These are the weeks I love. Austin FC plays Sunday night while every other game except for one is on Saturday, meaning we can take in a full slate of MLS while sitting around in our underwear with a beer in hand. The chaos that is the Western Division standings leaves us a lot to pay attention to, so let’s get right to it. If you’re new here, there are two things you need to know:
- We are choosing who to cheer for, not who will win/lose
- All ratings are on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most impactful towards ATXFC.
Games The Make You Go Meh
NYCFC vs Inter Miami CF – Saturday @ 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Orlando City vs Philadelphia Union – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Toronto FC vs FC Charlotte – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Columbus Crew vs New England Revolution – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
D.C. United vs Club de Foot Montreal – Saturday @ 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Games That Matter
FC Cincinnati vs Nashville SC – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Hey, a throwback USL rivalry! Cincinnati is, wait for it………….currently in a playoff position! They are pretty good at home and luckily for them, that is where they will meet Nashville for this match. The Coyotes dropped back to 5th in the West after their loss to LAFC. I still think they’re dangerous, but something seems off with Nashville. Here’s hoping they right the ship this week, because I’d rather Nashville take a playoff spot than Seattle or Portland.
The Side: Nashville SC
ATXFC Impact Score: 3.5
Houston Dynamo vs Minnesota United FC – Saturday @ 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Houston saved their season with a road win at San Jose last week and are just two points out of a playoff spot. They are just dangerous enough to make anyone’s night a headache and I think they may do that to a Loons team flying high after doing this during the midweek:
That’s right. Minnesota soccered the holy hell out of a Premier League squad. And before you say anything, Everton played their projected starting XI. But it also cost Minnesota, as Emanuel Reynoso picked up an ankle injury during the match. The Loons are unbeaten in their last five league matches and have soared to 4th place. We’re OK with that trend continuing.
The Side: EPL Conquerors
ATXFC Impact Score: 3
Sporting Kansas City vs LAFC – Saturday @ 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Normally I would write this off as a loss for Sporting and move on. But new LAFC addition Giorgio Chiellini made an interesting comment after beating Nashville last week that boiled down to this:
“It’s too hot here.” Y’all, it was below 90 degrees at kickoff.
The expected high temperature at kickoff in Kansas City? A nice 98. Oh, and as a reminder, LAFC still must play away at all three Texas venues in August and early September.
I still think LAFC walks out with a win, but I’m not totally convinced that they can stand the heat. We’ll take any points they can drop in the race for the Shield.
The Side: The Cauldron
ATXFC Impact Score: 5
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Chicago Fire – Saturday @ 9:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
The ‘Caps are in a battle with their Cascadia brethren, all of whom are in 8th – 10th but within a point of the post-season. This one is short and simple: would you rather play Vancouver in the first round or Seattle/Portland? Easy answer for me.
The Side: Vancouver
ATXFC Impact Score: 4
Seattle Sounders vs Colorado Rapids – Saturday @ 9:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Colorado are just three points out of the final playoff position, yet they feel so much further back. However, the Rapids are unbeaten since ATX’s July 4th comeback and seem to be playing a bit better. Meanwhile Seattle is riding the struggle bus hard. They’ve lost three straight and were shut out in each of those matches. For weeks I’ve been saying that the Sounders would end up just fine by October, but now I’m not so sure. The attack is lifeless and the team just looks lost. Best case scenario is that they stay wandering in the woods because they are still dangerous and I do not want to see Brian Schmetzer coaching at Q2 Stadium until next season.
The Side: Colorado
ATXFC Impact Score: 4
Real Salt Lake vs FC Dallas – Saturday @ 9:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
RSL find themselves in the knife fight for the last two home playoff spots. They are currently in 3rd place and may have turned a corner last week after a lackluster run of form. Copa Tejas runners-up FC Frisco have fallen all the way to 6th and a loss this weekend probably puts them on the outside looking in. And you know what?
The Side: Fake Salt Lake
ATXFC Impact Score: 3
Portland Timbers vs San Jose Earthquakes – Saturday @ 9:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Portland, a squad left for dead at the international break, have stormed back into the playoff picture and sit just one point away from the final spot. The Timbers haven’t lost since play resumed in mid-June and now get to host a struggling San Jose side. Here’ hoping there’s a reversal of fortune.
The Side: San Jose Earthquakes
ATXFC Impact Score: 3.5
L.A. Galaxy vs Atlanta United – Sunday @ 8:30 p.m. (FS1)
If there’s one team I absolutely do not want to play in the first round besides Seattle, it’s the Galaxy. L.A. has had Austin’s number this year, but for whatever reason, Chicharito and company have not put it all together and I think there is a good chance that they miss the playoffs entirely. Their visitors Sunday, the Five Stripes, seem to be rounding into form a bit with four points in their last two matches. Atlanta has looked much better since Austin beat them down and Josef Martinez called everyone out in the post-game press conference. Keep that energy going.
The Side: ATL
ATXFC Impact Score: 4
Uncle Tony P.
Uncle Tony P. is a lifelong Austin FC supporter and overall handsome son of a bitch who always has a full supply of mustard on hand for his Verde friends.