MLS Gamethread: Final Week

Well the Sounders are in, but there is all sorts of uncertainty about where they'll end up in the table. Here are the games that matter. (Hint: All of them matter)

Saturday

12:00 PM Philadelphia Union-Sporting KC (NBCSN)
The first game may be the most important. If Sporting Kansas City can go into Chester and beat the playoff-desperate Philadelphia Union, they will have 58 points to close the season and leave only the Red Bulls a chance to catch them for the Supporter's Shield, as well as home field advantage. It's been a funny series for both teams, with the visiting side coming out the winners each time this season. That bodes poorly for a Philadelphia team sitting just on the outside.

1:00 PM Toronto FC-Montreal Impact (Univision)
Montreal spends the final week of the season playing to keep their playoff spot against their big, terrible rivals.

2:30 PM San Jose Earthquakes-FC Dallas (NBCSN)
San Jose has stayed alive despite the odds for weeks, and it comes down to the final weekend. If they can beat the emotional Dallas team, they'll need to wait on Colorado and hope that their Canadian opponents come out on top. More likely, Colorado will lock up their spot in the second season and a result against Dallas won't matter (if they can find one).

7:30 PM Chivas USA-Portland Timbers (Root)
Portland still has a shot at the Supporter's Shield. Sure, they need New York to lose outright and for Sporting KC to drop points as well, but they get a great opportunity at 57 points to get home field advantage throughout. One can only hope they get bitten by their old, poor road form and Chivas sneaks up on them for a surprising result.

Sunday

10:30 AM DC United-Houston Dynamo (NBC)
In this clunker, the whole country will get to see just how far DC United has fallen. The raccoon-infested grounds of RFK Stadium play host to the nationally televised audience as well as one team still alive for MLS Cup. Houston is actually looking pretty good for a playoff spot; they are tied or a point back of three teams ahead of them, and one of those clubs is playing the Red Bulls. They just need to manage to beat the worst team in the league, and they're in. If a tie is all they can manage, they'll be rooting hard for Columbus to knock off the Revolution.

1:00 PM Columbus Crew-New England Revolution (MLS Free Stream of the Week)
The Revolution will know what it must do by the time they take the field. If Houston and/or Philadelphia win, they'll know that a win is required to hold on to their spot.

2:00 PM New York Red Bulls-Chicago Fire (UniMas)
One of the most interesting games is relegated to the least interesting channel. New York has the opportunity to win their first hardware in their long history. It'll be fascinating to see if (how) they choke it away this year. Chicago doesn't have a secure playoff spot, so this is the start of the postseason for them. They may very well meet this team again if fortune smiles upon the Windy City.

5:00 PM Vancouver Whitecaps-Colorado Rapids
There are two entities rooting for Vancouver in this match. One is the San Jose Earthquakes, who require the Rapids to lose to get into the postseason. The other is Martin Rennie, whose job is likely forfeit either way but will have a better shot if his team came up one result short. This is the ONLY game we won't be able to watch without an MLS Live subscription this weekend.