MLS preview, April 13-14

The MLS weekend gets off to a West Coast start for a change, with the televised game between Portland Timbers and Los Angeles FC at 9.45pm (BST), which means a freebie on AppleTV for those who haven't signed up to MLS Season Pass. Both sides sit in mid-table in the Western Conference, possibly a surprising position for both, although the surprise may be a little more pleasant for Timbers fans wary of taking Phil Neville on as their head coach over the winter. LAFC won their local derby against a high-flying Los Angeles Galaxy side last week, while Portland came back from 3-0 in Kansas City to draw 3-3. 

As usual, there's a bunch of 0.30am kick-offs from the Eastern Conference and while nothing stands out in terms of blockbuster fixtures at first glance, the game at Yankee Stadium between New York City FC and New England Revolution has a car crash appeal, with both sides seriously underperforming this season and desperate for points. The Pigeons did manage to gain a point at home to Atlanta United last week, while the Revs won their first game of the season before another embarrassment in Mexico on Tuesday night. Orlando City had last week off and travel to DC United needing to kickstart an inconsistent season. The Lions have just one win so far this season and will know that the secret to beating United this season is to keep Christian Benteke - who scored his fifth of the season last week -  quiet. Whether they'll be able to do it is another question...

Charlotte FC were the unfortunate souls who gave New England Revolutiuon their first win last week and have the pleasure of welcoming Toronto FC to the Bank of America Stadium, fresh off the Canadian's 4-0 defeat at Vancouver Whitecaps last weekend. John Herdman looked to have turned the Reds around over the winter but they've lost three of their last four games and look vulnerable to a home side badly missing Karol Swiderski, who will be with Hellas Verona in Serie A until at least June. Toronto's Canadian rivals CF Montreal are another side yet to find any consistency, able to beat Inter Miami in Florida but also get hammered by a winless Seattle Sounders last week. They welcome FC Cincinnati to Saputo Stadium on Saturday and given the Garys recent form, chances of that bloody bell getting rung seem slim. The final half-past-midnight game comes from Harrison, new Jersey, where New York Red Bulls face Chicago Fire. The Red Bulls have looked confident and competent under new head coach Sandro Schwarz this season, with Emil Forsberg a creative spark in midfield. They sit top of the Eastern Conference but must be wary of a Fire side that can lose to Atlanta United one week and beat Houston the next.

Three games kick off at 1.30am, the most intriguing of which sees Inter Miami travel to Sporting Kansas City on the back of their elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup. While it's still early days, there are signs of ill-discipline and fan discontent at the Miami club, who were expected to sweep all before them this season. Luckily, in KC, they're facing a side who invite attacking play, but also one whose own goal threat shouldn't be underestimated. New head coach Erik Ramsey hasn't quite hit the ground running since his arrival at Minnesota United, the majority of the team's points earned before he took his seat in the dugout.They play Houston Dynamo at Allianz Field on Saturday in a clash of fourth versus sixth in the Western Conference. Seattle Sounders finally managed to get their first win of the season last week and did it with style by sweeping CF Montreal side 5-0. Whether that was a blip or whether they're truly back to their usual form will be tested away at FC Dallas on Saturday, the home side also boasting just the one win this season, svene weeks ago on opening day.

Columbus Crew were the only MLS side to make it through the CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals in midweek, winning on penalties away at UANL Tigres to keep their pursuit of continental gold alive. They travel to Real Salt Lake on Saturday (a 2.30am kick-off) and need to be ready for the home side to give them a game, having already beaten St Louis City and Los Angeles FC in Utah this season. Saturday's final two games come from the West Coast and San Jose Earthquakes' home match against a Colorado Rapids side in delightfully wacky form should be an interesting affair that otherwise would smack of a basement clash. The Quakes are propping up the Western Conference, having just managed to beat a lacklustre Seattle Sounders so far this season, and really need something to change at PayPal Park if Luchi Gonzalez is to extend his time in charge of the team. Vancouver Whitecaps are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary by being top of the Western Conference, having jumped over Los Angeles Galaxy when they beat Toronto FC 4-0 at home last week. The visitors to BC Place this week are the Galaxy, who are a joy to watch this season and highlights of this game - because who's watching it live at 3.30am? - will be eagerly anticipated on Sunday.

Talking of the day of rest (and watching soccer highlights), there are two games this week,  both on TV in the US and therefore free on the AppleTV gimmick. First up is Atlanta United versus Philadelphia Union, a clash of two attacking sides in front of what is sure to be a big crowd. That's a 7.30pm (BST) kick-off and is followed at 9.45pm by Austin FC's visit to St Louis City. Austin have somehow managed to win two out of two after going winless for the first five games of the season and will note that City were unable to score past an FC Dallas side that the Verde beat two weeks ago. Still, Joao Klauss is a constant menace up top for the home side so the texans' frail defence might have to work overtime...

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