MLS Viewing Guide, Week 23

Week 23 of the Major League Soccer season is here and addition to 18 teams being in action this week, there is also CONCACAF Champions League for D.C. United (they start next week), Vancouver, Seattle, RSL and the Galaxy.  It is an exciting time in MLS even with the Rapids (more or less) out of playoff contention.

Here is the Week 23 preview:

Off This Week:  FC Dallas and New England Revolution

Wednesday, August 5

Montreal Impact vs New York Red Bulls--Stade Saputo--6:00 PM MDT (MLS Live)

Two teams in some pretty good form meet in Canada with both of them looking like playoff teams.  The Impact are winners of two in a row with the Red Bulls coming in winners of three in a row.  This looks to be a good one and I think this is an exciting draw.

Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC--BMO Field--8:00 PM MDT (MLS Live)

TFC is really a hard team to figure out.  On one hand they spent an incredible amount of money this off-season and have the fourth best PPG in the East.  On the other hand, they seem to lose games they should win and somehow pull out results when they should not.  OCSC is playing very well right now and they will give TFC everything they can handle, but this looks like a win for the home team.

Friday, August 7

Portland Timbers vs Chicago Fire--Providence Park--9:00 PM MDT (UniMas)

So the Timbers are good at home.  And the Fire struggle on the road.  So this should be a Timbers win right?  Right?  I would like to think so, but I actually think Chicago goes in and gets a shock draw.

Saturday, August 8

Toronto FC vs Sporting Kansas City--BMO Field--2:00 PM MDT (MLS Live)

TFC has a very tough week and will play a strong SKC team at home.  There will be some tired legs for the Reds, but this is a match they have to have.  And I think they win this one.

Orlando City vs Philadelphia Union--The Citrus Bowl--5:30 PM MDT (MLS Live)

Philly is a team that if they could figure out how to play together they could actually make the playoffs in the East.  But this is not a game they win and OCSC will get all three points.

Montreal Impact vs D.C. United--Stade Saputo--6:00 PM MDT (MLS Live)

The Impact are playing a very difficult schedule this week and will play the class of the Eastern Conference on Saturday night in Montreal.  I actually think they will get a win in this one and will continue their climb to a playoff spot.

Houston Dynamo vs San Jose Earthquakes--BBVA Compass Stadium--7:00 PM MDT (MLS Live)

For as odd of a season as it has been for Houston, they are still right there in the thick of a playoff berth.  They are getting a dreadful San Jose team at home and I think this will result in a win for Houston.

Colorado Rapids vs Columbus Crew SC--Dick's Sporting Goods Park--7:00 PM MDT (MLS Live)

Sigh.  I was so hopeful that the Rapids would win last week, that the defeat felt so crushing.  This is a must win for the Rapids but I do not think they have it in them to claim all three points as the team has seemed to lose its desire to play.  Win for the Crew

Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake--BC Place--8:00 PM MDT (MLS Live)

Game of the week (Sorry Sunday Games!)  I am stoked for this one and it should be terrific.  Call this a win for the Whitecaps.

Sunday, August 9

LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders--Stubhub Center--2:00 PM MDT (ESPN)

Meh.  The MLS Hype Machine Game One of the weekend.  Galaxy win.

New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC--Red Bull Arena--5:00 PM MDT (Fox Sports 1)

Meh Meh.  The MLS Hype Machine Game Two of the weekend.  Red Bulls win.