Cascadia rivals, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, will be paying particular attention to the other’s results this weekend as both teams push for the fifth place in the Western Conference and a spot in the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs presented by AT&T. Vancouver play host to a streaking a FC Dallas team, who could clinch a playoff spot with a win, on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET (UDN, TSN2). The Whitecaps will look to captain Pedro Morales to get the team off to a positive start against a potent FC Dallas attack. The Timbers will hit the road to take on Chris Wondolowski and the San Jose Earthquakes later in the evening (11:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN) as Caleb Porter’s men look to keep pace. Following the season-ending injury to captain Will Johnson and the loss to Toronto FC, the Timbers will look to get back on track with a win over the Earthquakes.
Following a loss to the red-hot New England Revolution, it will be another telling encounter for Sporting KC as they take on another Eastern Conference heavyweight. The reigning MLS Cup champions will welcome leaders D.C. United on Friday night (8:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN, TSN2). The New York Red Bulls will also be looking to reverse their fortunes after they sustained a heavy loss at the hands of the LA Galaxy. New York will play a Houston Dynamo team who went unbeaten in September and are forcefully hanging on to hopes of a playoff berth (October 4, 6:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN).
The Philadelphia Union will be looking to keep pace with the rest of the East in their Thursday game against the Chicago Fire at 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and TSN5). Both teams will be looking to keep their playoff hopes alive in this match and the Union will be hoping to get back to their winning ways following a tough 1-0 loss to D.C. United. Chicago will lean on the talents of Quincy Amarikwa, Harry Shipp and Sean Johnson to get a crucial three points.
Landon Donovan Set to Make History
While the MLS regular season may be winding down, Landon Donovan continues on his hunt for more regular season records. With his three assists over the weekend, the California-native is one away from becoming the league’s all-time assist leader ahead of current Houston Dynamo assistant coach, Steve Ralston. Donovan holds the all-time MLS record for regular-season goals scored. The Galaxy will host Toronto FC on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET (TSN, RDS2). Toronto FC rallied to secure a come from behind win over the Portland Timbers that put them right back in the thick of the playoff race. Michael Bradley and Co. will be looking to continue their upward trend following a skittish patch over the last several weeks.
Quotable Quotes
“David has had three great weeks and has been participating for the way we want him to do things much more, he has been growing with the group, his intensity and the rhythm that we wanted from him was there and tonight we decided to bring him in and join that spot with Blas Perez. The way he executed was all him. He gave us a lesson today in persistence, he gave us a lesson in patience and today he was a big part of the points.”
FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja on the performance of David Texeira
“It’s not easy when you miss a penalty. I think last week we felt sorry for ourselves; not for want of trying. We’re talking about leaders. I’ve lost a few leaders this year but it’s time for these guys to step up. And I challenged them this week to step up. In big games you need big players. And today we had some big players.”
Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson on the teams’ response to the loss to Portland
“We’re scouting on all sorts of fronts right now, we’re scouting on the international front very heavily. We’re scouting in college very heavily. We’re scouting in the NASL – because the USL just finished – very heavily. We’re scouting MLS very heavily.”
NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis on the organizations efforts to getting players for next season
“I’m not really a big fan of doing interviews, sometimes I feel like you can toot your own trumpet too much. I don’t really like that. I like to just be humble. The more interviews, the more embarrassed I kind of get.”
New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips on his feelings about interviews
“I’m not the same player I used to be, the young player, the rookie, I think MLS has helped me to mature and grow as a player. I think it has made me a more valuable player, a more important player, a player capable of taking a bigger role. Whether that means I’ll stay here or go back to the Mexican league, we’ll wait and see.”
Chivas USA forward Erick Torres on how MLS has helped him develop as a player
“These are the kind of days that can make a season, if you use this kind of afternoon the right way, they can give you a real boost.”
Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley on the team building from their win over the Timbers
“We’re giving up easy goals, and we definitely have to lock it down, defense wins championships. We know we’re going to be able to score goals because we have the talent on the field to do that.”
Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Lamar Neagle on the importance of defense in winning an MLS Cup
MLS Playoff Picture
D.C. United will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
·D.C. United win or tie vs. Sporting Kansas City on Friday
OR
·New York Red Bulls and Houston Dynamo tie on Saturday
OR
·Toronto FC lose or tie vs. LA Galaxy on Saturday
Real Salt Lake will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
·Real Salt Lake win vs Chivas USA on Sunday
OR
·Vancouver Whitecaps FC lose vs. FC Dallas on Saturday
OR
·Portland Timbers lose or tie vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
FC Dallas will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
·FC Dallas win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday
OR
·Portland Timbers lose vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
OR
·FC Dallas tie vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday
AND
·Portland Timbers tie vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
Colorado Rapids will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
·Colorado Rapids lose vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday
AND
·Vancouver Whitecaps FC win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday OR
·Portland Timbers win vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
OR
·Colorado Rapids tie vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday
AND
·Vancouver Whitecaps FC win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday
San Jose Earthquakes will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
·San Jose Earthquakes lose vs. Portland Timbers on Saturday
OR
·San Jose Earthquakes tie vs. Portland Timbers on Saturday
AND
·Vancouver Whitecaps FC win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday
Chicago Fire will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
·Chicago Fire lose vs. either Philadelphia Union on Thursday or Montreal Impact on Sunday
AND
·New York Red Bulls win vs. Houston Dynamo on Saturday OR
·Toronto FC win vs. LA Galaxy on Saturday
Seattle Sounders FC have clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
LA Galaxy have clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
Montréal Impact have been eliminated from playoff contention
Chivas USA have been eliminated from playoff contention
-MLSsoccer.com
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