikwa, Ignacio Piatti

All-Time Series

• Overall: Philadelphia Union 4 wins, 21 goals … Montreal Impact 7 wins, 30 goals … 6 draws
• At Philadelphia: Union 2 wins, 11 goals … Impact 1 win, 12 goals … 5 draws
• Last meeting at Philadelphia: Philadelphia Union 0, Montreal Impact 3 (Aug. 12, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Kevin Klinger
4th Official: JC Rivero
VAR: Ricardo Salazar