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MLS Week 33: A Look Ahead

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Photo by Kelvin Kuo/USA TODAY Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

With just two weeks left in the MLS regular season, there is still plenty of drama left as club’s jostle for postseason berths and positioning.

The race is especially tight in the Western Conference, as just six points separate third from seventh. The team on the outside looking in entering the weekend is the San Jose Earthquakes, who will look to bash their way into the postseason picture Saturday in a matchup with Sporting KC.

In their path are the Portland Timbers, who hold the sixth spot ahead of a clash with the second-place LA Galaxy. Meanwhile, conference-leading FC Dallas faces off with Real Salt Lake as the team jostles with the New York Red Bulls for the Supporters’ Shield.

The East looks a bit more clear cut, although positioning remains a major point of contention. Just four points separate second from sixth, making the highly-coveted first-round bye a major target for each of the East’s top contenders.

Here’s a closer look at all of this weekend’s MLS action:

ORLANDO CITY vs. NEW YORK CITY FC (Friday, 7 p.m., UniMas)

Now eliminated from postseason play, New York City FC can take their fellow expansion side down with them Friday night.

Orlando City will need a win Friday night to remain alive, but it will have to find one under difficult circumstances, as Kaka and Brek Shea are set to miss out due to suspension. Helping Orlando’s case will be rookie Cyle Larin, who decimated NYCFC for a hat-trick in July.

NYCFC, meanwhile, will look to continue to lay foundation for next season having already been eliminated. However, three victories prior to last outing’s defeat to D.C. United have helped breed optimism now that Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard have gotten settled into life in MLS.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. SPORTING KC (Friday, 11 p.m., UniMas)

The San Jose Earthquakes will need a win Friday night.

Currently three points out of the playoffs, the Quakes will need to defeat Sporting KC to ensure life for another day. Without Marc Pelosi and Victor Bernardez due to suspension, the Quakes will have one eye on a potential Portland Timbers slip-up in Los Angeles.

Sporting KC, meanwhile, find themselves in an interesting situation. Currently, the club sits just four points above the red line while also sitting just three points out of a first round bye. Friday’s result will provide a bit of clarity as the U.S. Open Cup champions look to forge an easier path to a second trophy this season.

TORONTO FC vs. COLUMBUS CREW (Saturday, 2 p.m., MLS Live)

Toronto FC is postseason bound for the first time in club history. Now, TFC can make the the team’s maiden voyage a bit easier by pushing towards a first-round bye.

TFC currently sits second in the Eastern Conference, good for a spot in the conference semifinals. However, one of the team’s that can leapfrog them comes to BMO Field Saturday in the form of the Columbus Crew.

Without Jozy Altidore due to the forward’s midweek red card, TFC should be boosted by the return of Michael Bradley, who was rested in Wednesday’s victory.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. MONTREAL IMPACT (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., MLS Live)

In a potential postseason preview, the New England Revolution take on the Montreal Impact Saturday night.

The Revs enter the weekend fourth in the Eastern Conference, although a leap into the highly-coveted second position is still a possibility. Sitting sixth, the Impact also have an outside shot of jumping all the way to a first-round bye, as the Canadian club currently sits just four points off the pace.

It certainly won’t be easy, though, as Montreal will be without Andres Romero until next season due to an ACL injury. Yet, Didier Drogba remains, as the Ivorian’s strike-rate of nine in nine will threaten a Revs team that hasn’t won in three outings.

REAL SALT LAKE vs. FC DALLAS (Saturday, 9:30 p.m., MLS Live)

After defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps midweek, FC Dallas maintains status as the Western Conference’s top dog. However, that status will face a test in the form of a trip to Rio Tinto Stadium.

After knocking off the Whitecaps, FCD sits level with the New York Red Bulls for the Supporters’ Shield with just two games remaining. Currently, FCD maintains a three-point lead over the LA Galaxy atop the West as the club looks to secure, at worst, a first-round bye in the postseason.

The postseason looks to be an unlikely end result for Real Salt Lake, which looks to be in severe danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. RSL will need a victory Saturday, while a Portland Timbers loss will help open the door for a final week push.

D.C. UNITED vs. CHICAGO FIRE (Sunday, 2 p.m., MLS Live)

D.C. United returns to the field Sunday after seemingly finally putting its late-season woes behind them.

Riding a 0-5-1 skid to that point, D.C. United finally picked up a victory last time out by knocking off New York City FC at RFK Stadium. Despite all of their missteps, D.C. remains in the chase for a first-round bye as the team’s stars, excluding Davy Arnaud, continue to return to health ahead of the late-season push.

Sunday’s clash will see D.C. face off with the lowly Fire, who remain last in MLS by a four-point margin.

NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION (Sunday, 3 p.m., MLS Live)

After a midweek slip-up, the New York Red Bulls find themselves in a battle for the Supporters’ Shield.

The Red Bulls entered the week as favorites, but a midweek loss to Toronto FC has seen the club move level with FC Dallas atop the league standings. Games against the Philadelphia Union and Chicago Fire are set to close out the Red Bulls’ season, offering a very realistic shot at a run towards the club’s second trophy in three seasons.

Their opponents, the Union, have no such ambitions following the club’s U.S. Open Cup defeat to Sporting KC. Eliminated from playoff contention, the Union are building for next season, one which will see a regime change following the dismissal of executive Nick Sakiewicz.

HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS (Sunday, 5 p.m., ESPN)

Riding a seven-game unbeaten streak, the Seattle Sounders can lock up a postseason berth with a victory on Sunday.

Despite a season marred by injuries, the Sounders have remained in the hunt for a postseason berth. Centerback Chad Marshall could provide a welcome return to action, helping to stabilize a back line that will remain without Roman Torres.

In their path will be the Houston Dynamo, who enter Sunday’s clash knowing it’s win or go home. Although playoff hopes remain bleak, the Dynamo, who will be without Raul Rodriguez due to suspension, still have an outside shot, but they will need a victory Sunday to avoid elimination.

LA GALAXY vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS (Sunday, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1)

Currently sitting just above the red line, the Portland Timbers’ battle for a postseason spot continues Sunday at StubHub Center.

A midweek victory over Real Salt Lake pushed the Timbers into a favorable position, up three points on the San Jose Earthquakes with just two games to play. However, without Alvas Powell due to suspension, the Timbers will have their work cut out for them as they travel to StubHub Center to take on an LA Galaxy team that has lost just one home game all season.

Giovani dos Santos, Baggio Husidic and A.J. DeLaGarza all remain questionable for the Galaxy, who remain alive in the hunt for the Supporters’ Shield. Three points back with two games to play, the Galaxy will need a victory Sunday to hold onto any hope of claiming the regular season crown.

Comments

    • love seeing this. i was skeptical about him coming to the league at an older age but he has not only been on a tear on the pitch, but he us contributing to the culture of the team like no other dp has.. as a galaxy fan, respect and kudos.

      Reply

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