MLS preview, March 2 & 3 (plus USL & NISA news)

Week two of MLS kicks off tonight with a double-shot at 7pm (UK time). Minnesota United, who won 2-1 away at Austin last week, host reigning champions Columbus Crew, 1-0 winners at home to Atlanta last week, while Real Salt Lake - with a point from their first two games - are at home to Los Angeles FC, 2-1 winners over a depleted Seattle last time out. The weekend's first free game on AppleTV follows at 9.30pm and it's the Florida derby between Inter Miami and Orlando City. Miami have won one and drawn one so far this season, while Orlando went scoreless at home to Montreal last week. There's another free game at half past midnight as Vancouver Whitecaps play their first game of the season at home to Charlotte FC, who beat NYCFC 1-0 in North Carolina last week, and two more at 1.30am when CF Montreal visit FC Dallas (2-1 winners against San Jose last week), and Sporting Kansas City - who drew 1-1 with Houston on opening day - are at home to Philadelphia Union. The Union drew 2-2 with Chicago Fire last week and the Fire are at home to FC Cincinnati this week, also at 1.30am but behind the paywall of MLS Season Pass.


The pointless in every sense Colorado Rapids host Nashville SC at 2.30am in what will no doubt be the week's least watched game, and there's a hatrick of West Coast fixtures at 3.30am: Phil Neville's Portland Timbers welcome DC United to Providence Park having blasted the Rapids 4-1 last week, Seattle Sounders will be nearer full strength as they take on Austin FC, and LA Galaxy travel to San Jose Earthquakes for the California Clasico hoping to keep up the improvement that saw them draw 1-1 with Miami last week. There's just one game on Sunday at the reasonable time of 7pm and it's a clash of two sides trying to rebuild after underwhelming 2023 seasons as Toronto FC visit New England Revolution. The Canadians went goalless with Cincinnati last week, while the Revs were beaten 3-1 at DC United.


The 2024 USL Championship season starts next Saturday and I'll do a full preview in midweek, but a few clubs made some late signings as we move closer to kick-off. El Paso Locomotive have taken Mexican defender Javier Nevarez on loan from Juarez, while the Las Vegas Lights rebuild continues with the addition of NCAA champion defender Shawn Smart from Clemson University. Loudoun United have added centre-back Keegan Hughes from Columbus Crew, Miami have added Venezuelan full-back Alejandro Mitrano from Monagas, and New Mexico United have brought in Penn State goalkeeper Kris Shakes. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Riverhounds are looking to life after Albert Dikwa by signing striker Kaziah Sterling from South Georgia Tormenta​.


Under new management this season, Greenville Triumph signed experienced midfielder Louis Herrera from El Paso Locomotive, while midfielder Isidro Martinez has joined Northern Colorado Hailstorm from Forward Madison. Finally, Richmond Kickers have added German midfielder midfielder Adrian Billhardt to their squad from Detroit City.







The 2024 NISA season will begin with two straight weekends of action in the Atlanta area as the entire league of nine teams decamps to Dalton, Georgia, for the first two rounds of games.​

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