With the International break it is time to turn full focus back on the MLS. That is not to say that the International break meant a break for MLS teams but you get the point I am trying to make, now the USA have qualified we can get back to focusing on the domestic game.
Friday night saw the Seattle Sounders play Real Salt Lake in what is the battle atop the Western Conference. And early goal from Obafemi Martins opened the scoring after just three minutes before Lamar Neagle doubled the lead seven minutes before half time. That was how it ended and Dempsey even got to make an appearance for the last half an hour.
Saturday
Montreal Impact v Columbus Crew (2:00 ET)
The first game on Saturday and it is an important one as far as the Eastern Conference goes. The Impact currently lead the Eastern Conference although they are tied with two other sides, the Red Bulls and Kansas. The Impact will be without Adrian Lopez for the rest of the season and will be hoping to add to their 4-2 win last week at the Crews expense.
As far as the Crew are concerned it would be vital for them to get some points on the board after last weeks defeat to Sporting Kansas City which was their third loss in four games. Certainly the rot needs to be stopped if they have playoff ambitions but against the Impact it will be tough as they themselves are unbeaten in their last four.
DC United v LA Galaxy (4:00 ET)
DC have looked terrible all season and for sure something needs to be sorted out ready for next season. They have recently reached a deal on a new Stadium and for sure the fans deserve it but if you are going to have a state of the art stadium then surely you need a good product on the pitch too.
The DC fans will at least have something to cheer as Jaime Moreno is elected into the DC United Hall of Tradition. I remember watching this guy when I first came to the States in the mid 2000’s and personally I am glad the little Bolivian is getting recognized.
LA should get the points on the night though and hopefully it will not be too much of a downer as the LA Galaxy try to get back on the heels of the top two after slipping away due to International call ups.
NY Red Bulls v Toronto FC (7:00 ET)
Just like DC, Toronto will be hoping that their opponents don’t use them as their whipping boys. Toronto are nine points away from the team above them and below them so their ninth place looks a certainty barring a miracle run.
The Red Bulls are joint top on 45pts and will kick off well after the result of the Impact game is known and with Kansas City not playing this weekend will know exactly what they need to do.
Any kind of result on Saturday night will extend the unbeaten run to ten as the Red Bulls find their feet at the right time of the season. All this was done without Tim Cahill who may return, but if you were Petke, would you risk him in a game you would expect to win anyway.
Philadelphia Union v Houston (7:30 ET)
As the season runs down teams like Houston and Philly will be relying on having decent runs from now until the end of the season. The Union are currently in the play off zone but are only two points ahead of today’s visitors who are not.
It doesn’t take a soccer expert to understand that in order to win games you need to score goals and goals are something which has been hard to come by just recently for the Union, netting once in their last four. When it has been three months since your top scorer has scored then you know you have problems, even with the International call up it’s bad.
If Union fans think that’s bad they should try putting on an orange jersey and sit down with a Dynamo fan. The best start to the season happened and now it has totally wasted away to the position they now find themselves in, outside the playoff berth. This has draw written all over it but if someone can grab the initiative in the match it may just be the catalyst needed to finish the season off right.
Chicago v New England (8:30 ET)
What an incentive for Chicago this game is. A win on their home ground and it could propel them up past their opponents in the Eastern Conference and, if Philly win their game, into a playoff place.
It will also end their three game winless streak and exact revenge on the Revolution for the previous two losses to them this season. That’s another thing, they need to find the net against New England, something they haven’t managed to do after two meetings this season.
For the Revolution the importance of the game is not lost on them either. After last weeks defeat to the Impact it would be the start of a bad run if they were to also lose tonight too. Seeds of doubt would be sewn and that is most unwelcome at this particular point in the season.
Colorado v FC Dallas (9:00 ET)
We have been assured that this game will go ahead and that the Rapids will be looking to keep in that play off position. I am sure the Galaxy will sweep aside DC and cannot see Chivas breaking Portland so it will be important FC Dallas leave the flooded Colorado empty handed.
I think this could be the match of the day with both teams currently on fire with the Rapids having just the one loss in eleven games and Dallas getting seven points from the last nine to hopefully end what was a forgettable mid season.
Chivas USA v Portland (10:30 ET)
Chivas are bouncing along the bottom of the Western Conference and realistically is where they will find themselves at seasons end. Portland however do still have much to play for and with the fewest losses in the League it certainly bodes well. If you have a good defense then it gives the players confidence to get points where once they wouldn’t have got any.
That said if they get a win tonight it will be their first away win since May, which is a major factor as to why they do not find themselves further up the table.
The Timbers need to make games like this start to count as the league is cramped from the playoff positions on down. From position three down to position eight we currently have six points the separation. So when you play the basement boys you’d better secure all three of those points.
San Jose v Vancouver Whitecaps (10:30 ET)
Both teams currently find themselves out of the playoff positions but as I said in the Chivas preview, the teams are so close on points that third and eighth position could very easily switch after contrasting runs. San Jose will be looking forward to this game more than the Whitecaps in the current situation. It is home for starters and despite their position they have been on a very good streak at home, a win tonight would extend it to seven.
It will be a tough ask for Vancouver and when everyone wakes up Sunday morning I think they will see the Earthquakes and Whitecaps switched places with San Jose that much closer to a post season spot.
