Photo by Adam Hunger/USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
For the third time this season, the New York Red Bulls are set to clash with New York City FC on Sunday, headlining this weekend’s MLS action.
The Red Bulls are unbeaten in the previous two clashes with their local rivals and have surged all the way up to second in the Eastern Conference. NYCFC, meanwhile, remain outside the playoff picture, but will be looking to ride the momentum from the additions of Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard for a late-season run.
In Sunday’s other clash, the LA Galaxy collide with the Seattle Sounders, who enter riding a major skid that has threatened the defending Supporters’ Shield winners’ playoff hopes.
In other action, Toronto FC hosts Sporting KC, D.C. United travels to Stade Saputo to take on the Montreal Impact, and the Vancouver Whitecaps face off with Real Salt Lake.
Here’s a closer look at all of this weekend’s MLS action:
PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. CHICAGO FIRE (Friday, 11 p.m., UniMas)
Winless in four games, the Portland Timbers are rapidly falling deeper and deeper down the Western Conference table.
Still holding on to the fifth spot out West, the Timbers need to bounce back Friday night in a clash with the Chicago Fire at Providence Park. The Timbers have a favorable opponent in the Fire, who now sit ninth in the Eastern Conference based on goal differential. The Fire will be without midfielder Matt Watson, who will be suspended following last week’s red card against FC Dallas.
TORONTO FC vs. SPORTING KC (Saturday, 4 p.m., MLS Live)
Just one day after trading for the rights to Hercules Gomez, Toronto FC will do battle with the team they acquired him from.
Riding the continued heroics of Sebastian Giovinco, TFC throttled Orlando City, 4-1, midweek, as the Italian scored yet another hat-trick. With his recent goal-scoring burst, Giovinco now has 16 goals to go with 10 assists, both club records. Meanwhile, Sporting KC, who will be without Roger Espinoza for 10 weeks due to a broken leg, enters winless in two games, but fourth in the Western Conference ahead of a stretch that features five games in 15 days.
ORLANDO CITY vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., MLS Live)
Both riding frustrating losses, Orlando City and the Philadelphia Union have a chance to get back on track on Saturday.
Thumped 4-1 by TFC last time out, Orlando City will look for Cyle Larin to get back onto the scoresheet after being held scoreless last time out. Having tied the rookie record gor goals, Larin will now match up against a Union defense that has allowed a league-high 40 goals, including three in last week’s loss to the New York Red Bulls.
MONTREAL IMPACT vs. D.C. UNITED (Saturday, 8 p.m., MLS Live)
After seemingly finding its shooting boots in recent weeks, D.C. United travels north to take on a fellow Eastern Conference playoff contender.
Normally relying on the team’s defending, D.C. United has exploded in recent weeks to the tune of nine goals in two games, a tally that makes up over a quarter of the team’s season total. In their path this time stands a Montreal Impact team that remains hot, having won thrice in four games while riding the hot feet of Ignacio Piatti and Dominic Oduro.
HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (Saturday, 9 p.m., MLS Live)
Dom Kinnear returns to his old stomping grounds with both his current team and his former team on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason picture.
The Houston Dynamo and Kinnear’s San Jose Earthquakes meet for the third time this season, with both sides picking up victories in the opposition’s home building. Winless in five games, the Earthquakes are now tasked with stopping Brad Davis, who has provided assists in two straight games.
COLORADO RAPIDS vs. COLUMBUS CREW (Saturday, 9 p.m., MLS Live)
Coming off what was likely the team’s worst performance of the season, the Columbus Crew look to get back on track against one of the league’s more difficult teams to break down.
Tied for second best in the league in goals allowed, the Rapids are now tasked with stopping one of MLS’s most fearsome attacking trios in Kei Kamara, Ethan Finlay and Federico Higuain. Kamara in particular has scored 15 goals, just six less than the Rapids as a whole. Both teams will be looking to rebound following losses that put ends to three-game win streaks.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS vs. REAL SALT LAKE (Saturday, 10 p.m., MLS Live)
The Vancouver Whitecaps have a chance to extend their lead atop the Western Conference in a home match-up with Real Salt Lake.
Sitting one point ahead of FC Dallas in the Western Conference standings, the Whitecaps enter riding back-to-back wins over the Earthquakes and Sounders, while RSL saw its two-game win-streak halted in a 6-4 shootout against D.C. United. Both sides are coming off midweek CONCACAF Champions League clashes. The Whitecaps settled for a draw with the Sounders while RSL returns from Guatemala City with a victory over Municipal.
LA GALAXY vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS (Sunday, 4 p.m., ESPN)
Fresh off scoring his debut goal, Giovani Dos Santos will surely be one of several stars to take the field Sunday at StubHub Center.
Fresh off a resounding 5-1 victory in CONCACAF Champions League play, Dos Santos and the LA Galaxy are set to do battle with the visiting Seattle Sounders in a match-up of the Western Conference’s traditional powers. The visitors have fallen on hard times as of late, losing of eight of 10, and will need Clint Dempsey to lead the forward line as Obafemi Martins remains doubtful.
NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. NEW YORK CITY FC (Sunday, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1)
After claiming the first two victories in the series’ history, the New York Red Bulls have a chance to make it three-for-three in the Hudson River Derby.
Sunday’s match-up presents teams that are vastly different than those that collided at Yankee Stadium on June 28, as NYCFC enters on the heels of debuts for Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo. Meanwhile, the Red Bulls boast the addition of attackers Shaun Wright-Phillips and Gonzalo Veron, both of which could prove a nuisance to an NYCFC backline that has allowed 11 goals in the past four games.
I like the guy who said on another site for RedBull/NYCFC:
tifo should be:
OLD MAN CITY
with pic of lampard clutching his calf and pirlo in a wheelchair with grey hair at a retirement home
Good matchups on Sat but 2 absolute crackers on Sunday…The MLS season really starts after the All-Star Game
SlowLeftArm, (if you are reading)
I am not sure what you are thinking about parity not being all it is cracked up to be.
This is a great lineup of games this weekend, again.
Even if you don’t agree with me, enjoy.