There have already been two games played this week, but MLS Matchday Six gets into full swing on Saturday with some very good intra-conference match-ups.
The marquee match-up this weekend pits the Chicago Fire against the Columbus Crew. Yes, I know, the Crew hasn't won a game yet, but Columbus is coming off a bye week and was playing better before the bye. Now the champs face a Fire team that is coming off a disappointing draw vs. KC and still dealing with lineup issues as head coach Denis Hamlett tries to balance the Fire's wealth of talent.
The second-best match-up is between inter-conference foes as New England travels West to puts unbeaten record on the line vs. a Real Salt Lake squad reeling from an awful showing vs. New York.
Here is a rundown of the weekend's matches, as well as some top individual match-ups to watch:
MLS Matchday Six Schedule
SATURDAY
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7pm- FSC- Chicago Fire at Columbus Crew
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9pm- Direct Kick- New England Revolution at Real Salt Lake
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9:30pm- Direct Kick- Los Angeles Galaxy at Colorado Rapids
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10:30pm- Direct Kick- FC Dallas at Chivas USA
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10:30pm- Direct Kick- San Jose Earthquakes at Seattle Sounders FC
SUNDAY
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3pm- Telefutura/MSG- D.C. United at New York Red Bulls
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5pm- Direct Kick- Kansas City Wizards at Toronto FC
Best XI Match-ups to Watch
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Chad Marshall vs. Brian McBride
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Cuauhtemoc Blanco vs. Brian Carroll
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Wilman Conde vs. Alejandro Moreno
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Shalrie Joseph vs. Kyle Beckerman
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Pablo Mastroeni vs. Landon Donovan
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Sacha Kljestan vs. Dave Van Den Bergh
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Bobby Convey vs. Osvaldo Alonso
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Traveling Screaming Eagles vs. the ESC
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Jeremy Hall vs. Rodney Wallace
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Claudio Lopez vs. Marvell Wynne
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Freddie Ljungberg vs. Darren Huckerby
What match are you most looking forward to? Which individual match-up is the one you'll have your eye on this weekend?
Share your thoughts on this weekend's MLS matches below.
I’m interested in the Wynne/Lopez and Marshall/McBride match-ups for MNT call -ups.
Hey, Ives. When do you think Hamlett will figure out that Rolfe belongs on the pitch? He owns the Crew at Crew Stadium since he’s been in the league.
You have Freddy Ljungberg against both Convey and Huckerby. I don’t think that is possible because the San Jose pair play on opposite sides. In fact I don’t think either match-up will happen as Ljungberg will play in the center.
ESC?? Never heard of them..
guy mcperson-
While the ESC is a respectable-sized group when stacked up against other MLS supporter’s clubs, the Barra Brava, Screaming Eagles, and La Norte combined surpass it by thousands. At a typical game in DC, over 2,500 SE’s and BB’s will sit in sections 131-139 and 231-237. La Norte has shrunk considerably since the seats at the North end of the stadium were removed to make room for the Nationals (and what an investment that was!), so they don’t make much of a difference (only about 20-50 people on a good day), but I admire them for sticking with it and not just joining the larger clubs! They also help bring a better atmosphere tot he “Quiet Side” at RFK.
I doubt that ESC frequently surpasses 1,000 or so per game, so they fall somewhere in the middle, but nowhere near DC supporters. We are still the bets in the league, and the 2nd in terms of numbers (I don’t know statistics about Sounders’ supporter’s clubs, so I can’t really include them yet).
Get used to travelling, Screaming Eagles. You will rack-up a lot of frequent flyers miles when you become St. Louis United.
Posted by: JonnyG | April 24, 2009 at 05:28 PM
Cute. But at least we have the distinction of NOT being the Red Bull New York Red Bulls of New Jersey.
MVK – TFC and Dallas had a home and away last week. This is the second time around for KC and TFC.
TFC has four major supporters groups probably numbering well over 1,000 active members. We sent 2,000+ to Columbus.
Posted by: bgnewf | April 24, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Yea. TFC’s support was brought into question by just about everyone, so thanks for your imput. It was truly appreciated.
Haha. Or not. Maybe there’s a youtube video of the story.
its crazy how the crew started..shows that sigi is a very good coach cuz last years squad is same as this years but they do not look anything like last year under sigi.
Good matchups this weekend. Fire have proven that just about any team can steal a point from them but, indeed, they have yet to drop all 3. Who know what Crew side will show up so at this point I’m just entertained to see some big name matchups, just wish I had FSC.
Let’s go Royals…first loss dealt to Stevie Nicol & company
Can we really compare Claudio Lopez and Daren Huckerby? No disrespect to the Englishman, but I don’t think the disparities in their respective levels of quality hardly make them great match ups.
Nordecke and Fire Fans will be interesting to say the least. Especially for what the game means to the Crew right now.
Looking for 3 in a row at home at Rio Tinto.
mEtRoBoY4eVer,
Nice video. I can only see RBNY growing hugely in support after RedBull Arena.
Can anyone defeat the Fire is the question of the week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbk7zmZqnfU
real support group
isaac in tampa,
ny is playing on a new york oriented channel, its on MSG a new york sports channel and a spanish speaking station. Chicago Columbus is on FSC one of the main soccer channels in the US so I’m not sure what you’re complaining about.
^^^^^^^^^what he said^^^^^^^^^
im ready for some super metro oi oi oi
ESC is the best support group and thats final. If you think diffrently its because you are what people call a hater. ESC is all heart and passion , when metro win we win when they lose we lose. we travel no matter where they play. we chant no matter what the score is. It’s not about the numbers its about the heart. Red Bulls!
DC United waives Francis Doe and signs Avery John!!!!!!
MVK – TFC and Dallas had a home and away last week. This is the second time around for KC and TFC.
TFC has four major supporters groups probably numbering well over 1,000 active members. We sent 2,000+ to Columbus.
Get used to travelling, Screaming Eagles. You will rack-up a lot of frequent flyers miles when you become St. Louis United.
Obviously the “Traveling Screaming Eagles” since the ESC can’t even match La Norte with or without their drum.
DC fans always outdo the locals who even bother to show up for Atlantic Cup tilts. Not much of a match-up.
However, you are correct that the Hall/Wallace confrontation will hold the interest of more than a few observers.
Will this KC vs TFC game be the first rematch of the season? I am guessin but am not sure… Wiz have been playing like crap and getting results, weird, opposite will probably happen Sunday in all likelyhood
GO SOUNDERS.
No love for the Atlantic Cup?
Zakuani vs Jaqua – who is the producer?
What are the biggest supporter’s clubs in the MLS? I know the ESC are the largest supporter’s club for the red bulls, but does there size compare to the barra brava or not. Because at games it seems like it doesn’t
the fire will get the lead…. the question will be WILL THEY KEEP IT 🙁
Can we please have a team other than NYRB on national tv every game?
Huckerby is most likely not going to play due to a sore hip.
I think of all these matchups, i look forward to the Joseph vs Beckerman clash. Who will control the midfield? Haha this has a boxing match feel to it.