VANCOUVER, BC – The final month of the 2015 Major League Soccer regular season is upon us – and it's shaping up to be a wild one.
To kick things off, we have a full slate of action this weekend, including a number of matches that could have major implications on both the MLS Supporters' Shield and Western Conference playoff races. With that in mind, here are five games I’ll be keeping an eye on:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3:
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew SC (4 p.m. PT on MLS Live)
This one should be fun.
Not only are New York and Columbus two of the highest scoring teams in the league, they’re also both among Vancouver’s biggest Eastern Conference contenders for the Supporters’ Shield.
The Red Bulls and ‘Caps are currently second in the Supporters’ Shield race with 48 points, and the Crew are right behind them with 47. Root for a draw or Columbus win.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7:30 p.m. PT on TSN)
Duh.
The ‘Caps visit San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night knowing that a win would clinch their berth in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs – it would also vault them back into the top spot in the MLS standings. A loss, meanwhile, would move the sixth-place Quakes to within just two points of Vancouver.
Don’t expect this to be a walk in the park, either. Whitecaps FC have never beat the Quakes in San Jose.
Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City (7:30 p.m. PT on MLS Live)
As it stands, Sporting KC and Portland occupy the final two playoff positions in the Western Conference – and they’re both hot on Vancouver’s trail.
Coming into the weekend, SKC trail Vancouver by just three points and Portland by just four.
Root for a draw.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4:
FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo (2 p.m. PT on MLS Live)
Coming into the weekend, FC Dallas trail Whitecaps FC by just one point – they also have a game in hand. Oh, the ‘Caps and Dallas also have two massive matches just around the corner.
This is a no-brainer: root for a Houston win.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy (6:30 p.m. PT on TSN2)
These two Western Conference heavyweights conclude the weekend with a match that will have major implications on both the playoff and Supporters’ Shield races. The Galaxy currently sit atop the MLS standings with 50 points. Seattle, meanwhile, are fourth in the West with 46 points.
It’s a little trickier to say who to root for in this one. On the one hand, the ‘Caps will want to keep Seattle behind them. On the other, they’re still chasing LA for the top spot.
When it doubt, root for a draw – or just sit back and watch them go at it.
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