MLS Weekend Match Previews

Published: Friday, 25. May, 2012 in category M.L.S.

The long Memorial Day kicks off on Friday with Major League Soccer getting back to action on Saturday and Sunday. Check out all the action from the coming weekend. 

Saturday, May 26

Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy, 2:30 p.m. (NBC Sports Network)

  • MLS Cup mavens: Of the last seven MLS Cup Finals, the Galaxy or Dynamo have played in five – the Galaxy in 2005, 2009 and 2011, and the Dynamo in 2006, 2007 and 2011, with the clubs meeting at last year’s championship to a 1-0 LA win.
  • Clutch Camargo: Luiz Camargo scored his first goal since coming to MLS to give the Dynamo a 2-2 draw in New England last Saturday, extending their unbeaten streak to three games. The Dynamo have yet to concede a goal at BBVA Compass Stadium.
  • Here’s a head-scratcher: The Galaxy saw their winless streak reach five games in the 1-0 loss to Chivas USA – matching the 2011 MLS Cup winners’ longest over the last five seasons.

Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union, 4:30 p.m.

  • Missing ingredient: Toronto FC is the only club not to score first in a match this season. League-wide, the club that lead initially is a collective 68-18-15 (.822).
  • When will the “W” come? Toronto FC’s nine-game losing streak is tied for fourth-longest in the MLS annals. The MLS record for a losing streak is 12 in a row, set in 1999 by the MetroStars. The first nine of those losses were in regulation time. The MLS record for consecutive losses in regulation time is 10, set in 2005 by Real Salt Lake.
  • Zac’s back-up shines: Making his first career MLS appearance – and barely able to stand by game’s end – Union goalkeeper Chase Harrison backstopped his team’s 1-1 draw with FC Dallas last weekend.

Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire, 7 p.m. (Univision Deportes)

  • Start of a streak? After going into his second professional season without a goal, Crew striker Justin Meram made it two goals in two games, netting the opener in the 1-1 draw with San Jose.
  • Gritty Grunebaum: Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum was credited with seven saves in the draw with San Jose, matching his career-high set earlier this season (May 5 vs. Portland).
  • Crew blues: The Fire have won their last three meetings with the Crew, including a 1-0 win last year in Columbus, and a 3-2 victory at Toyota Park. The Crew have not won in Bridgeview since 2006 (seven visits).

D.C. United vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.

  • Cozy Confines: D.C. United are riding a seven match unbeaten streak at RFK Stadium, having not lost at home since their season opener on March 10 against Sporting Kansas City. The streak is the longest of any club in the league this season.
  • De Ro putting on a show: With his two goals against Toronto FC, Dwayne De Rosario now has five goals this year – all in the last six games. In 32 games since coming to D.C. United, De Rosario has 18 goals and 14 assists and is two goals shy from 100 regular season goals, which would make him only the seventh MLS player to achieve this feat.
  • Superb Sene: Saer Sene hit for his second two-goal game of the season in the Revolution’s 2-2 draw with Houston. Sene has four goals in the last four games.

Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas, 9 p.m.

  • Blas is back: Blas Perez netted his fourth goal of the season in the 1-1 draw with Philadelphia, his first in more than a month after starting his MLS career with three goals in six games.
  • Dallas dominates: Real Salt Lake have still never won in Dallas. FCD is 8-0-2 all-time in league games between the clubs, and have also won a game in the MLS Cup Playoffs (in 2010) and a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal (last year). Their final two meetings this year are in Utah – where FCD has not won since 2007.

Colorado Rapids vs. Montreal Impact, 9 p.m.

  • Fouling to fame: Colorado midfielder Brian Mullan and Tyrone Marshall are in a heated race to be whistled for more fouls than any other player in the history of MLS. Mullan and Marshall currently sit seventh and ninth, respectively, on the all-time leader list. Both would need to commit a little over 1.5 fouls per match for the rest of the season to surpass current Montreal Manager Jesse Marsch’s all-time MLS record of 477 career fouls.
  • PK-happy: Bernardo Corradi scored his fourth goal – all in the last six games – in the Impact’s 2-1 home loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. It was the Impact’s fourth penalty kick this season – most in MLS – also all coming in the last six games.

Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 10 p.m. (TSN/RDS2)

  • Sensational strikes: For the second time in four games, Whitecaps FC scored a free kick that seemingly went untouched through the goalmouth and settled in the back of the net. Camilo did it vs. Seattle; Young-Pyo Lee scored that way vs. Columbus on April 28.
  • Goals while the going’s good: Eric Brunner’s goal against Chicago was the first scored by a Timbers player since April 14, a span of five games. In between, Portland had scored once – an own goal by Sporting KC (for a 1-0 win).
  • Expansion sophs’ series: The Timbers won both meetings of the MLS expansion class of 2011 last year, a 2-1 victory at Jeld-Wen Field and a 1-0 triumph at BC Place.

Chivas USA vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 10:30 p.m.

  • Finally, a Home Depot win: Chivas USA are coming off their first win this season at The Home Depot Center – the first victory against in-stadium rivals LA Galaxy since 2008, a 1-0 result in the first SuperClásico. Chivas started the season 0-5-0 in home games.
  • Still stingy on D: Sounders FC conceded more than one goal in a game for the first time this season in the 2-2 draw at Vancouver .Yet, they have still allowed just six goals over the course of the season, good for the fewest in MLS.

Sunday, May 27

Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 4:30 p.m. (NBC SN)

  • Bunbury a bright spot: Making his first start since the season opener, Teal Bunbury scored a pair of goals in Sporting’s 2-2 draw in Colorado. It was the third MLS two-goal game of his career.
  • Peaked too early? After a seven-game winning streak to open the season, Sporting have now gone four games without a victory. Kansas City has not won in the month of May since the 2009 season, now 13 May matches without a win.
  • San Jose searching for a KC “W”: In the first meeting ever at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, Sporting Kansas City extended their home winning streak against San Jose to six games, a 1-0 victory last June 17. The Quakes last won in Kansas City in 2004.