The Seattle Sounders will take on the Montreal Impact in Quebec on Saturday (4 p.m. PT; JOEtv, ROOT Sports outside Seattle, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM), but here is a preview of other big matches this weekend. You can check out match previews of all of this weekend's action here.
New York Red Bulls vs. Colorado Rapids (Saturday, 1 p.m. PT; UniMas)
Last season’s Eastern Conference champions the New York Red Bulls came from behind for a gutty road win over Atlanta United last week to start the season strongly. The Red Bulls are now unbeaten in 17 straight MLS regular-season games (10-0-7), two behind Columbus’ all-time record set in 2004-05. New York has scored in 16 consecutive regular-season matches and averaged 2.2 goals per game, but RBNY have only won two of their last 13 contests against the Rapids dating back to 2008. The Red Bulls will then travel to Seattle for the Sounders’ home opener and championship celebration on March 19 (4 p.m. PT; FS1 | TICKETS).
The Rapids started 2017 by picking up where they left off last season. Colorado defeated the New England Revolution by yet another 1-0 score line after allowing just 32 goals in 34 games last season. Dominique Badji scored the game’s only goal, Axel Sjoberg was named to Week 1’s Team of the Week and Colorado did it all without Shkelzen Gashi, who sat out the opener with an Achilles issue. Head coach Pablo Mastroeni said there is a “good chance” that Gashi will be available against New York.
Minnesota United vs. Atlanta United (Sunday, 2 p.m. PT; ESPN2)
In the first meeting of MLS’ 2017 expansion teams and the only one this regular season, at least one will pick up its first points.
Minnesota is coming off a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Timbers last week in Portland, but will have a chance for redemption in its home opener at TCF Bank Stadium. Cristian Ramirez scored the Loons’ only goal against the Timbers, but they were no match for Diego Valeri & Co. Now with 30,000-plus fans expected and Swiss signing Jerome Thiesson arriving to help on the back line, Minnesota is hoping to leave Week 1 behind.
Atlanta United hosted 55,000-plus fans, the fourth-biggest in the world last weekend, in its inaugural MLS home match, but fell apart in the final 20 minutes to watch a 1-0 lead over the New York Red Bulls turn into a 2-1 loss. South American playmakers Miguel Almiron, Yamil Asad and Josef Martinez all looked good despite the loss, so if head coach Tata Martino can iron out some of the expansion-team kinks from last week, Atlanta may very well spoil Minnesota’s party.
LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers (Sunday, 4 p.m. PT; FS1)
The Galaxy controlled 65 percent of possession, but couldn’t do much with it in their 2-1 loss to FC Dallas last week. New signings Romain Alessandrini and Joao Pedro fared well, but FCD midfielder Kellyn Acosta proved too much to handle. The Galaxy will look to respond at home again in Week 2 and earn head coach Curt Onalfo his first win.
Portland looked every bit as dangerous as advertised when it opened the 2017 MLS season last Friday with a 5-1 demolition of Minnesota United. Sure, a huge win over the Loons in their first MLS game may not be the best barometer of future success, but Diego Valeri and Fanendo Adi were in midseason form at Providence Park. Newcomers Sebastian Blanco and David Guzman complimented an already impressive midfield corps and Darlington Nagbe had a solid performance as well. Now the question becomes: Can they do it against the Galaxy at StubHub Center.
