The Seattle Sounders return to action this weekend with their first road game of the year, at Real Salt Lake on Saturday (1 pm PT; JOEtv; KIRO 97.3 FM/El Rey 1360 AM). But there’s plenty of other MLS action on the docket this weekend, highlighted by three nationally televised matches in the U.S. and another in Canada. SoundersFC.com breaks down what you need to know about each game (all kickoff times are PT).
Orlando City SC vs. Chicago Fire (Friday, 4 pm; UniMas)
The first edition of Viernes de Futbol of the new year brings an interesting matchup between two teams still seeking their first win of 2016. Orlando (0-0-1, 1 pt.) are home for the second straight week after earning a dramatic 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake last weekend in front of more than 60,000 fans, while the Fire (0-1-0, 0 pts.) fell to New York City FC. Orlando went 2-0-1 against Chicago last year and are hopeful to get star midfielder Kaká back on the field after he missed the opener with a thigh strain.
New England Revolution vs. D.C. United (Saturday, 12 pm; MLS Live)
Last week Lamar Neagle scored his first goal since being traded form Seattle in the offseason, but it didn’t do much in the final scoreline for D.C. United (0-1-0, 0 pts.) Neagle and D.C. settled for a 4-1 loss to the LA Galaxy, and now they face a New England side that saw youngster Diego Fagundez put up a goal and two assists in the season opener. D.C. have won three of the past five regular-season meetings in this series and knocked the Revs (0-0-1, 1 pt.) out of the playoffs last year.
Montreal Impact vs. New York Red Bulls (Saturday, 1 pm; MLS Live)
Few teams in MLS were more impressive on opening weekend than the Impact (1-0-0, 3 pts.), who topped Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-2 for the team’s first road win in Canada in their MLS history. Ignacio Piatti scored two goals for the Impact. The first match was less kind to the Red Bulls (0-1-0, 0 pts.), who fell to Toronto FC in their first regular season game since winning the Supporters’ Shield last year. The Red Bulls are 4-0-2 over the past six games in this series.
Colorado Rapids vs. LA Galaxy (Saturday, 4 pm; MLS Live)
The Rapids made some midweek headlines with the acquisition of U.S. national team bone crusher Jermaine Jones, but he won’t play in this one. The former New England Revolution midfielder is still serving a six-game suspension for an altercation with a referee during the MLS playoffs last year, which means the Rapids (0-1-0, 0 pts.) will look much the same in the second week as they did on opening weekend. The Galaxy (1-0-0, 3 pts.), meanwhile, were dominant in Week 1, getting two goals and an assist from Mike Magee in a rout over D.C. United. The Galaxy have also won each of the last two games in this series played in Colorado.
Columbus Crew SC vs. Philadelphia Union (Saturday, 4:30 pm; MLS Live)
Both of these teams are still seeking their first win of the new season. The Crew (0-1-0, 0 pts.) got a gorgeous goal from Federico Higuain in Week 1, but it wasn’t enough to knock off the Portland Timbers in an MLS Cup rematch. The Union (0-1-0, 0 pts.) fell at FC Dallas and found out this week that midfielder Maurice Edu is out for an additional three to four months with a stress fracture in his left leg.
Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas (Saturday, 5:30 pm; MLS Live)
The first Texas derby match of the year comes to BBVA Compass Stadium, where the Dynamo (0-0-1, 1 pt.) drew against New England in the season opener last week. FC Dallas (1-0-0, 3 pts.) were impressive in a season-opening win over Philadelphia and are considered by some to be the favorites in the Western Conference this year. They’ve also won each of the last two games between the two teams in Houston.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5:30 pm; MLS Live/TSN2 in Canada)
Sporting KC (1-0-0, 3 pts.) are riding high after a road win over the Sounders in Week 1, and swept the two-game series against Vancouver last year. Midfielder and 2015 MLS MVP candidate Benny Feilhaber is questionable to play after missing the season opener, while offseason pickup Brad Davis will be available to make his Kansas City debut. Week 1 was less kind to the ‘Caps (0-1-0, 0 pts.), who fell to Montreal at BC Place and could miss midfielder Matias Laba with an injury.
New York City FC vs. Toronto FC (Sunday, 2 pm; ESPN2)
The first game of a nationally televised double-header on Sunday is a good one, featuring two unbeaten teams and some of the biggest star power in the league. This is the home opener for NYCFC (1-0-0, 3 pts), who picked up a win in the debut of new head coach Patrick Viera last weekend. Frank Lampard is still a question mark for this one with a bum calf, but Andrea Pirlo and David Villa both logged 90 minutes last week. Jozy Altidore (hamstring) is looking doubtful for Toronto (1-0-0, 3 pts.), but reigning league MVP Giovinco was stellar in the season opener, grabbing his first goal of the year.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers (Sunday, 4 pm; FS1)
The second game of Sunday’s doubleheader is a Western Conference showdown at Avaya Stadium, where the Quakes (1-0-0) rode yet another goal from Chris Wondolowski to a win over Colorado in the opener last week. Wondolowski how has 110 career goals, four shy of current Sounders assistant coach Ante Razov. Opening weekend was equally as kind to the Timbers (1-0-0, 3 pts.), who knocked off the Crew at home thanks to goals from Diego Valeri and Fernando Adi. The Timbers added Leicester City winger Jack Barmby this week via loan, but don’t expect to see him on Sunday against San Jose.
