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It is time for some MLS action, and with a weekend schedule that has 8 matches (1 on Friday night, 7 on Saturday) it is a great way to head into the 4th of July week. Both conferences have teams in striking distance of first place, so a lot is on the line every time teams take the pitch, so lets get started.
Chicago Fire at Sporting Kansas City - 6:00pm MT - NBC Sports
Well I didn't get a chance to publish before this one was over, but the 1-0 win by the Fire doesn't surprise me as the Fire are on a run right now as they rack up their 3rd straight win, while SKC have back to back losses and have scored just one goal in their last 3 matches.
New York Red Bulls at Toronto FC - 5pm MT - Galavision
One might think this one will be a wash for the Red Bulls, but both teams are 2-1-2 in the last five matches and all of a sudden TFC have found some confidence coming off a big midweek win over Montreal. The Red Bulls topped DC last weekend but this is a team still fighting against injuries, still the Red Bulls are 2-3-2 all time at Toronto, and are the better team at this point, so I will pick NYRB for the 3-2 win, but this could be an upset in the making.
the rest of the weekend action after the jump:
Montreal Impact at D.C. United - 5:30pm MT - MLS Live & Direct Kick
The Impact are 1-7-1 on the road with 18 goals allowed, while D.C. United are 6-1-2 at home with 20 goals for. Despite their loss at New York last weekend DC is still a very good team, and Montreal is still an expansion side but with their new DP Marco Di Vaio could they find a way to show better than their 3-0 midweek loss to Toronto FC? They might but this is DC's match to lose and I think they win it 2-1.
Seattle Sounders at New England Revolution - 5:30pm MT - MLS Live & Direct Kick
There may not be two teams in MLS that need a win worse than these two, the Revolution have an excuse as they are in the middle of rebuilding, but for the Sounders this was supposed to be their year. Now the Sounders owners are sounding a bit panicked, will that serve as motivation or just make things worse? My head says that this one ends up a 0-0 or 1-1 draw and I am going with that.
Real Salt Lake at Columbus Crew - 6:00pm MT - CW30, MLS Live & Direct Kick
You can check out my full match preview here, but the nickel version is that I am picking a 1-1 draw in this one.
Philadelphia Union at Houston Dynamo - 6:30pm MT - MLS Live & Direct Kick
The Union shocked the league last week with their 4-0 win over Sporting KC, but can they get result at BBVA Compass Stadium where the Houston Dynamo are 3-0-2? They Dynamo have been very average this year as their 5-5-5 record shows, and I think they are ripe for the picking as a young Union side won't be afraid to throw everything they have at the Dynamo. A bit of an upset as I pick the Union to get a 2-1 win.
Portland Timbers at Colorado Rapids - 7:00pm MT - Altitude
The Rapids are 1-3-1 in their last 5 after a very good start and now they are talking about formation changes due to a laundry list of injuries. The Timbers found their mojo last weekend against the Sounders at home, but they are 0-4-2 on the road this year with just 2 goals scored and 8 allowed. The Rapids have just one clean sheet in their last 7 matches, this has all the hallmarks of a match that will end in a 1-1 draw.
Los Angeles Galaxy at San Jose Earthquakes - 8:00pm MT - ESPN 2
The Galaxy have put together a 3 match win steak and all of a sudden people are forgetting about their troubles, but with Beckham suffering rejection in his bid to play at the Olympics and Landycakes putting his house up for sale, one has to wonder if the band is out on a farewell tour? The Quakes have established themselves at the top of MLS, based on late goals and a never say die attitude, this is a team that simply doesn't know how to quit and most of the time they don't know how to do anything but win. Could Alan Gordon once again get a late goal to hand San Jose another result, yup I think he will 2-1 Earthquakes.
OK, there is my look at all the MLS action of the weekend. I am going to also toss out a 3-1 pick as the USWNT will get a big win over the CWNT in their send off match for the Olympics.
OFF MY SOAPBOX