By BRYAN ROBISON
A couple of possible playoff matchups take place today, as the MLS season winds down, entering the final six weeks of the season. The hottest club in the league had been the Columbus Crew, until they faced a setback against the New England Revolution ten days ago. They will look to return to the win column today as they host the New York Red Bulls, who have not played in well over two weeks.
Meanwhile, up north in Montreal, the Impact will play host to the Chicago Fire, who have come on very strong over the last two months, vaulting to second place in the Eastern Conference. After an undefeated August, Montreal will look to continue their impressive debut season, as they sit three points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Also taking place today is one of the final matches for the Cascadia Cup, as the Seattle Sounders will travel to JELD-WEN Field to take on the Portland Timbers. Despite their struggles this year, Portland leads the standings for the trophy, with seven points over second place Seattle, which has four points.
In a critical Western Conference matchup, FC Dallas will take on the Vancouver Whitecaps, as Dallas looks to continue their improbable playoff run. Sitting four points behind Vancouver for the final playoff spot out west, Dallas will look to pull within one point of the Whitecaps with a win tonight.
Here is today's MLS schedule:
1 p.m. - MLS Live/Direct Kick - Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union
3:30 p.m. - NBC - Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders
7 p.m. - MLS Live/Direct Kick - New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew
7:30 p.m. - MLS Live/Direct Kick - D.C. United vs. New England Revolution
8:30 p.m. - MLS Live/Direct Kick - Chicago Fire vs. Montreal Impact
8:30 p.m. - MLS Live/Direct Kick – FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
10:30 p.m. - MLS Live/Direct Kick - Chivas USA vs. San Jose Earthquakes
———————————–
If you will be watching tonight's action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below (and also be sure to follow us on Twitter at @soccerbyives for updates on all of today's matches).
Enjoy the action.
Should the off the ball foul on alan gordon be ruled a PK. I thought it should have been an indirect free kick, no?
But more importantly, MLS Team of the Week? The FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The dc united game is not on in the local market and that just $%&*=%$#!
It seems like Seattle’s owners are relatively wealthy, make a fair amount of money from the team, have a good relationship with the Seahawks, and generally do things to make the fan experience better.
If it weren’t for the Seahawks, would their ownership just foot the bill and pay the extra costs to have a grass field and maintain it? The only argument I’ve ever heard for why EPL teams in LONDON have grass but the PNW doesn’t is $.
All of what I said about sea seems even more true about Portland since they aren’t really cotenants- what’s preventing them from putting in grass? I feel like USMNT money and more friendlies during the summer could offset a lot of the cost.
Wow just the most blatant penalty I’ve seen in awhile and Salazar blows it horribly. Chara takes a full swinging kick into the Achilles after beating Rose to a ball at the goal mouth and nothing called. Just as blatant a penalty as you’ll see and Salazar ruins another game.
This f’r ruins almost every game he touches
GL was literally on for 15 seconds. Poor guy.
Any talk on bringing in a grass field?
I think the Cascadia Cup should be renamed the Fake Turf Battle.
every time i see songo’o play i’m incredibly impressed
They announced a few weeks ago they are widening the field 3 yards in the off season.
it used to be a minor league baseball stadium. they built a new baseball stadium to move that team away. then they renovated this stadium to be soccer only
I still can’t get over how narrow the Timber’s field is. Isn’t that a brand new stadium, made just for soccer? Why don’t they have a standard size field? The lack of space makes the game so much more cramped.
Okugo’s a great player, and he kinda got shuffled around at the beginning of the season, but given the choice I’d rather have Califf/Valdes in the back.
Agree about Le Toux, but aren’t they already overstaffed at center back? Unless they expect Okugo to move sooner rather than later.
Salazar, the official who seems to most enjoy finding a way to make himself the center of attention, is assigned to a derby match being broadcast on NBC.
This should be interesting (i.e. painful.)
Toronto and Philly playing for pride today. I wonder what the chances are that Hackworth can buy back LeToux & Califf… he can start by making cap room by selling off Adu – although his price tag is once again based on potential only. Maybe he can find a team that wants to take a chance.