author’s note: We are back with the MLS open game thread for week 5. There was no game thread last weekend because, unlike three home teams in MLS that had games last weekend, your author observes the international break. There were two USMNT game threads in case that is your thing.

Three Big Storylines

1. Standings.
   “It’s too early to look at the standings!” — Vancouver Whitecaps and San Jose Earthquakes fans who have zero points from three played, along with Portland Timbers fans, Chicago Fire fans and New England Revolution fans who have one point on the year each.
   “Points in March count the same as October!” — Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC fans who see their team with nine points through three played.
   Toronto joined the Sounders with a perfect three wins from three played to start the season with Friday night’s 4-0 demolition of New York City FC in some Friday Night MLS action. Alejandro Pozuelo made his TFC debut as their new Designated Player and is already looking like another great signing for The Reds, as he had two goals and an assist in the win.
2. D.C. United are the only team yet to concede a goal this season. Bill Hamid has kept three straight clean sheets en route to two wins and a draw in early season play. Wayne Rooney picked up right where he left off last year and has three goals to start the season and Luciano Acosta has shaken off the on-again/off-again transfer saga to Paris Saint-Germain this winter and looks like a guy who would have helped the French champions. United (DC version) travel to Orlando on Sunday to take on an Orlando City squad that is coming in off a big 1-0 away win at the New York Red Bulls last weekend. It was the Red Bulls’ first regular season home loss since July 28th of last year.
3. Finish off your weekend with a 6:00 PM Sunday night kickoff in Carson, California, where the struggling Timbers travel to take on the LA Galaxy. Both teams needed the FIFA break to address early season pressing needs. The Galaxy primarily needed an extra week to get healthy and it may have helped. Both Zlatan Ibrahimović (Achilles injury) and Romain Alessandrini (right hamstring injury) are now listed as questionable after missing time already this season. The Timbers used the time to address their defense. Coming into the weekend they are the only team to have given up double-digit goals, leaking 10 in their three games, including a 3-0 shellacking by new expansion side FC Cincinnati in their last match.

From a Sounders Point of View

It’s the opening weekend for Cascadia Cup 2019 as the Sounders head north to play the Vancouver Whitecaps. Combined through nine matches, Cascadia teams have 10 points between them. The Sounders have nine, Portland one, and Vancouver remain at zero. The Sounders will be looking to take their early season momentum into early season away points in the Cascadia Cup.

The Sounders are hosting Real Salt Lake next weekend. RSL are hosting FC Dallas on Saturday night (6PM, ESPN+). In their last game out, RSL started an MLS-record six homegrown players. If you are looking for a preview of next weekend, it might be worth checking out if the kids are all right in Utah.

National TV Listings

San Jose Earthquakes v LAFC

Date/Time: Saturday, 12:30 PM PT

TV: Univision

Streaming: MLS Twitter Free Weekly Stream, Univision NOW, Fubo TV (affiliate link)

Orlando City SC v D.C. United

Date/Time: Sunday, 3:30 PM PT

TV: Fox Sports 1

Streaming: Fox Sports Go, Fubo TV (affiliate link)

LA Galaxy v Portland Timbers

Date/Time: Sunday, 6:00 PM PT

TV: ESPN2

Streaming: Watch ESPN, Fubo TV (affiliate link)

Join the Discussion

This is your Sounder at Heart MLS Week 5 gamethread. Watch with us.