MLS Cheering Guide – Match Day 9

Welp, its only a few weeks until the MLS season is 1/3^rd of the way complete, which means we are almost at the time for Austin FC fans to do this:

And they would be right to do so.  I’m not going to freak out…..yet.  I’ll work up an entire standings look soon in a separate post, but the easiest thing I can stress right now is this: the next three games are HUGE if Austin wants to stay above the playoff line and start building some momentum.

But for now, let’s whip around the rest of MLS and find fun stuff to watch.

MLS Sickos Game of the Week
Club de Foot Montreal vs New York Red Bulls – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (Apple TV)
I’ve got to level with y’all.  I came thiiiiiiiiisss close to putting Austin’s matchup against L.A. in this spot.  But alas, there is one game that is somehow worse this week and for the true Sickos.  Our friendly Quebec club Montreal will host New York in a match between squads that have scored just nine goals between them this season.  Hell, Montreal has a -14 goal differential already!

6:30 p.m. Block – Apple TV (*denotes free match)
Philadelphia Union vs Toronto FC
FC Cincinnati vs Portland Timbers
New England vs Sporting Kansas City*
NYCFC vs FC Dallas*
Orlando City vs D.C. United

There’s a lot of “meh” in this early batch of games except for one match: Pigeons vs Toros.  NYCFC beat Nashville last week and gets to stay at <pick a baseball stadium in NYC> to face off against a solid Frisco side.  It’s likely that Jesus Ferreira will play limited minutes in this one after going 90 minutes in a midweek USA friendly against Mexico, thus taking some sting out of the FCD attack. 
The Side: Man City Jr.

7:30 p.m. Block – Apple TV (*denotes free match)
Houston Dynamo vs Inter Miami CF
Nashville SC vs LAFC

This block has the game of the week.  LAFC travels to the Music City to face Nashville in what should be a very interesting cross-conference matchup.  The question for LAFC is simply: how much do they want to go after this with a CCL semi-final leg coming in Philadelphia a few days later?  The defending MLS champs have been able to field strong squads in every game so far, but being this deep in the continental tournament may change the calculus for them.  That’s potentially good new for a Nashville team that doesn’t score much but doesn’t allow much either.
The Side: Rhinestone Cowboys

8:30 p.m. Block – Apple TV (*denotes free match)
Colorado Rapids vs St. Louis CITY*
Real Salt Lake vs San Jose Earthquakes*

On paper, CITY should dispatch of Colorado without too much fuss.  But there’s a weird thing about Colorado against good teams at home: they turn into a pesky bunch that won’t go away.  LAFC was fooled on April 1^st, having to settle for a scoreless draw in the Rocky Mountain air.  Watch yourself CITY.
The Side: Rocky Mountain Way

9:30 p.m. Block – Apple TV (*denotes free match)
Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota United FC*

Seattle is good, especially at home.  Minnesota is doing Minnesota things, meaning they’ll always be a tough out.  This should be a fun chess match between two of the Western Conference’s more stable teams.  But as we start to peek at the standings, its better for Austin if Minnesota drops points.
The Side: Sounder at Heart

Sunday Funday Bonus Match – 3:30 p.m. (FS1/Apple TV – Free Match)
Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire

At first I was thinking “This fucking league is making me watch Chicago on national TV?!  WHAT THE HELL?!!!”  But then I did a little digging and you know what, this game ain’t so bad.  Atlanta is a clearly better side right now, but Chicago does just enough to be interesting plus they’ve only lost once this season.  Hey, this could have easily been Austin vs Galaxy and the country should not be subjected to that mess right now.
The Side: Don’t care, just wanna watch a game and drink beer on Sunday Funday