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Three Big Storylines:
- The Vancouver Whitecaps continue their trend of Friday night kickoffs (third time in the last five weeks) with a trip to Texas to play the Houston Dynamo. The Whitecaps are coming in on a two-game road winning streak and will be looking to accomplish the rare three-game road winning streak. Last week it was a late goal by substitute Brek Shea that led to the win while the week before it was Cristian Techera with a late winner in Montreal. Will it be Fredy Montero’s turn this week?
- One team in each conference is starting to separate themselves from the pack. In the West FC Dallas is the last unbeaten team in MLS sporting a robust 5-0-3 record that’s good for 2.25 ppg. And in the Eastern Conference Toronto FC are now on a five-match winning streak after beating the Columbus Crew on Wednesday. TFC has been impressive in continuing the streak during a very busy time in their schedule. After Wednesday’s win over the Crew they had earned 12 points in the span of 13 days.
- After a tepid few weeks, the National TV schedule for MLS is making up for lost time with five games on US National TV providers this weekend. UniMas returns to its normal Saturday schedule with Colorado v San Jose. ESPN2 has added the Seattle Sounders trip to Chicago on Saturday night and Fox Sports 1 has a double header on Sunday following the early ESPN game.
From a Sounders Point of View:
Both Houston and Vancouver like to absorb pressure and counter attack to create chances. Both teams can not effectively play that style on Friday night and both teams are above the Sounders in the table. Let’s hope that neither team adapts and we see an awkward nil-nil Draw.
Don’t look now, but expansion laughingstock Minnesota United have righted the ship and are now above the Sounders in the Western Conference standings. They host TFC on Saturday (Noon, MLS Live). Here’s hoping TFC run that winning streak to six.
Orlando City are sitting on a robust 2.0 ppg with a 6-3-0 record and have recently added Kaka back to the attack featuring Cyle Larin. They host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday (4 PM, MLS Live). Let’s go Orlando!
Sunday sees a trio of cross conference matchups where Sounders fans will firmly be looking east for their rooting preferences. Let’s go with Atlanta United over the Portland Timbers in Portland followed by the New York Red Bulls beating the LA Galaxy in New Jersey and capped off with New York City FC travelling to Texas and giving FC Dallas their first loss on the season.
National TV Listings:
Colorado Rapids v San Jose Earthquakes
Date/Time: Saturday, 1:00 PM
TV: UniMas
Streaming: Univision Deportes & Facebook Live
Chicago Fire v Seattle Sounders
Date/Time: Saturday, 6 PM
TV: ESPN2
Streaming: Watch ESPN
Portland Timbers v Atlanta United
Date/Time: Sunday, 1 PM
TV: ESPN
Streaming: Watch ESPN
New York Red Bulls v LA Galaxy
Date/Time: Sunday, 3 PM
TV: Fox Sports 1
Streaming: Fox Sports Go
Date/Time: Sunday, 5 PM
TV: Fox Sports 1
Streaming: Fox Sports Go
This is your Sounder at Heart MLS Week 11 open gamethread. Watch with us.