For the first time this season, we enter a full MLS stretch where teams are playing three games over the course of 8 or 9 days, thus the cheering guides will be coming in hot and fast. We’re about to find out which teams have real depth and which ones don’t. Remember, I’m here to tell you who not who will win, but rather who to root for in games so that it best benefits Austin FC.
Games That Make You Go Meh
Toronto FC vs Orlando City – Saturday @ 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
NYCFC vs Columbus Crew – Saturday @ 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Charlotte FC vs Club de Foot Montréal – Saturday @ 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Chicago Fire vs FC Cincinnati – Saturday @ 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Inter Miami FC vs D.C. United – Saturday @ 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Atlanta United vs New England Revolution – Sunday @ 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Time for the shit that matters.
Colorado Rapids vs LAFC – Saturday @ 2:30 p.m. (Univision/TUDN/Twitter)
The poor Rapids. They had to play a mid-week U.S. Open Cup match at Minnesota, which on the surface doesn’t seem to be so bad. That is, until you realize that the game was abandoned Wednesday night after just 18 minutes due to this.
They then had to finish the game on a hot and steamy Thursday afternoon where the local humidity hit 87% during the game. And on top of all of that, they lost late while up a man. So what’s Colorado’s reward for enduring all of this madness? Oh, just playing the best team in MLS 48 hours after exiting the pitch in St. Paul.
We’re rooting for Colorado. A Rapids win makes Austin’s Wednesday match against LAFC that much bigger. Godspeed Raps.
The Side: Colorado Rapids
ATXFC Impact Watch Scale: 5
Vancouver Whitecaps vs San Jose Earthquakes – Saturday @ 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
This almost fell into the “meh” slate of games, but San Jose just couldn’t let that happen. The Quakes picked up three points at home last week and are beginning to look like a team that could make a late run at the playoffs if they keep gelling. For Austin’s long term sake, we wouldn’t mind them dropping points to a Vancouver side that will battle for the Wooden Spoon all season.
The Side: Vancouver Whitecaps
ATXFC Impact Watch Scale: 2
Philadelphia Union vs New York Red Bulls – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Wait, an Eastern Conference game is on the watch guide?! Well yeah, when it affects the Supporter’s Shield race, we pay attention. ATXFC enters this week still second in the Supporter’s Shield standings with 20 points, just three back of LAFC. The Union and Red Bulls are right behind Austin with 19 and 18 points respectively. And did I happen to mention that these are the two best teams in the East right now? It’s undefeated at home Philadelphia vs undefeated on the road New York. Here’s hoping both of those stats stay true for one more week.
The Side: A fun draw
ATXFC Impact Watch Scale: 3
Houston Dynamo vs Nashville SC – Saturday @ 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Remember how I’ve been saying that Nashville was going to start making noise once they finally got to play some home games? Well folks they’ve gotten four points in two weeks and now sit in 6th place. That’s trouble for teams looking to make the playoffs or even ones with aspirations of hosting a match come October.
On the other side, Houston seems to be in a bit of a tailspin having lost three straight MLS matches. Normally I’m all about “FUCK HOUSTON,” but this week it’s more prudent to root for a draw.”
The Side: 0-0 sounds good
ATXFC Impact Watch Scale: 3.5
Portland Timbers vs Sporting Kansas City – Saturday @ 9:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
If I didn’t think Portland still had a run in them somewhere, this game would have fallen in the “meh” category. But this is what Portland does. They start slow, catch fire, make the playoffs, and make everyone miserable, so I’m forced to pay attention for a while longer. Sporting is bad. Like, not good at all. If PT <clap, clap> FC blows this match, I’ll stop believing.
The Side: Sporting KC
ATXFC Impact Watch Scale: 2
L.A. Galaxy vs FC Dallas – Saturday @ 9:30 p.m. CT (ESPN+)
Here’s a high stakes match that no one had on their bingo card back in February. Both teams enter with 19 points, just one point back of Verde and four back of LAFC in the West. We need them each to drop points here.
The Side: Draw
ATXFC Impact Watch Scale: 4
Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota United FC – Sunday @ 3:00 p.m. (ESPN)
It’s time to see if the real Seattle stands up in MLS play. No more CCL to worry about. No more U.S. Open Cup concerns. Everything for the Sounders is now MLS focused. That’s bad news for everyone else. The Sounders still have a few games in hand after some scheduling conflicts and can start making their way up the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile Minnesota looks like a squad that will hang right around that 7th and final playoff spot all year. Ideally, holding off Seattle for as long as possible is best for ATX.
The Side: Looooooooonsssssss
ATXFC Impact Watch Scale: 3
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.