Saturday 23rd June
Philadelphia Union vs Vancouver Whitecaps
Following a break for the US Open Cup, MLS action returns in Philly as the Union look to break their two-game losing streak in the league.
However, having triumphed 2-1 over New York Red Bulls last week, the confidence from their four-game unbeaten run may have returned.
That’ll certainly need to be the case though, as they face a Vancouver side who well and truly have their confidence back having one their last two games with one of those being a 5-2 rout of Orlando City.
In that game Alphonso Davies showed just how big of a prospect he is with a goal and three assists. Back in form along with Kei Kamara if they arrive on song they could be just too much for the hosts. Especially seeing as the Whitecaps haven’t lost to the Union in four games.
New York Red Bulls vs FC Dallas
Next up, two teams with very similar records who are separated by just three points but find themselves in very place in their conferences.
The Red Bulls are 4th in the east on 26 points while Dallas are 2nd in the west with 29 points and could go top with a win.
With this one very much being a clash of the titans it’s hard to predict which way it’ll go but one thing that should be guaranteed is goals. Bradley Wright-Phillips has been his consistent self with ten MLS goals this season whereas Dallas have a more spread out scoring base.
However, Dallas have been in great form having won their last four games in which they’ve scored eight goals.
They may struggle to keep that record up at the Red Bull arena though, a stadium where an away team has only come out on top once in the last 15 games played there.
Orlando City vs Montreal Impact
Orlando have either been very hot or very cold this season and following up a six-game winning streak with a six-game losing streak they are very cold at the moment.
Usually this season a game against Montreal would be encouraging but that’s not the case here.
Remi Garde’s side, who have climbed to 9th in the east, have reclaimed some pride with a couple of wins in their last three games.
Coincidently one of those wins was 3-0 thrashing of Orlando last week with Ignacio Piatti at the centre of it all again.
With Orlando playing in midweek, that fatigue may see Montreal take advantage yet again this weekend.
Sporting Kansas City vs Houston Dynamo
To prove they’re really the real deal this year, SKC will need to buck a massive trend this weekend.
In their last five meetings with Houston they’ll failed to win and have failed to score in three of those games, including the two most recent.
Furthermore, with Houston’s trend this season being that of giant killing they could come clutch yet again with another big win, especially as SKC’s goals have seemed to dry up having only scored 2 or more once in four games.
SKC do only need a draw out of this game to stay top however, and if they continue with their dodgy form they have that insurance for themselves.
Colorado Rapids vs Minnesota United
After finally putting an end to their seemingly eternal losing streak last week with a 2-2 draw against Chicago will hope another home game will boost them towards a victory this weekend.
The return of Dominique Badji proved to be vital as their top scorer (six goals) opened the scoring in the game and could rekindle that form this week.
With their only two wins this season coming at home this season so far, that could also help their cause however, a Colorado win in this game could be a bit too much to ask for.
As despite only being in their second season of MLS football, Minnesota have been a more promising proposition, racking up five wins so far this season.
Also, in their two meetings with Colorado, they’ve managed to stay unbeaten and they’ll be looking to keep it that way. That may be difficult against a Colorado side with newfound confidence and having conceded of three goals a game away from home this season, however.
Real Salt Lake vs San Jose Earthquakes
RSL’s season has been quite topsy-tervy, however, in recent times having have been looking up as they won three games before their loss last week.
That defeat came at the hands of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s LA Galaxy but having beaten Seattle Sounders twice in succession before that they’ve shown they can perform against some of the best teams on paper in the league.
One player they’ll need to be on form in this particular game is legend, Kyle Beckerman who’s netted four times against San Jose and could well decide the game.
San Jose, however, will feel their luck is destined to change as despite not winning since early May, their performances have really picked up recently.
In part that’s been thanks to Danny Hoesen who has impressed with nine goals this season, if he keeps up this form, he should come out on the winning side some time soon.
Seattle Sounders vs Chicago Fire
This cross-country battle sees two teams who have been less than impressive face each other.
Both have struggled for consistency of late, but Chicago look the less likely to end up on the losing side, even if Seattle are historically the better side.
Although they may have drawn their last couple of games, scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for them, netting in all of their last six games.
However, Chicago will be without their first team constant Johan Kappelhof after his red card against Colorado last weekend.
That shouldn’t be too much of a problem this weekend, however, as Seattle have been terrible in front of goal this year. Something proved as their top scorer, Will Bruin, only has three goals this season.
LAFC vs Columbus Crew
With the two 3rd placed teams in each conference this may be one of the most hotly anticipated gams of the week.
LAFC’s key player, Carlos Vela, is at the World Cup and without him many would expect them to struggle going forward but that might not be the case.
In his first two LAFC games, new signing, Adama Diomande has scored three goals, a very impressive return which immediately put him in the good books of the fans.
This addition could be vital in LAFC’s play-off charge as with Vela’s Mexico beating Germany at the World Cup, who knows how long they’ll be there.
As for the Crew, however, their star man will be with them in Los Angeles as Gyasi Zardes’ United States aren’t at the World Cup.
This’ll give them a massive boost as this season, he looks to be in the form of his life with ten goals already this season coming from a central position.
Sunday 24th June
Atlanta United vs Portland Timbers
There’s only one way that this match should be going and that’s the way of Atlanta United.
The best performing team in the league with 33 points, have somewhat rediscovered their unstoppable form and gone four games unbeaten.
In those games, marksmen Josef Martinez took his tally up 14 for the season and back in front of his home fans he should be firing on all cylinders yet again.
However, even if he is on target, Atlanta will have to work extremely hard for a win.
Portland haven’t lost since early April and have picked up four clean sheets in that time, something which has seen them rise to 6th in the Western Conference.
A win here would see them leapfrog LAFC and possibly go into 3rd place.
NYCFC vs Toronto FC
For the first time since he left for Nice a couple of weeks ago, NYCFC will take the field without the guidance of Patrick Vieira.
The MLS era begins as new manager Domenec Torrent (Pep Guardiola’s assistant over the last ten years) will be looking to build on the impressive start made by Vieira who left NYCFC in 2nd place.
Although Toronto are back to scoring goals (six in their last two games) I feel that they could slump back into their poor season this weekend.
NYCFC are yet to lose at home this season and since the start of the 2016 campaign, they’ve amassed the most regular season points in the league (139). They’ve looked unstoppable at Yankee Stadium.
However, that was under Vieira and whether that translates to Torrent, we’ll have to wait and see.
