SOUTH AMERICA: Copa Libertadores- finished

	StandingsSOUTH AMERICA: Copa Libertadores
	19:15	Finished	The Strongest (Bol)	1 - 2	Atl. Tucuman (Arg)
	21:45	Finished	Flamengo RJ (Bra)	1 - 1	Santa Fe (Col)
	21:45	Finished	Independiente (Arg)	0 - 1	Corinthians (Bra)
	21:45	Finished	Libertad Asuncion (Par)	2 - 1	Penarol (Uru)

CHEERLEADERS USA

LA Galaxy vs. Atlanta United | 2018 MLS Match Preview

LA Galaxy vs. Atlanta United
2018 MLS Regular Season - Week 8
StubHub Center - Carson
April 21 - 10:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

The stars will certainly be out at StubHub Center on Saturday night when some of the league’s highest-profile players clash in Carson as the LA Galaxy host red-hot Atlanta United.

The Galaxy are coming off a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire, while the Five Stripes are unbeaten in five straight matches following a scintillating 2-2 draw with New York City FC.

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• How the stars shaped the games in Week 7

LA Galaxy    

Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his first start for the Galaxy and struck for his third goal of the season, latching onto an Ashley Cole cross and heading across the goal in first-half stoppage time for what proved to be the lone goal of a 1-0 win over the Fire.

The win was a character-builder for the Galaxy, who battled harsh weather conditions for an important road win that came off the heels of a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Sporting Kansas City a week earlier.

“It’s a little bit like when we went into Vancouver where we were short a lot of players, especially today we knew it was going to be a difficult game from the standpoint of the wind and the conditions,” LA Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said after the game. “We had a disappointing result last week and I think it showed our character to come back and to play 1-0 at the end of the day.”

Cole was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 7.

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: F - Bradford Jamieson IV (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: F - Giovani dos Santos (hamstring), D - Michael Ciani (groin)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4–2, right to left)
GK: David Bingham — Rolf Feltscher, Daniel Steres, Jorgen Skjelvik, Ashley Cole — Romain Alessandrini, Perry Kitchen, Jonathan dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget — Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ola Kamara

• Notes: The Galaxy are averaging 2.6 goals per 90 when Ibrahimovic is on the field this season (137 minutes, 28 seconds), as opposed to 0.8 goals per 90 when he is off (437 minutes, 10 seconds). … The Galaxy’s clean sheet against Chicago last weekend was just their second of 2018 and their third in their last 14 league games (4W-6L-4D).

Atlanta United          

Atlanta United’s four-match winning streak was snapped, but the Five Stripes extended an unbeaten stretch to five consecutive games following a thrilling 2-2 draw with NYCFC Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Greg Garza and Chris McCann scored for Atlanta, which saw a pair of leads evaporate thanks to a David Villa penalty kick and a golazo from Alex Ring.

Tata Martino made two changes to a team that defeated LAFC, 5-0, the previous week, with Leandro Gonzalez Pirez returning from a red card suspension and Kevin Kratz making his first start of the season.

The match also saw the much anticipated debut of Ezequiel Barco, who came off the bench for the last 20 minute after missing Atlanta’s first five matches with a right quad strain.

“I think that he looked good,” Martino said after the game. “Physically, I thought he looked fine. He was dynamic. I think that he was missing a little bit in his precision and when he came on we went to four midfielders and we had [Darlington] Nagbe and Jeff [Larentowicz] playing inside with Barco on the right and Miguel [Almiron] on the left.”

Almiron was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 7.

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Chris McCann
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT:  D - Jose Hernandez (quad strain), GK - Mitch Hildebrandt (left knee sprain); QUESTIONABLE: D - Franco Escobar (head), F - Hector Villalba (lower body)

Projected Starting XI
(3-1-4-2, right to left)
GK: Brad Guzan — Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Michael Parkhurst, Chris McCann — Jeff Larentowicz — Ezequiel Barco, Julian Gressel, Darlington Nagbe, Greg Garza — Miguel Almiron, Josef Martinez

• Notes: Garza’s goal last weekend was his second in his last eight MLS games after scoring one in his first 22 league appearances. … Atlanta’s 2-2 draw with NYCFC means that they are now unbeaten in their last five league games (4W-1D). The franchise MLS best is eight games unbeaten, set from August 26 to September 30 of last year.

All-Time Series 

• LA Galaxy and Atlanta United have met just once, with the Five Stripes winning 4-0 in Atlanta on Sept. 20, 2017

Officials

Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Eduardo Mariscal, Adam Garner
4th Official: Daniel Radford
VAR: Alex Chilowicz

Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season - Week 8
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy
April 21 - 9 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

A Rocky Mountain rivalry is renewed Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, as Real Salt Lakehosts the Colorado Rapids with the two teams coming into the showdown at different ends of the spectrum.

Real Salt Lake are looking to regroup from a shellacking by New York City FC last Wednesday, while the Rapids are riding the confidence of four consecutive matches without defeat.

Real Salt Lake have won three of the last five games against Colorado, however they have been held scoreless in both of their losses to the Rapids, per Opta.

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Real Salt Lake   

Real Salt Lake (2-3-1) continue to struggle putting consecutive solid performances together, following a 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC with a thorough 4-0 defeat to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday.

Mike Petke made two changes to his side that beat the Whitecaps, bringing on Adam Henleyand David Horst for the injured Marcelo Silva and Demar Phillips in his four-man backline.

But RSL conceded three times in the first half and the search for answers continues as it’s back to the drawing board against a Colorado Rapids team that comes to Sandy on a four-match unbeaten streak.

“It was just bad from start to finish, not much you can take from it,” midfielder Kyle Beckermansaid. “Hopefully we have a good response, which I think we will. That’s all you can do is respond from a terrible game and hopefully we can move on from there and start building something positive.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Tony Beltran (right knee surgery), M - Jordan Allen (knee), D - Taylor Peay (knee); QUESTIONABLE: D - Shawn Barry (hamstring), M - Luke Mulholland (hamstring), D - Demar Phillips (ankle), D - Marcelo Silva (groin)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2–3-1, right to left)
GK: Nick Rimando — Brooks Lennon, David Horst, Justen Glad, Adam Henley— Damir Kreilach, Kyle Beckerman — Corey Baird, Albert Rusnak, Jefferson Savarino — Luis Silva

• Notes: Real Salt Lake are facing an average of 17.3 shots per game this year, the most of any team in the league. … Real Salt Lake have won seven of their last eight home games (1L) and have outscored the opposition 18-9 along the way.

Colorado Rapids         

The Rapids are a Chris Tierney stoppage-time free kick from being undefeated in league play in 2018. After opening up the season with that 2-1 loss at New England, Colorado (2-1-2) have two wins and two draws in their next four games, including a 2-0 victory over a reserve-heavy Toronto FC roster Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Anthony Hudson made two changes to his starting XI from a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas the previous weekend, bringing Enzo Martinez back into the midfield and starting Jack McBean up top in place of Joe Mason.

Jack Price scored his first MLS goal 78 seconds after kickoff and Shkelzen Gashi added a 78th-minute penalty kick.

And now the focus shifts to a rivalry match with an RSL team desperate for points.

“We understand how important this is to the fans, to the club, the history of this game,” Hudson said. “That is something we are not taking for granted, but we also know to prepare best for this game we have to totally focus on the game plan and preparation.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: Jack Price
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Kortne Ford (knee), D - Marlon Hairston (knee); QUESTIONABLE: D - Danny Wilson (undisclosed)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Deklan Wynne, Axel Sjoberg, Tommy Smith — Kip Colvey, Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Enzo Martinez, Edgar Castillo — Jack McBean, Dominique Badji

• Notes: Colorado have only won once in their last 20 regular season road games (16L-3D), and only scored nine goals along the way. … Colorado’s penalty kick goal last weekend was their first in 35 regular season matches (Kevin Doyle scored against Sporting Kansas City on April 9th of last year).

All-Time Series

• Overall: Real Salt Lake 17 wins, 49 goals … Colorado Rapids 13 wins, 38 goals … 10 ties
• At Salt Lake: RSL 12 wins, 31 goals … Rapids 3 wins, 13 goals … 5 ties
• Last meeting at Salt Lake: Real Salt Lake 4, Colorado Rapids 1 (Aug. 26, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Joseph Dickerson
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Jonathan Johnson
4th Official: Chico Grajeda
VAR: Ricardo Salazar

FC Dallas vs. Philadelphia Union | 2018 MLS Match Preview

FC Dallas vs. Philadelphia Union
2018 MLS Regular Season - Week 8
Toyota Stadium — Frisco, Tex.
April 21 - 8 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

FC Dallas remain one of two undefeated teams in MLS after Jacori Hayes struck for the late winner at Gillette Stadium last Saturday, while the Philadelphia Union are now winless in their last four matches following a 2-0 home defeat to Orlando City SC.

The Union’s 3-1 win over FC Dallas last August was their first in 10 all-time meetings, with Dallas winning five of their first nine meetings (4D), per Opta.

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FC Dallas

FC Dallas (2-0-3) won just two of their first five games, but its now five without defeat for Oscar Pareja’s squad, who were the first team to leave Gillette Stadium with all three points since the New York Red Bulls last July.

Pareja made two changes to his starting XI from a 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids a week prior, with Victor Ulloa and Cristian Colman coming in and Mauro Diaz and Carlos Gruezo going to the bench in a changed 4-4-2 formation.

Hayes was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 7 after latching onto a pass from Roland Lamah and slipping in the late winner.

“It’s a happy moment. I almost cried in the celebration,” Hayes said after the game. “The last 10 minutes of the game felt like forever. I was just happy to get the goal for the team. It's a very happy moment for me.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: M - Brandon Servania (compartment syndrome), F - Jesus Ferreira (core muscle repair surgery), M - Paxton Pomykal (right meniscus surgery), D - Maynor Figueroa (right knee strain); QUESTIONABLE: M - Kellyn Acosta (sports hernia surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2–3-1, right to left)
GK: Jimmy Maurer — Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Anton Nedyalkov — Carlos Gruezo, Jacori Hayes — Michael Barrios, Mauro Diaz, Roland Lamah — Maxi Urruti

• Notes: Lamah has two assists in his last four league appearances. He only had three assists in his first 33 MLS games. … FC Dallas are unbeaten in 10 straight home matches, though only three of those games have been victories (7D).

Philadelphia Union         

The talk heading into Friday night’s home tilt with Orlando City SC for the Philadelphia Union (1-2-2) was breaking out offensively, but at the final whistle it was about mistakes from a young backline and another game at Talen Energy Stadium without a win.

Instead of building on a 1-1 draw with San Jose at home the week prior, the Union were left to lament a third straight home game without victory.

“I think we went into the game too comfortable because the last performance we thought everything was okay, but we did not win the last game,” midfielder Haris Medunjanin said. “Today was the game we needed to win.”

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Fabinho (right meniscus surgery recovery), D - Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Andre Blake — Keegan Rosenberry, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Matthew Real — Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya — Fafa Picault, Borek Dockal, David Accam — C.J. Sapong

• Notes: Philadelphia’s 41.4 percent duel success rate against Orlando last weekend is the eighth-lowest duel success rate in the Union’s 138 regular season home games. … Philadelphia are winless in their last 13 league road games (9L-4D), the longest such streak in team history.

All-Time Series 

• Overall: FC Dallas 5 wins, 18 goals … Philadelphia Union 1 win, 11 goals … 4 ties
• At Dallas: FC Dallas 4 wins, 10 goals … Union 0 wins, 3 goals … 1 tie
• Last meeting at Dallas: FC Dallas 2, Philadelphia Union 0 (March 6, 2016)

Officials

Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: CJ Morgante, Jeremy Hanson
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
VAR: Luis Guardia

Orlando City SC vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Orlando City SC vs. San Jose Earthquakes
2018 MLS Regular Season - Week 8
Orlando City Stadium — Orlando
April 21 - 7:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Getting healthier and more confident, Orlando City SC is rolling, returning to Orlando City Stadium having won three consecutive matches.

The San Jose Earthquakes are winless in their last four games, but rallied for a 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo Saturday night, their second consecutive draw.

Speaking of ties, all three of the previous three meetings between the two teams have ended in a draw.

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Orlando City SC

Orlando head coach Jason Kreis made four changes to his starting XI from a 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers the previous weekend. Amro Tarek replaced an injured Jonathan Spector, RJ Allen started at right back for Scott Sutter, Stefano Pinho made his first start since returning from an ankle injury and rookie Chris Mueller started for Justin Meram.

Dom Dwyer opened the scoring in the 38th minute, his fourth goal in three games since returning from injury, and Mueller scored for the second consecutive game in what Kreis called his team’s most complete game of the year.

“Tonight we saw, kind of for the first time, a collective mindset that we weren’t going to give anything away defensively,” Kreis said. “That led to us being very balanced, very well organized and shut them down pretty well.”

Sacha Kljestan was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 7.

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: GK - Mason Stajduhar (Localized Ewing Sarcoma), D - RJ Allen (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: D - Scott Sutter (lower body), D - Jonathan Spector (concussion)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2–3-1, right to left)
GK: Joe Bendik — Will Johnson, Lamine Sane, Amro Tarek, Mohamed El-Munir — Oriol Rosell, Yoshimar Yotun — Chris Mueller, Sacha Kljestan, Justin Meram — Dom Dwyer

• Notes: Since trading for Dwyer late last July, Orlando averages 1.7 goals per 90 in 1,292 minutes with him on the field (0.6 goals per 90 in 558 minutes with him off). … The Lions have won their last two home matches, scoring seven goals. They had two wins and 14 goals in their previous 14 league home games (6L-6D).

San Jose Earthquakes         

It was a strange sight indeed, but at kickoff last Saturday there was Chris Wondolowski on the substitute’s bench, ending a stretch of 56 consecutive games in the starting XI with Quakes coach Mikael Stahre giving midfielders Fatai Alashe and Jackson Yueill their first starts of the year in a changed 4-1-4-1 formation.

“It was a really hard decision,” Stahre said. “We talked about it within the coaching staff and decided to play with only one striker and add another midfielder.”

As for Wondolowski, he said he understood and accepted Stahre’s decision.

“It’s one of those things,” Wondolowski said. “It’a a part of the game. We wanted to make a tactical change and add another guy in the midfield and try to possess it. Coach talked to me about that. It’s the role he asked me to play and going forward, I’ll try to take that the best I can.”

There was a late equalizer off the bench, but Wondo didn’t score it. Coming on a sub for the first time this season, Jahmir Hyka leveled dramatically five minutes from full time.

Now the question is if Stahre will utilize the same formation and keep Wondolowski on the bench in Orlando?

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: Tommy Thompson (illness)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Andrew Tarbell — Florian Jungwirth, Yeferson Quintana, Francois Affolter, Nick Lima — Fatai Alashe, Jackson Yueill, Anibal Godoy — Magnus Eriksson, Danny Hoesen, Vako

• Notes: Hyka’s goal last weekend was his fourth in 31 league appearances and snapped a 17-game regular season goalless streak. … The Earthquakes have won just one of their last 12 road games (9L-2D) and have been held scoreless six times.

All-Time Series

• Overall: Orlando City SC 0 wins, 4 goals … San Jose Earthquakes 0 wins, 4 goals … 3 ties
• At Orlando: Orlando City SC 0 wins, 2 goals … Earthquakes 0 wins, 2 goals … 1 tie
• Last meeting at Orlando: Orlando City SC 2, San Jose Earthquakes 2 (June 18, 2016)

Officials

Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistant Referees: Kevin Klinger, Felisha Mariscal
4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez
VAR: Christina Unkel