By JUSTIN FERGUSON
A massive rivalry match between the New York Red Bulls and the Philadelphia Union headlines a busy Saturday night of action in Major League Soccer.
The two rivals are meeting for the third time this season after splitting the first two matchups of 2013. Meetings between these two sides are always important, but this rubber match will have an impact on the playoff pictures as second-place New York leads Philadelphia by one point and trails first-place Sporting Kansas City by one point in the tight Eastern Conference.
Later on in the evening, Clint Dempsey could make his first start for the Sounders in his home state of Texas as the streaking Sounders visit the Houston Dynamo. The Sounders have won three straight matches to pull themselves right into the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, and they will face a tough Dynamo side that currently holds the final spot out East.
The spotlight will also be on the Colorado Rapids, who will try to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches. Colorado will host the Vancouver Whitecaps in a battle for second place in the Western Conference, giving new designated player Gabriel Torres an important night to make his potential MLS debut.
Here is a rundown of tonight’s MLS schedule:
7pm – MLS Direct Kick – Montreal Impact vs D.C. United
7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – New England vs Chicago Fire
7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Columbus Crew vs Toronto FC
8pm – NBC Sports Network – New York Red Bulls vs Philadelphia Union
9pm – MLS Direct Kick – Houston Dynamo vs Seattle Sounders
9:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Colorado Rapids vs Vancouver Whitecaps
10:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Los Angeles Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake
11pm – MLS Direct Kick – Portland Timbers vs FC Dallas
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If you will be watching today’s MLS action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.