Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (Friday, 5 p.m. PT; UniMas)
RSL vs. Colorado features a battle between the Western Conference’s second- and third-place teams, as each side continues its push to catch FC Dallas and a potential shot at the MLS Supporters’ Shield. Friday’s game is the rubber match for the Rocky Mountain Cup, with each team winning 1-0 at home. The Rapids have never won at Rio Tinto Stadium, sporting a 0-7-4 record in league play.
D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire (Saturday, 4 p.m. PT; MLS LIVE)
This is the second meeting of the season for D.C. and Chicago after drawing 1-1 on April 30 at Toyota Park. United are unbeaten in their last five matches against the Fire, who enter Saturday in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with just 23 points. D.C. currently sits in the sixth and final playoff spot in the East, just one point ahead of Orlando.
Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City (Saturday, 4 p.m. PT; MLS LIVE)
A rematch of the 2015 U.S. Open Cup final, Philly and SKC meet for just the first time in MLS regular season since April 2015, with Sporting winning 3-2 in Kansas City. The last time they met in Chester was in October 2014, in which the Union came away 2-1 winners. Philadelphia sits in fourth place in the East, while Sporting is fifth in the West.
Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. PT; TSN1)
In what’s shaping up to be one of the most entertaining matches of the weekend, Montreal is looking to even the season series after falling 2-0 at home in April. It won’t be easy considering the Impact are winless in all-time MLS play in Toronto (0-6-4) and will have to stop Sebastian Giovinco, who scored both goals in their first matchup this year. Toronto also enters on a tear, unbeaten in its last six matched (with five wins) and is getting a major boost from forward Jozy Altirore, who has a point in five consecutive games. TFC is first in the Eastern Conference with 43 points, while Montreal sits at fifth with 34.
Columbus Crew SC vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. PT; MLS LIVE)
This is the first meeting between the two clubs since May 2015, a match won by the Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium. The all-time series has been relatively even, with the two teams drawing in seven of their last nine games, but Crew SC have not beaten the Quakes since August 2009. Columbus is last in the Eastern Conference with 23 points, while San Jose is seventh in the West with 32.
Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas (Saturday, 6 p.m. PT; MLS LIVE)
A matchup of the Western Conference’s best and worst team should shape up to be more competitive than it looks on paper. This is the clubs’ third meeting this season, with Houston winning the first match 5-0 in March before drawing 1-1 in June. The Dynamo’s 5-0 win was the largest margin of victory in the Texas Derby and the most goals scored by either team. Houston and FC Dallas also met in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal in July, with Dallas advancing on Fabian Castillo’s goal. Houston drew with the Sounders on Wednesday after a 94th-minute equalizer from Seattle’s Nicolas Lodeiro, while FCD had its four-match undefeated streak snapped at Real Salt Lake last Saturday.
LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. PT, TSN1)
The teams are meeting for the third time this season. The Galaxy defeated the Whitecaps 2-0 in July after playing to a scoreless draw in April. Vancouver is currently riding a six-game winless streak in MLS play, including four consecutive losses, and has seen itself fall out of playoff contention. It sits in ninth place in the Western Conference with 30 points, while LA is in fourth with 39.
New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. PT; ESPN)
The Red Bulls are looking to avenge a 1-0 loss in April to the Revs, who were buoyed by Diego Fagundez’s 55th-minute winner. The home team has won the last five matches in MLS play. The Red Bulls enter on an eight-game undefeated streak and are led by forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has 15 goals on the year, the third-highest in MLS. New York is third in the East with 37 points, while New England sits in eighth on 27.
Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC (Sunday, 4 p.m. PT; FS1)
This is the third meeting of the year for the two clubs. They played to a 2-2 draw in May after Cyle Larin scored the game’s only goal in Orlando’s win in March. Orlando has not won on the road all season since that result in New York, however, a streak that’s now reached 11 matches. It has drawn its last four road matches, though. NYCFC is led by David Villa, whose 16 goals are tied for the MLS lead. NYCFC is in second place in the Eastern Conference with 41 points, while Orlando sits in seventh on 28, just one point shy of D.C. United for the sixth and final playoff spot.
