Game Previews – MLS Week 25
This Saturday night is full of action-packed MLS games, as teams from both MLS Eastern and Western Conferences meet each other and fight for a position in the playoffs.
D.C. United vs. San Jose Earthquakes, RFK Stadium, Washington D.C. 7:00 p.m. ET
Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United (44 pts; 13-8-5) will host Western side San Jose Earthquakes whom are ranked 7th in the Western Conference and tied with Huston Dynamo at 32 points (9-10-5).
Hosts United saw their three-game winning run being put to an end last week put to an end with a 3-1 defeat to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium this last Tuesday.
Visitors San Jose are still on their road trip, after a 1-0 win at Colorado Rapids earlier this month, and an impressive thrashing of Sporting Kansas City with a 5-0 victory at Kansas this past Wednesday.
This is the only time in the regular MLS 2015 Season for these two sides to meet.
Columbus Crew SC vs. Sporting Kansas City, Mapfre Stadium, Columbus Ohio, 7:30 p.m. ET
This is an old rivalry in the Midwest, which dates back to early days of Major League Soccer. Hosts Columbus Crew are ranked third in the MLS Eastern Conference (35 pts; 9-8-8). Visitors Sporting Kansas City are also ranked third in the Western Conference (40 pts, 11-5-7).
Both sides are coming into this match with mix results, with Columbus Crew drawing against New York City FC 2-2; and Sporting Kansas suffering a humiliating 5-0 defeat at home to San Jose Earthquakes. This was Sporting’s first loss at home this MLS 2015 Season.
To date, Sporting Kansas City won the last six meetings between the two teams, where the last time Columbus Crew won was a 2-1 win at Sporting Park in 2012.
This is the only time in the regular MLS 2015 Season for these two sides to meet.
Montreal Impact vs. Philadelphia Union, Stade Saputo, Montreal, 8:00 p.m
A critical evening for both of these MLS Eastern Conference sides, as they both will need to work hard and earn points to obtain a playoff position.
Hosts Montreal Impact are ranked sixth in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference (8-9-4), tied at 28 points with New York City FC and Orlando City FC. Philadelphia Union are struggling at the bottom of the table at ninth place (24 pts; 6-13-6), above only Chicago Fire.
Montreal Impact are coming into this match after a 1-0 home loss to D.C. United, where Philadelphia Union are on a five-game winless streak, with a 3-3 draw against Chicago Fire at home last weekend.
This is the second time these sides are meeting this MLS 2015 Regular Season, following a 2-2 draw at PPL Park in June.
Chicago Fire vs. Colorado Rapids, Toyota Park, Bridgeview Illinois, 8:30 p.m. ET
A meeting between both bottom dwellers in the Major League Soccer Eastern and Western Conferences respectively. Although the season seems as a write off, both of these teams have a lot to prove and fight for to build their standing again in the MLS food chain.
Hosts Chicago Fire are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference (23 pts; 6-12-5) and visitors Colorado Rapids bottom of the West (24 pts; 5-9-9).
Chicago is back home following a 3-3 draw at Philadelphia Union last weekend. Colorado’s last 1-0 defeat at San Jose Earthquakes marks a three-game losing streak.
Visitors Colorado Rapids never won in Bridgeview.
Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders FC, Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah, 8:00 p.m. MT
Two more teams that are now on the hunt for playoff positions in the MLS Western Conference, with hosts Real looking like to least-likely contender. Real Salt Lake is ninth in the Western Conference (29 pts, 7-10-8) and has now been on a three-game losing streak, following a home loss to the Portland Timbers last weekend.
Visitors Seattle Sounders are ranked sixth in the MLS Western Conference (35 pts; 11-12-2), with a 4-0 win at Orlando City FC las week ending a five-game losing run.
This is the first meeting between the clubs this Major league Soccer 2015 Season, and they will meet again on the final week of the season.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. FC Dallas, BC Place, Vancouver, 7:00 p.m. PT
An interesting match between two strong sides, both sitting comfortably in playoff positions. Vancouver ranked second in the MLS Western Conference (42 pts; 13-9-3), and Dallas ranked fifth (38 pts; 11-7-5).
Hosts Whitecaps saw the end of a three-game winning run with a 4-3 loss at Sporting Kansas City last weekend. Visitors Dallas have lost the past two games, 2-0 at Chicago Fire and 2-1 to LA Galaxy at home last week.
The teams met previously last October, when the Toronto Whitecaps won 2-0 at BC Place.
