Saturday
Orlando @ Atlanta 4pm - Expected 75K crowd. Atlanta feeds on disorganized defences. Cue, Orlando. Bendik will stand on his head but can't stop everything. That having been said, the Orlando offence will move the ball forward with a bit more capability then what Dallas & NER provided.
What do we want? Orlando win
What will happen? 3-2 for the home team.
Columbus @ Vancouver 7pm - Vancouver is this weeks hype team of the West. Teams in MLS tend to go on 3-4 game winning streaks, get hyped up, then lose one. Both these teams are on 5 game unbeaten streaks.
What do we want? A Vancouver win to keep an East opponent distressed
What will happen? I'm thinking a 2-2 draw.
Minnesota @ Montreal 7:30pm - the Loons defence isn't all that good and their attack tends to give the ball up. Montreal has to win. Without 3 points here, they face playing us, Atlanta & NYCFC needing to sweep those 3.
What do we want? A Minnesota win
What will happen? 3-1 for Montreal
Seattle @ FCD 8pm - FCD has been a collapse for the ages. Since word got out that managment was willing to sell Urruit & Barrios, they have been awful. Seattle is putting along but losing Morris isn't going to help - relying upon Dempsey is going to hurt them down the stretch. But, they are better then FCD.
What do we want? A lung busting draw
What will happen? Seattle 2-1 win
DCU @ Chicago 8:30pm - DCU is not fast, not methodical and in general just not good enough for MLS. Chicago has some speed, has some thought in midfield and in general is mid table MLS fare.
What do we want? A DCU win to keep a possible playoff opponent uneasy about winning at home.
What will happen? Chicago will thump DCU 3-0
NER @ SCK 8:30pm - NER's nascent playoff hopes died in Atlanta. They not only played poorly, they were outcoached by somebody who just basically throws his team out there and says, "Go!". Jay Heaps is one of the worst coaches in the league and this week he goes up against one of the most consistent coaches. SKC is in the hunt for a West crown. They know how to handle NER's dink it to the forwards approach. This could get ugly.
What do we want? We play NER in a week, so a big loss for them with more reds & more deflating of hopes
What will happen? A big win by SKC 4-1
NYCFC @ Colorado 9pm - 2nd best team in the league travels to the worst. In MLS, that's a recipe for an away win by 2 goals. Except its in Colorado and NYC has been making life hard on themselves of late. The fact Villa might be back for this one, away at altitude, tells us that NYC still thinks they could grab the Supporters Shield.
What do we want? A Colorado win, don't care how fancy it is, just no points for the away team
What will happen? A late game goal by NYC to get a 2-1 win
Portland @ RSL 9:30pm RSL is slowly turning it around but they have no margin for error. Portland wants points to keep in the top 4 in the West. Their win in NY might have started something.
What do we want? An RSL win to keep a Western opponent from staring on a roll towards the playoffs.
What will happen? 2-1 for Portland
Houston @ SJE 10:30pm - Somehow SJE is still in the race, even after looking horrible against us last week. Houston needs to right the ship a bit. Their midfield has been found out and that's hurting them.
What do we want? A dispiriting draw to keep both teams from staring on a roll towards the playoffs
What will happen? SJE responds to losing to us with a 3-1 win
Sunday
Philly @ NYRB 1pm - don't look now but NYRB is the team most likely to be displaced by Montreal for a playoff spot. Good for them they play the Union then. Philly is cannon fodder for the rest of the season.
What do we want? A Philly win. We do not want NYRB on a roll
What will happen? NYRB wins 2-0