MLS Cheering Guide – Week 21

Cheering guides in back-to-back days?  What is this anarchy?!

Last night couldn’t have gone much better for the Verde & Black, as Austin now sits a full 10 points clear of 3^rd place in the West.  Why does that matter?  Because if ATXFC were to finish in 2^nd, they would be guaranteed at least two home playoff matches.  Of course, with the club leading the Supporters’ Shield race, we’re aiming a bit higher right now.  And because of that lead, we’ve got some Eastern Conference games to watch this weekend!  Let’s figure out who we’re cheering for.

• All ratings are on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most impactful towards ATXFC.
  

Games That Make You Go Meh

Club de Foot Montreal vs Toronto FC – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Inter Miami CF vs Charlotte FC – Saturday @ 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Atlanta United vs Orlando City – Sunday @ 2:00 p.m. (ABC)
Columbus vs Cincinnati – Sunday @ 6:30 p.m. (FS1)
San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo – Sunday @ 8:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Games That Matter

Philadelphia Union vs New England Revolution – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Philly is leading the Eastern Conference and sits just four points behind Austin in the race for the Shield.  They play a very good brand of soccer and don’t allow many goals.  What I’m saying here is, they’re going to be a threat all year.  The Revs are fighting for their playoff lives right now and picked up a draw against the Union in May.  Let’s hope they can force Philly to drop points again.
The Side: Bruce Arena’s boys
ATXFC Impact Score: 3.5

Minnesota United FC vs D.C. United – Saturday @ 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Loons had to settle for a derby draw at home last night against Sporting KC and find themselves amid those dealing with Western Conference playoff chaos.  Spots 3 through 10 in the West are separated by just 5 points right now.  I’m actually hoping Minnesota wins this match against an Eastern Conference team.  Why?  Read about the next match…..
The Side: Loons and Lakes
ATXFC Impact Score: 3


Chicago Fire vs Seattle Sounders – Saturday @ 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Seattle……SEATTLE is currently out of the playoffs.  This is why I’m rooting for Minnesota.  I want to keep the Sounders far away from Q2 Stadium in October.  The Sounders lost 1-0 at Nashville last night and didn’t look great in the process.  They’ll stay on the road and head to Soldier Field for a game that they probably would deem a must win.  Chicago hasn’t won a match against a Western Conference opponent all season.  One can hope.
The Side: Chicago Fire
ATXFC Impact Score: 3.5

Colorado Rapids vs L.A. Galaxy – Saturday @ 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Galaxy are a weird team.  One minute they’re beating LAFC, the next they’re down 3-0 at home against San Jose (this is a real thing that happened last night in MLS After Dark action).  L.A. is starting to feel like last year’s squad: a team that should be talented enough to make the playoffs but will find a way to miss the dance.

Colorado still isn’t good, but they’re a tough out at home.  The Rapids could easily steal this match.
The Side: Colorado Rapids
ATXFC Impact Score: 3

New York Red Bulls vs NYCFC – Sunday @ 4:00 p.m. (ESPN)
The other all Eastern Conference match we care about is the Hudson River Derby.  NYCFC and Red Bulls are in 2^nd and 3^rd in the East respectively, but it’s NYCFC that is just 5 points back of Austin in the Shield race.  The last time these two hooked up, the Red Bulls smacked their Bronx brothers in U.S. Open Cup play.  This time, a nice tidy draw would do.
The Side: Draw
ATXFC Impact Score: 2

Nashville SC vs LAFC – Sunday @ 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
What I’m about to tell you is 100% true and it’s wild.

Nashville went into last night occupying 7^th place in the West.  They exited the evening sitting in 3^rd after a 1-0 win over the Sounders.

Yeah, MLS is great.  The Coyotes will stay home to host LAFC on Sunday.  We’re fighting LAFC for a Supporters’ Shield.  You know what we want here.
The Side: The One Blessed by Soccer Moses
ATXFC Impact Score: 5

Real Salt Lake vs Sporting KC – Sunday @ 8:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Three facts about Real Salt Lake:

1. RSL has a -1 goal differential for the season.
2. RSL has won just once since the international break ended.
3. If the playoffs started today, RSL would host a home game.

I say it all of the time, but damn I love this league.  RSL will play Sporting this weekend and we’re hoping those first two trends end.  I do not want RSL backsliding out of the playoffs so that Seattle or Portland can sneak in and cause chaos.
The Side: Salt Lake
ATXFC Impact Score: 2.5

Portland Timbers vs Vancouver Whitecaps – Sunday @ 9:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
They’re doing it again.  After starting the season off slow, Portland is now just one point out of the playoffs with plenty of time to make up ground.  This is a pattern for the Timbers, and it should be frightening for the rest of the league.  When Portland does this, they make deep playoff runs.   They’ll host Vancouver this weekend in a Cascadia Cup match with stakes.  The Whitecaps are only one point behind Portland, so both teams are battling for their playoff lives.  I know who I’d rather deal with.
The Side: Vancouver Whitecaps
ATXFC Impact Score: 3.5