By JUSTIN FERGUSON
Week 26 of Major League Soccer will wrap up on Sunday evening with three quality matchups, including the highly anticipated Seattle vs. Portland rivalry match later tonight.
Sunday’s action will start in Los Angeles, where Chivas USA will host the New York Red Bulls. Chivas USA are winless in four straight matches after last month’s narrow win over fellow cellar dwellers Toronto FC. On the other end of the spectrum, New York can reclaim first place in the Eastern Conference with a road win today over Chivas, a side they have not defeated since 2010.
Out East, two teams in the middle of the conference’s tight playoff race will square off at Gillette Stadium. The Philadelphia Union and the New England Revolution have split their earlier two meetings this season, with the home side posting a shutout win in both matches. The host Revolution will be hoping that trend continues, as they would move into a tie with Houston for the fifth and final playoff spot with a victory on Sunday night.
Last but certainly not least, the marquee match between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers will wrap up this weekend of MLS action. Clint Dempsey is expected to start tonight for Seattle, and his first home match as a Sounder could not come on a bigger stage. Between the clubs’ intense Cascadia Cup rivalry, the massive sellout crowd at CenturyLink Field and the Western Conference playoff implications, tonight’s match has the potential to be the league’s game of the year.
Here is a rundown of Sunday’s MLS schedule:
5pm – UniMas – Chivas USA vs. New York Red Bulls
7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union
10pm – ESPN2 – Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers
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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.
N’SYNC came back before D. Rose.
#TRUTH
Someone needs to brake Kah’s leg before he injures one of our national team players.
Kah shouldn’t even be in the game right now (second yellow=red), the THUG!!!
This game is an embarrassment to the MLS.
Not a bit of skill bit plenty of cheap shots. Looks like 1996 all over again.
All jokes aside it really is. Horrible refereeing.
The same guy should have seen 2 different straight reds. It’s just so funny you have to laugh.
How is that dude still playing? He comes in late from the side and scissors Johnson with clear malice and finishes it with a kick out. Then intentionally knees him in the head later during a dead ball.
First half was good, this half has just been foul after foul.
Certainly NOT the fault of the 67K+ fans there!!!!
Yeah, the ref started calling the game way too tight, protecting Dempsey for sure. And to ‘ve fair, Portland started out with like 3 after-the-play cheap shots on him.
EJ showing his gamish side.
LOL
God this ref is such a ridiculous joke. He was looking right at Johnson and he didn’t see that dude just knee him in the head?
Did EJ bang Kar’s girlfriend or something?
Perfect example of the homorism we’ll see for Seattle and Dempsey.
Dempsey tries a bike, misses completely and wrecks the Portland player and it’s not even a foul. That’s a dangerous play. Period.
League has to protect their huge investment.
Dude, you sound like me when I was fifteen watching the Jets games. Take off the tin foil hat. There’s no conspiracy here
Are you sure that wasn’t you watching yesterday’s Jets game? Because that had all the marking of a conspiracy.
Jokes aside–all major sports leagues fix their outcomes in some manner. Hard to forget the NBA’s scandal of match fixing or even in our sport–in Europe and South America. Remember the South Korean World Cup was fixed?
Nobody has ever–in the history of soccer–fallen for even a single Eddie Johnson crossover. Not a single one.
I think I saw it once. Maybe twice. Once a year, maybe.
He fell asleep watching a video of C. Ronaldo.
He does have that one move that works for him.The one where he steps over it with his right and pushes it to the byline with his left.Pulled it off in this game and vs Bosnia.
Stepover, stepover, bad pass. Make an EJ drinking game out of that and you’d pass out by halftime.
You’re nice.
Death. Like drinking to the word, “folks” during a Presidential or VP debate.
67,000 for this match shows the true potential of US soccer.Now if only we could get this in all parts of the country.What is it about the demographic of the northwest that makes it the best attended region?
Well done, ESPN.
F**(&cking bushleague nonsense. A commercial during the soccer game. Wow.
Biggest game of the year and ESPN 2 feed has gone to hell. Nice job ESPN.
I do not approve of this commercial break!
ESPN SUCKS!!!!!!!!
EJ from Mauro!!!!! 1 nil Seattle!!!!!
I hear Eddie Johnson is really good scoring with his head.
EJ so good in the air. If only he never had to touch the ball with his feet.
So can someone explain how Alonso escaped a yellow for taking down the Timbers player from behind on the fast break?
Oh I know. MLS down on their knees for Seattle per usual.
Everyone in their right minds knows that should have been straight red, let alone yellow. Portland so lucky there. You should get on your own player. That challenge was flat out stupid.
Well seeing how that comment happened before Kah’s challenge and is unrelated what is your point?
Good thing EJ is made out of rubber after the challenge.
Portland lucky that wasn’t straight red.
MLS needs to really give yellow cards for intentional fouls from behind on semi-breaks. But that would really limit Alonso’s effectiveness.
Yeah he could have had at least one card. But dang I knew Rosales would.change the game just not so quick.
Dempsey is frustrated and throwing cheap shots and complaining to ref. unbecoming.
Oh my gosh that #2 Clint Dempsey is just an outright awful terrible player..
After his first half as a starter he hasn’t scored yet, and with the service he’s gotten he’s definitely not the player he was a loooong time ago
And his inability to play 100% of his ballls cleanly definitely means he’s not adaptable to multiple surfaces clearly showing his inflexibility
And since his team isn’t up by several goals clearly shows his lack of leadership on this squad and he definitely doesn’t belong
And can you believe he allowed himself to be fouled? What a diver, clearly only an out of form over the hill guy would resort to such tactics
And that free kick!!!??? How selfish was that of him, and he missed it!!!!
I’m beside myself….
So true!
Alexis Lallas is really dumb. How can you have super clubs in a salary cap league?
That’s his schtick. If you just never take anything he says seriously, he’s much easier to listen to.
Omar is Sexy!
Couple giveaways by Yedlin in first half. Not ready for prime time. EJ?? No bueno.
Yeah this whole game’s not ready for prime time. Hack hack hack, miss miss miss
He was amped up early, clearly. But he made a hell of a lot of outstanding defensive plays in the game. Twellman, for one, kept singing his praises. He has made terrific progress all season.
Lmao!!!!! Alexis Lola’s just called mls the most competitive league in the world of soccer
Well that is true. I think you are confusing competitive and quality. But there are far more mls teams that could win the championship than in any other league.
Yep.
Competitive means teams are competing at a very high level. Playing hard as if every game is of vital importance.
This isn’t the case in mls where over half the league makes the playoffs and the teams that don’t don’t have to worry about getting relegated. Mls is the least competitive league there is
This is not true in any league…
The english championship.
It’s possible. Almost any team could have legitimately made the playoffs at the beginning of the season.
Really entertaining first half in Seattle vs Portland. Both teams had chances but Portland probably had the best. Joseph is essentially making this 12v10 for Portland, he kills every attack when he touches the ball and his given it away cheaply many times, just awful
If Ryan Johnson could finish and Valeri curled it half inch more it’s 2-0 portland. But it’s not, I bet they get more defensive in the second half and give it away.
I could say the same about if Joseph knew how to head a ball, missed a wide open chance. Also Dempsey rubbished a good chance as well. Teams miss chances all the time
Usually not 1 on 1 with the keeper though.
All true statements…
Dempsey need to play simple. He tries to do too many cheeky things when he has the ball.
Seattle needs a SSS. That carpet is hideous.
Why can’t they put grass down on this field?
I’ve heard it’s a money issue.Cant afford to rip it up when the Seahawks start playing there in August.
Why can’t the Seahawks play on grass? Plenty of NFL teams play on grass.
Frozen pitch during winter in Seattle?
All the NFL teams that play on grass play in the Southern part of the US and are only the only tenants generally. In the fall the rain plus football would absolutely ruin the field.
Can we put a filter on this site to ban this tired argument? Every post about Seattle involves someone talking about the turf.
No. Because its horrendous to watch and to play on. Get a sss
Yes since its so simple to get a sss
Oh, also, anyone see my Revs put it over on Philly? Heck yeah.
Dempsey looks beyond poor. I’ll be shocked if he’s not benched for the upcoming qualifiers.
So he goes from being the top goalscorer under Klinsmann to sitting on the bench.In a matter of 2 months I might add.
Yeah, prolly not
Because his goal scoring record will get him in proper shape… how exactly?
My comment: Deuce is out of shape and not fit because of his transfer.
Your comment: Deuce is GAWD because… DLKJFDLSKJ.
If you’re not fit and sharp, you don’t play. Klinsmann left Landon Donovan off a team all together. You’re off your rocker if you don’t think Klinsmann will leave Dempsey out of the starting XI if he’s not in game shape.
You’re not watching the same match I am.
He was gassed after 15 minutes
Dempsey always looks gassed.Just the way he plays.
Klinsmann said in his latest interview speaking of fitness and game time “it will impact it no doubt about it” re:who he selects.He also said “you have to make compromises” regarding the same issue.I think he makes a compromise for his team captain and leading scorer.Also see Averagehurst Michael, he’s dressed four time for Augsburg in 2013 and started most of the Gold Cup at RB.
Oh and the captain of the squad aswell.
You have a hard on for Dempsey. I get it. No amount of past stats will get his fitness and form up to par by the qualifier.
You obviously can’t address the reality that he’s not fit.
Someone here is struggling with reality. That’s for sure.
Is this a joke? Deuce looks good. All his touches are clean. He’s being a bit too unselfish perhaps and the turf has killed a couple of his passes but his quality is obvious. EJ and Shalrie have been the ones killing Seattle so far.
I a-ssumed it was sarcasm as well. Too perfectly echoes the hyperbole that’s been spouted since the transfer was announced.
Dempsey has looked good to me. Routinely able to wrong foot defenders and make passes against the grain of the portland defensive movement.
No idea where “beyond poor” came from. He has looked pretty fair. Completing passes, looking to get forward, making the right runs. As a goal scorer he looks poised for a goal.
Seriously when is Alonso going to move to Europe.He’s easily good enough for a top four league.Am I correct in saying his appeal to play for the US was turned down by FIFA right?Is he not getting interest or is he waiting for his contract to run out.When a guy who is in his prime starts dominating a league he should strive to play a higher level.
Valeri is too good for this game. Ryan Johnson needs to finish that.
Seeing Dempsey in rave green still makes ny stomach turn.
It’s had to believe that stadium is in the U.S. for a domestic league game.
Hard
Let’s go deuce!
Remember here last week where they were talking up the “red hot” Earthquakes? Must have meant red cards and hot tempers.
Ha! This league is nuts. Remember when Dallas was the best team in the league?
that NYRB v Chivas match was hard to watch. That was League 1 quality at best.
Dempsey. Dempsey fought time after time again for his place on teams he played for and every time that team changed coaches. He earned his spot time after time. This process has made Dempsey the player he is today. If anyone deserves to come back to MLS on his watch it would be Dempsey. Tottenham must have rebuilding plans. Anyway, I know Dempsey stated he wanted to play in the Champions League. Maybe that changed for now. Dempsey welcome back, you will now have expectations put onto you, but coming from your background I know you feed off of that. Welcome home.
Overrated. Overrated, thy name is Dempsey.
Why did I not here you say this last year when he was having a slow start to the season?
Which was also due to lack of preseason due to transfer.
Hear
Yes. Goals are soooo overrated. Especially in the BPL. When he starts scoring in a real league, I’ll take notice.
Boom!
HAHA NY and their high paid mercenaries can’t handle lowly CUSA.
It’s as if NYRB felt threatened by the rest of the league’s inconsistency and decided they had to show MLS what real ridiculous inconsistency looks like.
“We own inconsistency”
Attn: NYRB
well what do you expect from a team with a 15 mil payroll with 80% of it going to two players.
Pablo Ramirez just said that B.Wright-Phillips is the son of Ian Wright, who coached Arsenal and England respectively.Some would say their annoying but to me these Univision guys are very entertaining.
Henry in LA and the stadium is almost empty…Embarrassing
I don’t ever recall Henry being a draw in LA. Rafa Marquez was for only his first game in LA., against The Galaxy of course. Poor job today from New York.
Red Bulls played down to that atmosphere perhaps, dropping a wild one 3-2 to Chivas. Bocanegra makes a difference in the backline in this one, and Red Bulls miss Olave when he’s out as any MLS team would. Cahill’s late effort near the end of 5 minutes of stoppage time that went 6 was cleared off the line to save Kennedy and a bad loss for NY
the game in Montreal was something, great atmosphere up there tonight. That team is good up there, play hard and fast and you can see they believe. the Dynamo aren’t my team but I like to watch Kinnear. be interesting to see what happens the next time these two teams play. that was a beatdown
Dang! Penedo came up clutch with the save. The Whitecaps player botched the kick, but Penedo made the unbelievable save.
Did Wayne Rooney get a new step dad, ummm, I meant step coach yet in this transfer season..it’s almost closing?
Guys are literally walking around the field at Dallas. At least they ran around at the awful Sunderland game.
So, yeah, this Donovan guy.
That De Ro goal was a thing of beauty!
LA Galaxy still using the empty bucket formation. Keane and Donovan both perform like a withdrawn striker. No playmaker since Cienfuegos (maybe Andreas Herzog).
Arena has those bad habits he cannot get rid of. No wonder he lost his job at USMNT
Since they lead the league in goals per game, can;t say it’s not working for them
Not saying it’s not working at MLS, but on the same standard of the EPL, Bundesliga, Serie A…he is not at those league levels…He’s got MLS firgured out for sure.
euro-twatty
that’s some smack talk for the coach that made the quarters
anyway, the tactics depend, right? Arena is hardly the first coach to play this way on the road, later in a game with a lead. this game was on the road, and an early goal. Arena does not have them play like this all the time at all, and for much of the game they pushed for the second goal. Vancouver pushed numbers forward big late.
Penedo was MOTM for me, controls his 6, quick, good fit
True.
Wrong…Beckham was a great playmaker for LA
+1.
I’m glad SN360 picked up the rest of the DC games where Comcast dropped the ball, but I’m definitely missing Dave Johnson making the calls!