What to Watch This Weekend: The Return of Burgundy Edition (and some Gold Cup too)

Major League Soccer is BACK!!!!

OK, OK, OK it was back on Wednesday because this league is clueless when it comes to actually understanding what the International Break is, but nevertheless...MLS is back.

In addition, the Gold Cup has reached the semi-finals stage.

Sounds like a great weekend of footy to me, and here is what I am watching for this weekend

2017 Gold Cup

Costa Rica vs United States of America—Saturday, 8:00 PM MDT (Fox Sports 1, Univision Deportes)

Is anyone feeling good about this one? I mean, really? The USMNT did not look particularly good against El Salvador, a team that resorted to biting and nipple twisting.

Yeah, it was that ugly. But take away the tactics, and the USMNT still did not look good. Their defense is atrocious and if not from a massive save from Tim Howard early in the match, the USMNT would have found themselves down a goal early. The defense has been bad and the finishing has been worse. It’s not good when defenders are scoring your goals for you.

All that being said, Costa Rica is here on a late own goal, so it’s not like they are lighting it up.

But for the USMNT to win, they will need to find a gear that has been missing in the bulk of this tournament.

Jamaica vs Mexico—Sunday, 7:00 PM MDT (Fox Sports 1, Univision Deportes)

This is a rematch of a fairly uninspiring match from the Group Stage where Mexico pretty much dominated but could not find a way past Andre Blake. Will things be different in this one? And does either team care?

I think Jamaica does and they have the horses to run with El Tri, but I struggle with the idea that Mexico loses this one. I think that the Soccer Gods and questionable refereeing, will see them in the finals of the 2017 Gold Cup.

MLS

Toronto FC vs Colorado Rapids—Saturday, 5:00 PM MDT (Altitude, MLS LIVE)

This is the only other match this weekend that I am concerned about. The Rapids come off the Gold Cup break—in theory—fairly healthy and ready to go. Yes, they are missing Howard, but Zac MacMath is no slouch in goal. There should not be a drop off there.

But with every Rapids team it seems to always come down to goal production. Can they score enough to win games? They are playing a Toronto FC team that is down Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, and Justin Morrow, but still possess firepower that most teams can’t stop. And I do not think that even if the Rapids are 100% healthy that they can stop Toronto.

And the Rapids have not won on the road this year.

And Toronto has that Sebastian Giovinco guy as well. (If he isn’t injured from the Wednesday night match.)

This could be ugly for the Burgundy Boys.

So what are you watching this weekend? Anything exciting? Hit us up in the comment section and let us know!