
This week’s edition of Viernes de Futbol heads to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for a Western Conference showdown between the Colorado Rapids (2-4-8) and FC Dallas (6-5-4) at 9 p.m. ET (UniMás). Since defeating Dallas in Texas on April 10, Colorado has started turning the corner by securing points in six of its last nine matches. The recent arrivals of internationals Kevin Doyle and Luis Solignac come at a pivotal time, as the club sits just eight points out of the Western Conference playoff picture. Their arrivals also open up both a breadth of options for head coach Pablo Mastroeni and space for the club’s season MVPs to date – Gabriel Torres and Dillon Powers. Meanwhile, FC Dallas will be looking to get back to its winning ways as they conclude a five-game road trip. The club hasn’t secured points since May 9, but a vital reinforcement has arrived in defender Stephen Keel, who last Saturday was active for the first time since suffering a foot injury last August. With captain Matt Hedges struggling with a hamstring injury and Je-Vaughn Watson away on international duty, Keel gives FC Dallas’ back line a much-needed boost.
The New York Red Bulls welcome Vancouver Whitecaps FC to Red Bull Arena for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday night (TSN2). Whitecaps FC are quelling any doubt they are not only a playoff team, but also a legitimate contender for this season’s Supporters’ Shield. Vancouver is only three points behind Seattle and two points behind D.C. United, with a game in hand on the latter. Vancouver’s Octavio Rivero and Pedro Morales have partnered to give the ‘Caps one of Major League Soccer’s most dangerous duos. They’ve combined for nine goals and six assists and will pose a daunting challenge for the Red Bulls’ defense, which has been shorthanded due to injuries and international duty as the club has lost three matches in a row. But having back defenders such as Roy Miller (Costa Rica), Karl Ouimette (Canada) and Matt Miazga (U.S. U-20s) – along with Ronald Zubar back from injury – could be a major plus for the Red Bulls.
D.C. United and New England Revolution square off in I-95 showdown
Eastern Conference leading D.C. United (8-5-4) welcome second place New England Revolution (6-4-6) to RFK Stadium in an I-95 clash to kick off this week’s edition of MLS Soccer Sunday at 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2). The Revolution snapped a six-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory against the Chicago Fire last weekend, behind goals from Charlie Davies and Diego Fagundez (watch his golazo HERE). Revs Homegrown product Fagundez became the youngest player in MLS history to make 100 regular-season appearances at 20 years and 119 days and has now scored in two straight games. United can’t wait to return to RFK as they’re 6-1-3 this season on their home pitch, though they saw a year-long home unbeaten streak there snapped two weeks ago.
RSL and Sporting KC battle in rematch of MLS Cup 2013
After both clubs had a week off last week, Sporting Kansas City (6-2-6) travels to Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time since 2013 to take on Real Salt Lake (4-5-6) and cap off MLS Soccer Sunday at 10 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes). Kansas City enters the match on a seven-match unbeaten run (4-0-3), while Real Salt Lake are looking to bounce back from a rough three weeks while missing some of its international stars. On RSL’s radar will be Sporting KC midfielder Benny Feilhaber who continues to be one of the standout performers this season, racking up three goals and two assists in his last four games and now leading in All-Star fan voting. The Claret-and-Cobalt will gladly welcome back Jordan Allen, Kyle Beckerman, Abdoulie Mansally, Alvaro Saborio and Elias Vasquez from international duty as the Utah club looks to enact some revenge on the MLS Cup 2013 victors.