With only two weeks remaining in the 2015 MLS regular season, the competition for playoff positioning in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs will continue to be fierce. To allow fans to view the most meaningful matches with playoff implications, MLS introduces its first-ever flex scheduling window in which national broadcast partners FS1, ESPN and UniMás will broadcast the match of their choice from this weekend ahead of the culmination of the season on #DecisionDay (Oct. 25).
First up on the flex weekend schedule will be the final season meeting between 2015 expansion clubs Orlando City SC (11-13-8, 41 points, East #7) and New York City FC (10-15-7, 37 points, East #8) in this week’s Viernes de Futbol doubleheader at 7 p.m. ET (UniMás). The Lions will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive in front of a packed Citrus Bowl in their final home game of the regular season. During Orlando’s current four-match winning streak, young forwards Cyle Larin and Bryan Rochez have shone extra bright, combining for seven goals. NYCFC have had a strong finish to the year as well, with Designated Player Frank Lampard notching three goals and an assist in NYCFC’s last four matches (3-1-0) dating back to September 16. Despite being officially out of playoff contention, NYCFC will still be stiff competition as the club looks to continue building its form towards 2016.
With the Western Conference playoff picture still fuzzy, the second Viernes de Futbol match between Sporting Kansas City (13-9-9, 48 points, West #4) and the San Jose Earthquakes (12-12-8, 44 points, West #6) will carry huge playoff implications (11 p.m. ET, UniMás). With a postseason berth up for grabs, Sporting KC would clinch a spot into the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win at Avaya Stadium. The spotlight will be on SKC forward Krisztian Nemeth, who bagged a brace for Hungary in a Euro 2016 qualifier and is coming off of a performance that resulted in a contender for MLS Goal of the Year. This will be San Jose’s final home match of the regular season, where they’ve gone 7-3-6 on the year and where U.S. international Chris Wondolowski has scored six of his 16 goals this campaign. The Earthquakes currently hold the sixth and final playoff spot in the West and a full three points could go a long way towards keeping them above the red line for good.
The Houston Dynamo’s (11-13-8, 41 points, West #8) postseason livelihood hangs in the balance entering its MLS Soccer Sunday showdown with Seattle Sounders FC (14-13-5, West #5) at 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes). Houston enters Week 33 trailing the San Jose Earthquakes (West #6) and Portland Timbers (West #7) by three points, making this an absolute must-win. The Dynamo can lean on several battle-tested veterans including DaMarcus Beasley, Brad Davis, Will Bruin, and Boneik Garcia to grind out a positive result in the club’s biggest game of the season. That will be easier said than done against a Seattle Sounders FC team riding its longest unbeaten streak in MLS. With Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey back at full health and mid-summer signings Nelson Valdez and Andreas Ivanshictz settled in, Seattle has recorded a 3-0-3 record in its last six games and is positioning itself for another run at its first MLS Cup.
Reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy (14-9-9, 51 points, West #2) will look to secure a top finish in the West against a Portland Timbers (12-11-8, 44 points, West #7) squad that is facing a must-win situation on MLS Soccer Sunday at the StubHub Center at 7 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Deportes). In their final home match this season, the Galaxy will look defend their home turf, where they’ve gone 24-2-7 dating back to March 8, 2014. Portland, sitting just below the red line behind San Jose (West #6) with a game in hand, will rely on MLS shutout leader Adam Kwarasey (12) to stymie the Galaxy attack along with Argentinian attacking trio Diego Valeri, Lucas Melano and Maxi Urruti to put pressure on the LA backline. With a midweek match against RSL on Wednesday, Portland have the opportunity to make up a total of six points in the standings and move itself clear above the red line.
With the Western Conference playoff picture still fuzzy, the second Viernes de Futbol match between Sporting Kansas City (13-9-9, 48 points, West #4) and the San Jose Earthquakes (12-12-8, 44 points, West #6) will carry huge playoff implications (11 p.m. ET, UniMás). With a postseason berth up for grabs, Sporting KC would clinch a spot into the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win at Avaya Stadium. The spotlight will be on SKC forward Krisztian Nemeth, who bagged a brace for Hungary in a Euro 2016 qualifier and is coming off of a performance that resulted in a contender for MLS Goal of the Year. This will be San Jose’s final home match of the regular season, where they’ve gone 7-3-6 on the year and where U.S. international Chris Wondolowski has scored six of his 16 goals this campaign. The Earthquakes currently hold the sixth and final playoff spot in the West and a full three points could go a long way towards keeping them above the red line for good.
The Houston Dynamo’s (11-13-8, 41 points, West #8) postseason livelihood hangs in the balance entering its MLS Soccer Sunday showdown with Seattle Sounders FC (14-13-5, West #5) at 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes). Houston enters Week 33 trailing the San Jose Earthquakes (West #6) and Portland Timbers (West #7) by three points, making this an absolute must-win. The Dynamo can lean on several battle-tested veterans including DaMarcus Beasley, Brad Davis, Will Bruin, and Boneik Garcia to grind out a positive result in the club’s biggest game of the season. That will be easier said than done against a Seattle Sounders FC team riding its longest unbeaten streak in MLS. With Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey back at full health and mid-summer signings Nelson Valdez and Andreas Ivanshictz settled in, Seattle has recorded a 3-0-3 record in its last six games and is positioning itself for another run at its first MLS Cup.
Reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy (14-9-9, 51 points, West #2) will look to secure a top finish in the West against a Portland Timbers (12-11-8, 44 points, West #7) squad that is facing a must-win situation on MLS Soccer Sunday at the StubHub Center at 7 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Deportes). In their final home match this season, the Galaxy will look defend their home turf, where they’ve gone 24-2-7 dating back to March 8, 2014. Portland, sitting just below the red line behind San Jose (West #6) with a game in hand, will rely on MLS shutout leader Adam Kwarasey (12) to stymie the Galaxy attack along with Argentinian attacking trio Diego Valeri, Lucas Melano and Maxi Urruti to put pressure on the LA backline. With a midweek match against RSL on Wednesday, Portland have the opportunity to make up a total of six points in the standings and move itself clear above the red line.
By: Editor
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