Adelaide Thunderbirds extended their unbeaten run with another dazzling performance as they romped to a 73-58 win over Melbourne Vixens in a lopsided Round 12 top-of-the-ladder clash at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on Saturday.
Thunderbirds attacking charge was again led by Romelda Aiken-George, who scored 47 goals from 53 attempts, as Georgie Horjus and Lucy Austin chipped in with 12 goals and nine goals from 11 and 10 attempts respectively. Lauren Frew had a perfect five goals from five attempts.
Meanwhile, Sophie Garbin had 29 goals from 31 attempts for the Vixens, with Kiera Austin (27 goals from 27 attempts) and Lily Graham with a single two-point Supershot, contributing the others.
Both teams produced a clinical display in the early exchanges as they demonstrated why they are the two best teams in the competition. The Vixens were first to slip up, with suffocating defensive pressure from the Thunderbirds forcing the visitors into a few errors.
Still, the contest remained evenly poised at 15-15 at the end of the first quarter.
However, the Thunderbirds found an extra spark in the second quarter and briskly raced to a seven-goal lead early, courtesy of some impressive defending by Jamaican Latanya Wilson, who robbed a few Vixens possession, which the shooters capitalised on.
The Vixens tried to trim the margin in the Power Five, but Matilda Garrett and another Jamaican standout Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, forced the Vixens to work overtime in the goal circle to find space and shoot. That coupled with a bit of magic from Aiken-George, ensured Thunderbirds remained seven goals ahead at 32-25 at halftime.
Melbourne Mavericks in action against Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The Vixens were more settled to begin the third quarter, as the Thunderbirds found it harder to move the ball into their attacking third. Despite Vixens hard-fought battle to close the gap from 10 goals down during the Power Five, Thunderbirds remained eight goals up at 51-43 heading into the final quarter, which was a mere formality.
This, as the Thunderbirds went from strength-to-strength in that final quarter and outplayed the Vixens in all departments to power to a commanding 25-goal win, with Sterling-Humphrey named as the match MVP.
Elsewhere, another Jamaican Shimona Jok scored 42 goals from 43 attempts to assist Melbourne Mavericks to a 72-71 win over Sunshine Coast Lightning in a nail-biting encounter in Hobart.
Along with Jok, Mavericks had clinical performances from Gabrielle Sinclair, who scored a couple of two-point Supershots in her five goals from three attempts, while Eleanor Cardwell had four Supershots in her 25 goals from 22 attempts.
Cara Koenen (39 goals from 42 attempts), Steph Fretwell (26 goals from 26 attempts) and Reilley Batcheldor (six goals from six attempts) also showed good knick for the Lightning in a losing cause.
With both teams desperate to sit in that elusive top four spot as the road to finals closes in, every play and decision was critical throughout the thrilling contest.
But, it was the Mavericks, who held their nerves best and took a massive stride closer to breaking through that top four, as they now sit level with Lightning on the ladder on 20 points apiece.
Newly crowned Jamaican 100m champion Kishane Thompson faced numerous obstacles before delivering an astounding performance at the Jamaican National Championships on Friday night.
Despite a late night on Thursday, incomplete post-race recovery, and an extended session with doping control officers, Thompson surged to win his semi-final in 9.84 seconds and then stunned the athletics world with a world-leading 9.77 seconds in the final, securing his place at the Paris Olympics this summer.
Thompson’s extraordinary journey to the title began with an impressive semi-final run that set the stage for the final. His remarkable 9.77 in the final not only booked his ticket to Paris but also made him the fourth fastest Jamaican in history, behind legends Usain Bolt (9.58) Yohan Blake (9,69), and Asafa Powell (9.72), and the ninth fastest ever globally.
After his incredible performance, Thompson opened up about the challenges he faced. Following his heats on Thursday night, in which he clocked 9.82, he was singled out for a drug test, causing a significant delay in his post-race recovery.
"Apparently, they came to do a drug test, and we were saying it’s just the heats. We could understand if it’s after the finals, but they said ‘No,’ I hadn’t run from season and I opened with such a fast time in the heats, so they said it looks suspicious," Thompson explained. He eventually got home after 1 am on Friday, severely impacting his rest and recovery.
Thompson's coach, Steven Francis, acknowledged the difficult circumstances before the final, suggesting it might not be the anticipated clash between Thompson and pre-race favourite Oblique Seville. However, Thompson defied the odds and his coach's expectations, delivering a scintillating performance in the final. Seville finished second in a lifetime best of 9.82 seconds, while Ackeem Blake took third in 9.92 seconds.
World Athletics
Reflecting on his experience running three rounds, Thompson said, “It’s feeling tired-good, not tired-bad. It’s not something that I can’t manage, something that I expected, and it’s the first I am actually doing rounds, so I am really satisfied.”
In the final, Thompson followed his coach’s instructions to run the first 60m hard and then shut it down.
“My coach Steven Francis, he instructed me to just run the first 60, nothing more. After that I should just shut it down. If I came second of third, I make the team. The goal wasn’t to do anything, just to run a 70 or 60m and see where I am at.
“Honestly, I have a lot to improve on physically and mentally. I was playing catch up of some sort and I was trying to adjust and go at the same time. It’s kind of all new to me but I am getting it slowly. We have some technicalities to work on, my transition, snapping down, my turnovers, my reaction and just staying fit and healthy. I am not sure how fast I can go but the time did not surprise me tonight.”
Despite the challenges, Thompson remains optimistic about his future, especially with the lessons learned from his first experience running rounds. “I didn’t know how to conserve. I tried it in the first two rounds but one, I nearly fell, and two, I just didn’t know how to apply myself with that speed because I’ve never done rounds,” he admitted.
Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics, Thompson is eager and confident. “It is really a great and humble feeling. I saw the 2008 Olympics and it set my standard in this sport. From there I knew that I wanted it, so it is a really good feeling,” he shared.
New York City FC snapped a three-game losing streak in emphatic fashion as they came out on top 4-2 in a six-goal thriller against Orlando City.
Goals from Dagur Thorhallsson and Duncan McGuire set up a grandstand finale at Yankee Stadium, with Orlando hitting back from 3-0 down.
Santiago Rodríguez, Hannes Wolf and Agustin Ojeda had put the hosts in complete control in the first half.
But ultimately Nick Cushing's team had to grab a fourth to settle the contest deep in second-half stoppage time, with substitute Mounsef Bakrar netting to end Orlando's comeback hopes.
The victory moves NYCFC into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, while Orlando are 11 points back in 10th.
Data Debrief: Six and out
There was no room on the scoresheet for Adrian Alonso Martinez, despite the forward attempting six shots, which is the highest total in a single match for any NYCFC player this season.
Tayvon Gray, meanwhile, provided two assists, moving his tally for the season up to four.
Shericka Jackson claimed her third consecutive national 100m title on day two of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Friday.
The two-time World 200m champion produced a season’s best 10.84 to take top spot ahead of 19-year-old Tia Clayton who ran 10.90 to finish second after running a personal best 10.86 to get to the final.
Two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce booked a spot at her fifth Olympic Games with 10.94 in third.
The top six was rounded out by Shashalee Forbes (11.04), Kemba Nelson (11.14) and Alana Reid (11.14).
“I’m feeling good. I just wanted to qualify and I did so I’m okay,” Jackson told the media after her race.
“I only ran one 100m before these championships and my 200m haven’t been the best but you just have to trust the process and I’m here today,” she added.
On the Men’s side, Kishane Thompson delivered on the promise he showed in both the heats on Thursday and the semi-finals earlier on Friday with a personal best and world leading 9.77 to win his maiden national 100m title.
Oblique Seville ran 9.82 to take second while Ackeem Blake ran a season’s best 9.92 in third.
Bryan Levell (10.04), Jelani Walker (10.04) and Jehlani Gordon (10.07) rounded out the top six in the final.
In the Under-20 100m finals, Edwin Allen’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge ran a brilliant personal best 11.13 to win the girls final ahead of Muschett High’s Shanoya Douglas (11.28) and Lacovia’s Sabrina Dockery (11.29).
The boys equivalent was won by Gary Card of Wolmer’s Boys in a brilliant personal best of 10.07, the second fastest time ever by a Jamaican junior.
Herbert Morrison Technical’s Deandre Daley ran 10.16 for second while Kingston College’s Nyrone Wade was third in 10.36.
Deandre Watkin produced a stunning upset over defending national champion Sean Bailey and NCAA Championships bronze medallist Jevaughn Powell to claim his first national 400m title on day two of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Friday.
Watkin, the 21-year-old who entered the meet with a personal best of 45.26 done last year before lowering it to 45.19 in the heats on Thursday, produced an excellent 44.48 to take the win.
Bailey, last year’s national champion, ran a season’s best 44.65 in second while Powell ‘s time in third was 44.79.
This will be the first trip to the Olympics for Watkin and Powell and the second for Bailey who competed in the mixed relay in Tokyo.
Natoya Goule-Toppin and Tarees Rhoden secured the respective female and male 800m titles on day two of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Friday.
Goule-Toppin ran a season’s best 1:59.06 to win her tenth national title ahead of the University of Houston’s Kelly-Ann Beckford (2:01.01) who was the only other athlete in the race.
Goule-Toppin now heads to the Olympic Games for the third time.
“This time last year I was running faster but an injury in March delayed me a bit and I’m now coming off a chest cold last week so, I know I’m way better than I did today,” Goule-Toppin told Sportsmax.tv after the race.
Rhoden ran 1:45.94 to take top spot over defending champion and national record holder Navasky Anderson (1:47.01) and Dennick Luke (1:47.36).
“It’s been a few years since I’ve run in Jamaica so I’m really grateful. I’m a bit disappointed with the time but I’m still learning. It was a nice blowout round before I go up to the professional level so I’m grateful for this win under my resume,” Rhoden said after his race.
A defiant Vanni Sartini believes Vancouver Whitecaps are on the right track, but called for more confidence and courage when St. Louis City visit in MLS.
The Whitecaps endured a disappointing two-game road stretch, culminating in their 2-0 defeat to Portland Timbers last time out.
That loss saw Vancouver drop to ninth in the Western Conference standings, only clinging onto the final playoff spot by way of a superior goal difference over Seattle Sounders.
Sartini acknowledged the frustrations of the last two showings, though suggests the Whitecaps can get back on course at BC Place.
"The concerns are always there, even if you win," Sartini said at pre-match media availability.
"It sounds very easy to say, but we just need to be a little better. That means a lot of things, however. Our performance hasn't gone down dramatically.
"The efficiency of our performances has gone down dramatically, though. We need to be better at finishing our chances, and being mentally stronger.
"The last couple of games before the break, we had two strong mental performances [in Kansas and Colorado]. Even though we weren't playing amazingly, we weren't making mistakes.
"The last two games away, we created more chances than in the games before, but we have been too easy to beat, we get a little flat when we hit the first trouble of those matches.
"We need to be more confident, courageous and more like: 'let's focus on the task'. If we are doing this, then the margin to make a lot of points is shorter."
Bradley Carnell's visitors are winless in their last eight domestic outings following a 1-1 draw with Atlanta United in their most recent fixture.
St. Louis are just three places behind the Whitecaps, though, with this the chance to strike a blow to their hosts' playoff hopes.
Carnell must arrest a poor spell in front of goal, however, as St. Louis have scored the second-fewest goals in the West this season (24).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld
Ryan Gauld has followed up his 11-goal 2023 with nine goals already this season.
With one more goal, Gauld will become the third Whitecaps player with multiple 10-goal seasons (Camilo Sanvezzo, Brian White) and the first to do so in consecutive campaigns.
St. Louis City – Indiana Vassilev
Indiana Vassilev scored his fifth regular-season goal for St. Louis on Saturday, becoming the sixth different player to hit the mark for the club in league play.
Only three teams have more players with five or more regular-season goals than St. Louis since they joined the league in 2023 (Real Salt Lake, Minnesota United, FC Cincinnati – seven each).
MATCH PREDICTION – VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN
The Whitecaps are the likely favourites for a narrow victory in this one, owing to St. Louis' woeful away form.
Carnell's side have managed only three wins in 26 games on the road in all competitions (drawn eight, lost 15) since winning their first three away matches in club history between February and March 2023.
Yet, it will be by no means straightforward for Vancouver.
They have lost consecutive matches following the defeat to Portland on Saturday, but Vancouver have not suffered three straight defeats within a single regular season since August-September 2022.
There is little to split these two teams in terms of the head-to-head record, with each side recording a home win against the other in two meetings between Vancouver and St. Louis City last season.
The hosts scored three goals in each game, while Brian White scored in both outings for the Whitecaps.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Vancouver Whitecaps win – 51.1%
Draw – 24.8%
St. Louis City win – 24%
Malik James-King produced a stunning performance to win his maiden national 400m hurdles title on day two of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Friday.
James-King became the second fastest Jamaican in the history of the event with a massive personal best 47.42, almost a full second faster than his previous personal best of 48.39 done earlier this season, to claim the win.
National and World junior record holder and World Championship finalist Roshawn Clarke ran 48.04 in second while Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jaheel Hyde ran 48.35 for third.
“I just executed my race as best as I could,” James-King said after his stunning performance.
“I was just focusing on how I train, taking every hurdle as they come. I wasn’t really watching anyone and just running my race,” he added.
Regarding the time, James-King said he’s more excited than surprised.
Clarke was happy to get on his first Olympic team.
“The strategy tonight was to execute as best I could, get myself in the top three and make the team and work from there,” he said.
“I wanted to go faster but I made the team so I can’t complain,” he added.
Two-time World Championships bronze medallist Rushell Clayton continued her fantastic form this season with a massive personal best to claim her second national 400m hurdles title on day two of the JAAA National Senior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Friday.
Clayton ran a brilliant 52.51, the second fastest time ever by a Jamaican, to add to her national title back in 2019.
Her previous personal best was 52.81 set at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.
Five-time national champion Janieve Russell will be going to her third Olympic Games after running a season’s best 53.33 in second while Shiann Salmon will be heading to her first Olympic Games after running a personal best 53.71 for third.
Clayton's time was just outside of Melaine Walker's national record 52.42 set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
Brian Schmetzer urged Seattle Sounders to rediscover their home form ahead of Saturday's meeting with Chicago Fire in MLS.
The hosts sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, but are 12 points adrift of the top three sides in the table.
Schmetzer's side have not won back-to-back MLS games all season, though that is a possibility when the out-of-form Chicago visit Lumen Park.
Seattle will be invigorated by last-gasp drama in their 3-2 win over FC Dallas last time out, and the head coach hopes his team can utilise that momentum going forward.
"We need to follow up that crazy, exciting, perfect for the fans, but horrible for the coaches win," he said. "We've got two more home games to come, and we need to re-establish some home form.
"I haven't mentioned it to the players, but we have discussed it internally among the coaches, how to get them more consistent and delivering on a regular basis.
"[Let's] see if we can generate some more results. We're still below the playoff line, but seven points in a week is a good number.
"Now, we talk about keeping the momentum at home going, not necessarily winning two in a row, but just re-establishing what we do here and how we go about things."
The Fire appeared to be finding form with a four-match unbeaten streak, though that was snapped with a 4-2 defeat in Orlando last weekend.
Chicago are languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and have struggled on the road, managing just one win in nine away matches.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris
Jordan Morris scored the 88th-minute equaliser and stoppage-time winner in Seattle's comeback win over Dallas on Saturday.
Morris is the first player in Sounders history to score both the match-tying and winning goals in the 80th minute or later of an MLS match.
Chicago Fire – Hugo Cuypers
Hugo Cuypers has scored in four consecutive matches for the Fire, the longest active goalscoring streak in MLS.
If he scores against Seattle, Cuypers will equal the longest regular-season scoring streak in the Fire's MLS history: five games by David Accam in 2017 and Robert Beric in 2020.
MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
With the Fire enjoying a favourable head-to-head record and the Sounders in fine form, this clash was difficult to split the pair, though Seattle appear favourites for a narrow victory.
Seattle have lost only two of their last 13 matches in all competitions (won six, drawn five), with both of those defeats coming on the road.
Indeed, the Sounders are unbeaten in seven straight home games, including winning three of the last four at Lumen Field (drawn one), but Chicago should still not be ruled out.
The Fire have won their last two meetings with Seattle, one at home and one at the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020. Prior to that, Chicago had won just two of 17 meetings with the Sounders (drawn four, lost 11).
They also remain winless in Seattle in nine all-time visits (drawn two, lost seven), but have won their last two trips to the Pacific Northwest, winning 3-1 at Vancouver Whitecaps in 2022 and 2-1 at Portland Timbers in 2023.
Prior to the last two matches, Chicago had never won at any of the three Cascadia MLS teams in all competitions (drawn four, lost 19 at Portland, Seattle and Vancouver), a feat they will hope does not come back to haunt them here.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders win – 54.6%
Draw – 23.3%
Chicago Fire win – 22%
Phil Neville insists Portland Timbers are still "nowhere near" their capabilities, despite an impressive MLS run lifting them up the table ahead of Saturday's clash with Minnesota United.
The Timbers have surged up the Western Conference standings, sitting seventh in the league after a six-game undefeated streak.
Neville's men leapfrogged Vancouver Whitecaps with a commendable 2-0 victory last time out, with this another chance to put pressure on the teams above them.
The former Inter Miami head coach still believes Portland can significantly improve, too.
"It's step by step, we've got a lot of work to do, but we're not getting carried away," Neville said.
"We're keeping our feet firmly on the ground, but we are building confidence, and I think the boys are enjoying what we are doing at the minute.
"I think the longer that continues, the better it is for us. I think this team could still play better. We're nowhere near where we need to be.
"There's a big improvement still needed, we have another opportunity to go here – we're at home, we need to improve our form there, and gaining points here is going to be key to us making the playoffs."
Minnesota are two places above the Timbers despite a three-match losing streak, a run they will be desperate to snap here.
The Loons came away empty-handed once more in their last outing, a 1-0 defeat to Austin FC, but Neville acknowledged the quality his side will face.
"We're against a team that has brilliant players," Neville added. "We're going to have to play better than we did against Vancouver – we're not taking our foot off the gas."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portland Timbers – Felipe Mora
Felipe Mora scored his ninth goal of the season on Saturday, while Jonathan Rodriguez netted his eighth of 2024.
That pair join Evander (eight goals) to make Portland the only MLS team with three players to have scored at least eight goals this season, though Mora may be the one to keep an eye on against Minnesota.
Minnesota United – Robin Lod
Robin Lod created four chances against Austin, his ninth match with at least that many in an MLS game for the Loons.
The only Minnesota players with more MLS games in which they have created four or more chances are Emanuel Reynoso (24) and Darwin Quintero (14).
MATCH PREDICTION – PORTLAND TIMBERS WIN
Minnesota may boast a favourable head-to-head record in this fixture, but Portland are the favourites for victory here.
Indeed, the Loons have only two of their last 13 meetings with the Timbers in all competitions (won nine, drawn two), including winning the last three in a row.
Yet, Minnesota have never won four straight against Portland, who are in fine defensive form before this clash.
Portland have kept a clean sheet in three of their last five matches, including a 2-0 win over Vancouver on Saturday.
Prior to that, Portland had two shutouts in their previous 31 regular-season games dating back to last June, and another could be on the cards against the out-of-form Loons.
Minnesota dropped their third consecutive game with the loss to Austin, though the Loons have not lost four straight regular-season games since failing in the first four matches of the 2021 season.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Portland Timbers win – 44.8%
Draw – 26.9%
Minnesota United win – 28.3%
Peter Vermes says Sporting Kansas City must focus on their own attributes, rather than those of upcoming opponents Austin FC, if they are to end their miserable run of form.
Sporting KC sit 13th in the Western Conference standings after losing 10 of their last 11 games including each of their last three, conceding four goals in each.
Following a 4-2 defeat to the LA Galaxy, a 4-3 reverse against Real Salt Lake and a 4-0 demolition at the hands of the Columbus Crew, Vermes says his team have had a good week in training and are raring to set the record straight.
"We're going to find out on Saturday. I think we've had a pretty decent week of training," Vermes said when asked how his team would measure up.
"It's been good for us to train in this kind of heat since it's what we've got to play in for these next couple of months.
"It's all going to be about the performance this weekend, for sure. The key is to just make sure we're good at the key aspects of our game.
"It's more about what we're doing and making sure that we're doing it right."
Austin were also on a poor run until they beat Minnesota United 1-0 last week, a result that lifted them to eighth in the West.
Boss Josh Wolff is pleased with the way his team have hung on despite losing players to international duty and injuries, saying: "We looked at the season, and we knew difficult stretches were coming. We just don't have the numbers.
"You can see in these games, we had to grind. We have guys playing in different positions. They continue to hang in there and compete.
"It's not like every game is perfect but the guys have done a great job of keeping us in a good position."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sporting Kansas City – John Pulskamp
Sporting KC are the fifth team in MLS history to concede four or more goals in three consecutive matches.
No team has allowed four or more goals in four straight games in league history. Goalkeeper Pulskamp will be desperate to avoid making unwanted history here.
Austin FC – Sebastian Driussi
Driussi has scored five goals in six regular-season meetings with Sporting KC, scoring one goal in five of those six games, including in both of his previous matches in Kansas City.
MATCH PREDICTION: SPORTING KANSAS CITY WIN
Sporting KC have lost 10 times in a span of 11 regular-season matches for the first time in the post-shootout era (since 2000).
They had suffered only nine defeats in their previous 33 regular-season matches before this run. Perhaps Saturday, though, is an opportunity to bounce back.
Austin were winless in five matches themselves before beating Minnesota last week (two draws, three losses) and have only won two of their last 17 road games (six draws, nine defeats).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Sporting Kansas City – 45.8%
Austin FC – 27.5%
Draw – 26.8%
Steve Cherundolo says Los Angeles FC will force the issue when they take on the Colorado Rapids in a huge clash of Western Conference contenders on Saturday.
LAFC lead the way in the West with 37 points, though Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy are only behind them due to winning one game fewer.
LAFC's fine run of form continued with a 6-2 rout of the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, with Mateusz Bogusz scoring twice as they raced into a 5-0 lead within just 48 minutes.
Cherundolo expects a different level of test from the Rapids, who are just six points off the summit after an encouraging start to Chris Armas' tenure.
"They're a difficult team to beat, they're playing very well, they're disciplined, compact and also very vertical," Cherundolo said of Colorado.
"Chris has done a great job, and you can see it's a well-coached team. They found a way to be successful and they're sticking to it.
"We believe that every system has its own abilities, it's just a matter of how well we can impose ours on them."
Colorado have won their last three matches after enduring a mini slump, but like his opposite number, Armas is wary of the challenge his team will face on Saturday.
"It's another busy stretch coming up so in many ways it's right back to basics and we'll just try to get better," Armas said.
"We're always looking at every game as a test of how we can improve. We know they're a good team, they're playing really well, but we're looking forward to it.
"They just scored six but they're also one of the better defensive teams. You can see how explosive that offense is and we'll have to be at our best to get anything."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Los Angeles FC – Mateusz Bogusz
Bogusz has a goal contribution in eight straight MLS matches, with only Luciano Acosta having a longer such streak this season (nine).
That is the second-longest such streak in regular-season play by an LAFC player, behind only Carlos Vela (11 straight spanning 2019 and 2020).
Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic
Mihailovic has six goal contributions in his last two games, with three goals Wednesday against St. Louis City and a goal and two assists against CF Montreal last Saturday.
His six goal contributions are the most ever over a span of two MLS games by a Rapids player.
MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN
The home team has lost only one of the 11 all-time meetings between LAFC and Colorado (nine wins, one draw).
LAFC have won all five of their previous home matches against the Rapids by a combined score of 14-1. While the Rapids will certainly put up a fight this week, the hosts enter as favourites.
Cherundolo's team are unbeaten in their last eight league games, winning seven and drawing the other at Austin FC. At home, they have won five in a row.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Los Angeles FC – 62.2%
Colorado Rapids – 17.8%
Draw – 20%
Ashley Westwood says tactical flexibility has been the key to Charlotte FC's recent success, as they aim to continue their climb up the MLS standings against the Houston Dynamo.
Charlotte sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, nine points off leaders inter Miami, after taking 10 points from their last four matches.
Dean Smith's side claimed an impressive 2-0 road win over the Philadelphia Union last week, and Westwood feels the work the former Aston Villa boss has done on the training ground is really starting to pay off.
"The most impressive thing has been the way we've been able to change tactics and change things during games," Westwood said.
"It just shows the lads have taken the work on board. They listen and are starting to know the roles of every individual which, for me, is incredible."
Charlotte will face a tough test this weekend, though, against a Houston side currently seventh in the Western Conference and enjoying a five-game unbeaten streak.
Their latest result – a 4-1 rout of coach Ben Olsen's former club D.C. United – featured a hat-trick from the previously out-of-favour Sebastian Ferreira.
Asked about Ferreira's impact, Olsen said: "I'm extremely proud of Sebastien, this hasn't been easy for him, not getting the minutes he wanted last year and getting loaned out.
"Then coming back and just being behind physically, with several soft tissue injuries. This type of performance is a big deal.
"I'm happy he was a big part of it and now he's made my life a bit more difficult and that's what you want."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Sebastian Ferreira
Ferreira became the second Paraguayan in MLS history to net a hat-trick in Houston's last game, joining Miguel Almiron, who did so in 2017 for Atlanta United, against the Dynamo.
It was the first hat-trick by a Dynamo player in over seven years, since Erick Torres' treble versus the New York Red Bulls in April 2017.
Charlotte FC – Patrick Agyemang
Agyemang scored both of Charlotte's goals against the Union last week.
That made him the ninth different player to score multiple goals in a match for the Crown in MLS, equalling Inter Miami for the most different players with a multi-goal game since Charlotte joined MLS in 2022.
MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
Charlotte won for the sixth time in their last 10 matches last Saturday (three draws, one defeat), with their 21 points over this span more than they have collected in any 10-match run in their history.
However, they may come unstuck on the road against in-form opponents this week.
Houston are unbeaten in their last five games (two wins, three draws) after routing D.C., and have scored multiple goals in all five of those contests – the longest such streak in their MLS history (also five games between July and August 2012).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 45%
Charlotte FC – 28.1%
Draw – 26.9%
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