MLS Gamethread: Week 18

There are a few other games this week, but we all know what the important fixture is.That's why they wedged all the other games between 4:00 and 7:00 on Saturday. Hope you've got MLS Live splitscreen. By the way, don't forget about the two World Cup games this weekend, which we should have threads for here. Do you think ESPN will plug our game during the World Cup Final?

First up, the San Jose Earthquakes host DC United on national television in the treasured 11:00PM ET timeslot.

Friday

8:00PM San Jose Earthquakes-DC United (NBCSN) (DC)

Saturday

4:00PM Philadelphia Union-Colorado Rapids (Draw)

4:00PM New York Red Bulls-Columbus Crew (Draw)

4:00PM Toronto FC-Houston Dynamo (TOR)

4:30PM Montreal Impact-Sporting KC (Free Stream) (KC)

4:30PM New England Revolution-Chicago Fire (Draw)

7:00PM Vancouver Whitecaps-Chivas USA (VAN)

7:30PM LA Galaxy-Real Salt Lake (SL)

Game of the Week

Since 2009, Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy have been two of the best teams in the league each and every season. They've combined for five finals appearances and five major trophies in that span of time. Both teams sent players to Brazil, names like Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, Landon Donovan, and Omar Gonzalez. These two teams have offered a bedrock, a level of consistency that only one other team can lay claim to. Yet it looks like the window is closing for at least one of these sides. The Galaxy aren't on a playoff trajectory at this moment, age and strange personnel decisions sapping the strength of this former powerhouse. If the Galaxy want one more run, this match at home against perhaps their biggest on-field rival is where it starts. Salt Lake's offense is gimped without Alvaro Saborio, but their defense is as immovable as ever.

Again though, we know which is the truly important match