The 10th weekend of the season sees Major League Soccer finally embrace this thing we call Sunday, with four games breaking the league’s little known “one, maybe two on that other day” rule. Here is our quick look at the coming, refreshingly balanced MLS weekend.
Note: All rankings reflect PST’s weekly MLS Power Rankings.
YOUR NBCSN GAME OF THE WEEK
#12 Portland Timbers vs. #4 LA Galaxy, Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Eastern (NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra)
Last week: Portland claimed its first victory of the season, 3-2 over D.C. United; LA lost at Colorado, 1-0
Bruce Arena has never beat Caleb Porter! Granted, they’ve only faced off three times, but Portland took seven out of nine points from the Galaxy last season, including all six at home. Don’t look at that as a sign of dominance, though. Look at it for what it was: Two close games breaking Portland’s way.
In LA’s first visit to the then-JELD-WEN Field, the now departed Andrew Jean Baptiste headed home a stoppage time winner - not exactly a formula for world domination. In the second, only Maxi Urruti’s mini Zlatan moment separated the sides:
But that was when Portland was good. In 2014, we’ve been treated to the “I can’t tell if they’re good” version of the squad. The soccer’s not that bad, but the record’s pretty gross (1-3-5). Even after last week’ s break through, it’s impossible to get a read on this year’s Timbers.
Against a Galaxy team that’s also better than its record (2-2-2), last week’s performance won’t be good enough. Robbie Keane’s not going to have a second consecutive off week, and Landon Donovan (right) is coming agonizingly close to his record-setting goal. With Juninho, Stefan Ishizaki, and Baggio Husidic bringing the team’s new midfield together, Bruce Arena has the tools to pick apart another mistake-prone performance.
Matchup to watch: Galaxy DM Juninho vs. Portland number 10 Diego Valeri; or, Rob Friend versus sportsmanship. I can’t decide.
EAST VS. WEST CHALLENGE
#7 New England Revolution vs. #1 Seattle Sounders, Sunday, 6:00 p.m. Eastern
Last week: New England won in Toronto, 2-1; Seattle came back to beat Philadelphia, then Dallas.
#14 Houston Dynamo vs. #3 Real Salt Lake, Sunday, 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Last week: Houston beat Chivas before knocking off Columbus; Real Salt Lake went goonie on Chicago.
Okay, Western Conference: You really think you’re that much stronger than the East? Prove it. Your best against two of the teams at the top of the East. You’re on the road, but if you’re really that much stronger, you should be able to get results.
For the Sounders, it’s their first trip East since winning at Olympic Stadium earlier this year. Riding a five-match winning streak, the likes of Clint Dempsey (right) and Obafemi Martins will test a defense that’s been without reigning Defender of the Year Jose Goncalves. Get around destroyer Andy Dorman, and the Revs’ central pair can be had.
At BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston will look to extend its second two-match winning streak of the season, but RSL won’t be as susceptible on set pieces as Columbus was on Wednesday. Still undefeated, Salt Lake’s poised to take advantage of their hosts’ quick turnaround.
Matchups to watch: Seattle destroyer Osvaldo Alonso vs. Revolution creator Lee Nguyen; Houston’s suddenly hot Will Bruin against RSL emerging star Chris Schuler.
BE AN MLS ULTZY, EMBRACE
#13 San Jose Earthquakes vs. #5 FC Dallas, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. Eastern
Last week: San Jose lost in Vancouver before drawing with Colorado; Dallas lost twice in the last seven days: to New York, then Seattle.
Wednesday in Seattle, a brutally cynical side to Dallas came out, an approach that may have been motivated by a pragmatism that’s set in after Mauro Diaz’s injury. If brutal cynicism’s going to be their thing, though, they’re going to have to take the belt from the champs. This is San Jose’s bread and butter.
Break out the bandannas; we’re going to get ultzy for this one. Over/under on red cards: 1.5.
Matchup to watch: Blas Perez vs. gravity
BACON AND SKINNIES AND HORN RIMS ALL IN ONE
#6 Columbus Crew vs. #9 Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. Eastern
Last week: Columbus lost at Kansas City and Houston; Vancouver beat San Jose, 3-2.
Two teams that never get much national love are among the league’s most watchable. Even last weekend against Kansas City, Columbus were stubbornly enjoyable, persisting with its possession hungry, Federico Higuain-heavy approach. If that guy does down (or, wears down), whoa are they in trouble.
Vancouver on the other hand are less about style than pure talent. The club has this huge stable of attackers Carl Robinson essentially rolls out in shifts. At the start of a game, Kekuta Manneh (right), Darren Mattocks, and Sebastian Fernandez could be flying around Pedro Morales. By the end you’re chasing Russell Teibert, Nicolas Mezquida, Erik Hurtado. With Matias Laba winning balls in the middle and Morales flinging them all over the park, that’s a lot of talent to throw behind Columbus’s bombarding fullbacks.
After watching the Crew midweek in Houston, I liked them to end their six-match winless streak on Saturday. After taking a second look at how these teams matchup, I’m not so sure.
Regardless, this has the potential to be the weekend’s most entertaining match. If Robinson sticks with his 4-2-3-1 (virtually guaranteeing Manneh will start), skip New York-Chicago for this one.
Matchup to watch: Vancouver vs. the road (3 wins at BC Place; none away from home)
CLIMBING BEANSTALKS
#18 Montreal Impact vs. Sporting Kansas City, Saturday, 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Last week: Montreal is coming off a bye week; Sporting beat Columbus, 2-0
#8 New York Red Bulls vs. #16 Chicago Fire, Saturday, 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Last week: The Red Bulls took three points out of Dallas; Chicago blew a two-goal lead at home against RSL.
While Houston and New England deal with two Western Conference titans, the East’s other leaders face the bottom of the conference. There is, however, some (possibly thin) reason each could slip up.
Two weeks ago in New England, Kansas City gave the type of tepid performance we occasionally see from them on the road. If they allow Montreal to stay as close as the Revolution, another freak red card (penalty, injury, et al.) could be their undoing. It happens, and even once in a while, Kansas City doesn’t do enough to prevent it.
For New York, there’s a problem matching up against the Jeff Larentowicz, Benji Joya, and (coming in from the left) Harry Shipp midfield. Patrick Nyarko can create chances against Roy Miller, and Quincy Amarikwa will be back. The Red Bulls main recourse: Chicago’s error-prone central defenders against a gelling forward tandem.
Matchups to watch: Sporting’s wingers against whomever starts at left back for Montreal; Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Bakary Soumare trying to lock down Bradley Wright-Phillips and Thierry Henry at Red Bull.
COFFEECOFFEECOFFEE!
#17 Philadelphia Union vs. #15 D.C. United, Saturday, 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Last week: Philadelphia lost at Seattle, 2-1; D.C. United fell in Portland, 3-2
#10 Colorado Rapids vs. #19 Chivas USA, Sunday, 3:00 p.m. Eastern
Last week: Colorado beat Los Angeles before drawing at San Jose; Chivas was blown out by Houston
According to an article from the world-famous Mayo Clinic, 400 milligrams of caffeine per day “appears to be safe for most healthy adults.” That’s four cups of coffee, 10 sodas, or two energy drinks.
All I’m saying is you have options, especially if you’re willing to risk a fast heartbeat, muscle tremors, or a little insomnia. Those are the potential drawbacks to excessive caffeine use, but on rare occasions, the trade-off could be worth it.
Matchups to watch: D.C. defensive midfielder Perry Kitchen against Philadelphia creator Vincent Nogueira; Colorado attacker Deshorn Brown against center backs Bobby Burling and Carlos Bocanegra.