MLS highlights - Week 33

In the final 90 minutes of the MLS regular season, there is much still to be played for. One of the marquee matches this week will see the Seattle Sounders host the LA Galaxy in a game that will determine the winner of the Supporters’ Shield (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, TSN2). It will be the second meeting for the two teams in under a week. The Sounders and Galaxy drew 2-2 at the StubHub Center in a pyrotechnic clash on Sunday which saw the away team rally back from a two goal deficit. A win or a tie on Saturday will award Sigi Schmid’s men the Supporters’ Shield for the first time in club’s history. The LA Galaxy will require a win to secure the franchise’s fifth Shield. Earlier this year, Donovan and Co. were able to come away with all three points against the Sounders at CenturyLink Field following a 0-3 win thanks to goals from Gyasi Zardes, Donovan and Stefan Ishizaki.

In the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs hunt, there is only one spot left and it will belong to either the Vancouver Whitecaps FC or the Portland Timbers in the Western Conference. First up will be the Timbers who travel to play fourth-place Real Salt Lake on Saturday for their final game and will be looking for a positive result to put pressure on their Cascadia rivals. Vancouver, who sit one point ahead of Portland, will welcome Chivas USA already knowing the result necessary to proceed (10:00 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS2).

CONCACAF Champions League Returns

Before the last week of MLS regular season action takes center stage, the CONCACAF Champions League returns. All four of the MLS teams involved in the competition will take the field, including a must-win match as Group 5 leaders the Portland Timbers travel to Honduras to play Olimpia on Tuesday, October 21 (10:00 p.m. ET, FOX Soccer Plus, UDN). The Timbers sit three points ahead of their opponents and will clinch a place in the next round with a tie or a win. DC United, who have also qualified for the Quarterfinals, host Panamanian club, Tauro FC (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX Soccer Plus, UDN). In an all-MLS match, the New York Red Bulls host already-qualified Montreal Impact on Wednesday (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 2, UDN).

National MLS Broadcasts

Friday, October 24
Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo, 8:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN, TSN2)

Saturday, October 25
Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC, TSN2)
New England Revolution vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN2)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:00 p.m. ET (TSN2, RDS2)

Sunday, October 26
Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union, 4:00 p.m. ET (UniMas)
Sporting Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2)

Quotes of the Week

"I've gotten to a level where I'm comfortable in my role...and I am playing at a very good level, I'm hoping that every single game that I play, I play even better."
Portland Timbers midfielder Rodney Wallace on getting as much playing time as possible

“Obviously we want to finish in a certain spot in our conference, which is key, but we also want to get in the right mindset heading into the playoffs. This is a great way to finish up with an away game and a home game, which is exactly the way it’s going to set up in the playoffs.’’
Real Salt Lake head coach Jeff Cassar on finishing the regular season with positive momentum

"You have to roll up your sleeves and keep going forward. It's awful and tough, but at the same time, you have to keep a perspective and keep going forward. We have a really young team and we know we can win games in this league; it's just a matter of finding a way quickly."
New England Revolution head coach Jay Heaps on the turnaround his team has made since the beginning of the season

“Thierry is arguably one of the top players in the history of this game. The prestige that he’s brought over here, the recognition back in Europe just from him being here and coming here in his prime. Just to be able to witness him on a daily basis over his entire stay here in M.L.S. is something I’ll never forget. He is one of the greatest soccer minds, to be honest with you. We can talk all we want about what he does on the field and what he can do, which is amazing.”
New York Red Bulls head coach on the impact Thierry Henry has made since coming to MLS

“I’m the type of guy who thinks he can always improve and always get better, and am never going to be completely satisfied with where I’m at, but looking over the full year and the full progression, I’m pleased.”
Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei on his progression this season

“We’ve had people doubting us, saying we can’t do it, we can’t make the playoffs that’s fine. People can say what they want. People can doubt us, people can question us. But no one is questioning each other in this locker-room. We believe in each other. When you have every single guy giving everything they have — playing with heart, playing with desire — nobody wants to play you. We’re a tough team to beat right now.”
Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Russell Teibert on the mindset of the team in the locker room

“We’ve been playing really well, and I think that third spot is definitely within reach. We definitely don’t want to just be content with making the playoffs or squeaking by and getting in fourth place. We want to keep moving up the table, and we still think it’s really possible to move up. Any slip up from Salt Lake and we can be right there.”
FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges on the team pushing to finish third in the standings