MLS Cheering Guide – Week 33

Welcome back class.  How was your time away?  Did you get to do some traveling?  Maybe a little relaxing?  I hope so, because HOLY CRAP THE PLAYOFFS ARE JUST TWO WEEKS AWAY!

If you need a refresher, here’s where things stand in the West.

Austin FC can wrap up the 2^nd seed with a point in either of it’s final two game or if Dallas drops a point during the final weeks.  But we still need to know who to cheer for because the race for 4^th – 7^th is wild, which directly affects the playoff bracket and our potential first round opponent.

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

Games That Make You Go Meh

Games With Playoff Implications That Don’t Affect ATXFC

Toronto FC vs Inter Miami CF – Friday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
New England Revolution vs Atlanta United – Saturday @ 12:30 p.m. (TUDN/Unimas/Twitter)
Charlotte FC vs Philadelphia Union – Saturday @ 4:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Club de Foot Montreal vs D.C. United – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
FC Cincinnati vs Chicago Fire – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls – Saturday @ 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
NYCFC vs Orlando City – Sunday @ 12:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

Games That Matter

Colorado Rapids vs FC Dallas – Saturday @ 2:30 p.m. (TUDN/Unimas/Twitter)
If FC Dallas doesn’t win this game, Austin FC will secure 2^nd place in the West without needing to kick another ball during the regular season.  Easy call here.
The Side: Mountain Men
ATXFC Impact Watch Score:  5

San Jose Earthquakes vs Minnesota United FC – Saturday @ 9:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Oh Minnesota, how I feel for you.  The Loons find themselves clinging to the final playoff spot, two points ahead of RSL.  Minnesota hasn’t been playing good soccer lately, going 0-4-1 in their last five matches (remember kids, in MLS, it goes wins/loss/draw).    That form is not what you want when you are trying to squeeze into the playoffs and now have to face the chaos agents known as San Jose.  I want that form to continue, but I also want the Loons to snag a draw to increase the odds of facing either them or RSL in Round 1.
The Side: A chaotic 3-3 match
ATXFC Impact Watch Score:  4.5

L.A. Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake – Saturday @ 9:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Biggest game of the week.  The Galaxy are one point clear of 6^th & 7^th place, while RSL are two points behind that final spot.  An RSL win pulls them level with L.A. on points, but the Galaxy would hold the tie-break.  This feels like an absolute must win for both teams.  Me, I like to see other fan bases stress out on decision day.  Gimme that draw.
The Side: Tie me up daddy
ATXFC Impact Watch Score:  4.5

Portland Timbers vs LAFC – Sunday @ 2:00 p.m. (ABC)
LAFC are battling for the Supporters’ Shield.  The Timbers are just battling to make the post-season.  This should be a good and fun match on national TV, and if ATXFC needs a result one way, its probably a Portland win.  That’s not a team I want see in Round 1.
The Side: The Other “Weird” City
ATXFC Impact Watch Score:  4.25

Sporting Kansas City vs Seattle Sounders – Sunday @ 4:00 p.m. (FS1)
You may have missed, but an under-manned Seattle side drew at home this week against FC Cincinnati, dealing a huge blow to their playoff chances.  Now a red-hot Sporting KC can deliver the final knock-out and force Seattle to miss the tournament for the first time in since joining MLS.  I would very much like to see that, because playing Seattle in the playoffs still scares the shit out of me.
The Side: Inferior BBQ
ATXFC Impact Watch Score:  4.5

Nashville SC vs Houston Dynamo – Sunday @ 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Nashville could host home playoff game.  Nashville could also be the 7 seed and be playing at Q2 Stadium in Round 1.  That’s how crazy things are right now in the West.  Personally, I would like for Nashville to secure the 4-seed for two reasons:

1. I like other matchups better in Round 1.
2. It would put Nashville on the other side of the bracket and they could give LAFC fits.

The Side: Honky Tonk Men
ATXFC Impact Watch Score:  4