ASN: 4 Compelling Matches Spotlight MLS Weekend

MLS seems poised for an additional good weekend as prime groups within the Western Convention sq. off and a struggling Seattle Sounders group will as soon as once more try and cease its skid. Here is what to search for.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
August 14, 2015
11:40 AM

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FC Dallas Hosts L.A. Galaxy

A turbo-charged Los Angeles Galaxy squad that includes Steven Gerrard and Giovani Dos Santos beat a depleted Sounders group 3-1 final weekend—no large shock there. However Bruce Area’s males will face a more durable problem Saturday evening once they journey to Texas to tackle a younger, feisty, and harmful FC Dallas facet (9pm ET, MLS Reside).

FC Dallas is 2 factors behind the second-place Galaxy within the Western Convention standings however has three video games in hand. Oscar Pareja’s group has performed nicely in 2015 however is coming off a 2-0 loss to Chicago Hearth—a horrible exhibiting towards one of many worst groups within the league. 

Can FC Dallas flip it round? Will the Galaxy look even stronger as the brand new gamers are built-in into the assault? Will this recreation play a decisive position within the last standings? It must be enjoyable to seek out out.

Vancouver Heads to Kansas Metropolis

In one other marquee matchup, Sporting Kansas Metropolis will host Western Convention leaders the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday evening (9pm ET, MLS Reside). Sporting KC is in fourth place within the West however has performed three fewer video games than Vancouver and trails by simply 5 factors.

This season Vancouver has proven itself to be explosive when enjoying nicely and proper now the Whitecaps are firing on all cylinders. It has outscored opponents 10-1 over its final three video games and final weekend it demolished Actual Salt Lake 4-0.

SKC can be on a roll. Peter Vermes’ facet traveled to Ontario and took three factors from Toronto FC final weekend and on Wednesday it cruised previous Actual Salt Lake 3-1 to advance to the ultimate of the U.S. Open Cup.

Benny Feilhaber may be an U.S. nationwide group outcast however he’s completely dominant this season, scoring targets and choosing up essential assists virtually at will. The Brazilian-born, California-raised midfielder has a objective and an help in every of his final two outings.

The Whitecaps have quite a few attacking choices, together with Cristian Techera, Kektua Manneh, Darren Mattocks, and Octavio Rivero. This could possibly be a high-scoring affair.

Japanese Promise: New York v. Toronto

The perfect matchup of the weekend within the Japanese Convention will come Saturday evening when the red-hot Crimson Bulls host Toronto FC in Harrison, N.J. (7pm ET, MLS). The Crimson Bulls have carried out nicely regardless of having one of many league’s smallest payrolls. Since then, the membership’s Austrian house owners have opened up their wallets to buy Shaun Wright-Phillips and Gonzalo Veron which can enhance the offense.

Final weekend, the Crimson Bulls defeated New York Metropolis FC in an intense cross-river derby the place the Crimson Bulls reasserted its regional dominance. The win additionally put the Crimson Bulls in a terrific spot within the standings—the group is in second place, eight factors behind D.C. United., nevertheless it has 4 video games in hand.   

Toronto, then again, has been operating cold and warm all season. Whereas it’s wanting an increasing number of probably the Canadian membership will make the playoffs for the primary time in its existence, it has struggled with consistency time and time once more.

Few would argue that Toronto has the very best participant within the league in Sebastian Giovinco, however the supporting forged has been erratic. Jozy Altidore, particularly, has had a horrible summer season for each membership and nation. In the meantime Toronto’s protection is giving up 1.72 targets per recreation—worst within the league.

Seattle and Orlando Each Hungry

Whereas it might be untimely to name this a must-win recreation for each groups, Seattle and Orlando will each be determined to drag out a victory Sunday (5pm ET, ESPN2).

Orlando is in a really tight playoff race and never every thing goes its method. Montreal has performed three fewer video games and will probably be including Didier Drogba. New York Metropolis FC defeated D.C. United on Thursday and may solely get higher as Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard get into the swing of issues. For Orlando, each recreation is essential and each level is treasured.

Seattle is using a five-game shedding streak and appears utterly misplaced. The absence of Clint Dempsey to worldwide responsibility and the harm to Obafemi Martins has confirmed to be an excessive amount of for the group to beat and its lack of depth has been uncovered.

Happily for the Sounders, assistance is on the best way. Not too long ago the membership has added Panamanian ahead Roman Torres and Austrian midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz to spice up the group’s depth. Each must be welcome additions that would assist it flip issues round.