MLS: Five things to look for in Rivalry Week
Friday 26 June 2015 15:50, UK
It's MLS Rivalry Week! We preview the action as Stateside's fiercest football rivals go head-to-head.
New York City FC v New York Red Bulls: Who is better prepared to win the second New York Derby?
The first ever New York derby resulted in a 2-1 win for the Red Bulls on May 10 as Bradley Wright-Phillips netted a brace that day. At the same time, New York City were on a seven-game winless streak as they sat at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
But as is common in MLS, everything has changed just over a month later. New York City are now on a three-game winning streak and Wright-Phillips - the 2014 MLS Golden Boot winner - has not scored a goal since the last time these two met.
He also missed two penalties last Saturday against Vancouver Whitecaps, possibly raising slight doubts over his position in the starting line-up. That is while David Villa scored two for NYC away at Toronto.
Before their win on Wednesday night, the Red Bulls had lost their last four and as New York City prepare to open the upper tier of Yankee Stadium, Wright-Phillips and co. could be in for a tough evening in the Bronx.
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Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders: Can Portland beat a threadbare Seattle?
It’s the second time the two fiercest rivals in MLS will meet this season as both look to secure bragging rights over the other to lift the Cascadia Cup in October.
Seattle and Portland played each other last week in the US Open Cup and the game was nothing short of fiery. The Sounders lost 3-1 after extra time, with Clint Dempsey one of three Seattle recipients of a red card.
He ripped up the referee’s notebook and subsequently received a three game ban. That means he is out of the league rematch on Sunday night.
And Seattle could be worse off without him. In the five games Dempsey has missed in MLS this season, the Sounders have only picked up one point. His partnership with Obafemi Martins elevates Seattle’s level.
Martins is due to be sidelined for six weeks meaning Portland may be champing at the bit for Sunday to come around as they look to end their four straight losses against the men in rave green.
Before being thrashed 5-0 by LA Galaxy, Portland were one of the most in-form teams in MLS and for the first time in a long time, the Timbers could be considered favourites in this Pacific Northwest clash.
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San Jose Earthquakes v Los Angeles Galaxy: Could San Jose upset their Southern rivals?
The California Clasico has commonly been a tight affair in recent times as three of the last five match-ups have resulted in draws. June 29, 2014 was the last time a team won this contest when LA Galaxy edged it with a 1-0 away win.
It could be the same type of cagey affair this time round as both sides have been in a recent spell of patchy form.
Veterans Chris Wondolowski, Victor Bernardez and Clarence Goodson for San Jose, contrasted to Robbie Keane and Omar Gonzalez and former ‘Quake Alan Gordon all know how hostile the rivalry between these two sides can be.
And it is that experience which may be required as both teams look to move away from the mid-table Western Conference pack that they have found themselves in for the majority of the season so far.
Robbie Keane could be the key piece as he has begins to accumulate game time following a groin injury that had him sidelined for seven games straight between April and May.
Toronto FC v Montreal Impact: Can Toronto contain Montreal on the counter?
Canadian teams are showing their strength in MLS this season as Toronto and Montreal sit fourth and fifth in the East and Vancouver second in the West.
This is the first time that the teams from Ontario and Quebec have met this season. The Impact will look to capitalise on the Red’s home defeat to New York City which put an end to their club-record 3 game winning streak and the first time they have not scored since the second game of the season.
Montreal is currently on a hot streak after winning their last five of seven league games. One of the reasons being the defensive solidity provided by Belgian international Laurent Ciman and the experienced Bakary Soumare.
The Impact has proved to be effective on the counter-attacks and set pieces while Toronto will be looking for their talisman Michael Bradley to be the difference maker in the engine room both to prevent counter-attacks being launched and also create going forward.
FC Dallas v Houston Dynamo: Will Dallas continue the trend of beating Houston?
FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja will be far from happy with what he has seen from his team since mid-May. The club are returning home to Frisco for the first time in their last five games in a series where they have lost three and drawn two.
And although their slump will concern players and fans, it is not as poor as Houston’s record on the road. Owen Coyle’s men have lost their last six away from the BBVA Compass stadium after a 2-0 defeat to Portland in Oregon.
FC Dallas can take confidence from their 4-1 steamrolling of FC Dallas on May 1 as four different players got on the scoresheet in Houston.
Both teams are playing for El Capitan - a trophy which looks like cannon - but also their personal pride. Houston have not won this fixture for over three seasons, meaning Owen Coyle has the chance to alter a small bit of MLS history on Friday night.
