MLS Conference Finals Gamethread

Saturday

11:30AM: Houston Dynamo-Sporting KC (NBC)
Dynamo Theory Preview-Daily Wiz Preview
These two teams better shake off their exhaustion. Both clubs played overtime only three days ago, and now they face off on national television for the right to MLS Cup. This is Houston's third conference final match in three years, and a win would send them to their third straight Cup Final. Sporting will likely be content to take the series home with a tie, especially if fitness begins to become a problem. However, Houston has been very opportunistic, perhaps the best playoffs team over the last five years despite their lack of final success. Constantly a low seed, they somehow turn things on for the postseason to make teams sweat when they see the orange on the schedule.

Prediction: Houston

Sunday

6:00PM: Real Salt Lake-Portland Timbers (ESPN)
Portland comes into this match the most rested squad of the bunch, but they're up against a club that had their number all season long. Salt Lake knocked them out of the Open Cup and beat them again in Sandy, Utah. However, they did not manage a victory in Portland (every team except Montreal nods knowingly), so this first leg is key (no matter how tired their legs may be). They can't afford to go into the second leg with anything less than a lead. As the Sounders demonstrated, not getting ahead is getting behind. The thoughts of a city are behind RSL. perhaps Sebastian Velasquez can continue his run of form and Nick Rimando can be himself.

Prediction: Draw