MLS preview, April 6-7
FC Cincinnati have no such issues and are following up last season's Supporters Shield triumph by topping the Eastern Conference, albeit at this early stage. They face an in-form New York Red Bulls outfit who look a different side under head coach Sandro Schwarz and sit just a point behind the Garys. Like the Red Bulls, Inter Miami are also on 11 points but from one game more, and their home game against Colorado Rapids would have looked very much like a massacre in waiting a few weeks ago. That was before Lionel Messi got hurt/tired/bored (*delete where applicable) and before the Rapids actually started winning some games! Chris Armas's side came from behind to beat Los Angeles FC last week and - Luis Suarez or not - the Herons will underestimate them at their peril. It is fun to do that, though.
Columbus Crew are the third side on 11 points at the top of the Eastern Conference and they welcome DC United to Lower.com Field this weekend having been the only MLS side not to lose in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in midweek. United have only lost once this season and much depends on how profligate Christian Benteke is feeling in front of goal, but Crew should have enough quality to see this one home. If the Crew drew and Miami were beaten in midweek, then New England Revolution were thrashed by Club America, but it's something the fans at Gillette Stadium will be becoming accustomed to by now. The Revs get a chance to put that behind them - at least until Tuesday's visit to Mexico - when they welcome an inconsistent Charlotte FC tomorrow, hoping for at least another point to go with the one they have from 5 games so far.
The final 0.30am kick-off comes from the West Coast and so is an early affair for fans of Vancouver Whitecaps. It's a cross-Canadian clash with FC Toronto, and the Caps have picked a good time to play John Herman's team, what with Lorenzo Insigne out injured, but derbies are funny things and you can never quite predict a result. That's how it looks down in the City of Angels, too, where Los Angeles FC will host Los Angeles Galaxy in the season's first El Trafico at BMO Stadium in Exposition Park. Galaxy are a delight to watch of late, whereas - other than a 5-0 bashing of Nashville SC two weeks ago - LAFC haven't gotten going. I can't see it being 0-0, at any rate.
There are five kick-offs at 1.30am and a chance for Austin FC to make it two wins on the trot as they welcome San Jose Earthquakes to Q2 Stadium. Last week's win over FC Dallas may turn out to be a blip but it was a welcome sop to Verde fans who've suffered through some dross so far this season. As have, to be fair, Quakes fans, with the club deciding to celebrate their 50th anniversary by being utterly rubbish. If both teams could lose, I'd say bet your house on that...
Minnesota United can be generally said to be having a good season thus far, although they did lose 2-0 at Philadelphia Union last weekend. On Saturday they're at home to a Real Salt Lake side who are also generally having a good season, with both sides accuring 10 points so far (albeit with Real having played a game more). Also on 10 points are Houston Dynamo, who can often do whatever the opposite of flattering to deceive is and play well below their undoubted quality. They face Chicago Fire at Soldier Field this week and the home side will be looking to kickstart what had looked to be a promising season.
When Nashville SC and Philadelphia Union meet at Geodis Park on Saturday, it will be a clash of two of the leagues most exciting attacking teams and so you can lay odds on a 0-0 draw. Seriously, though, both sides have the ability to score at will, although this season has also seen them ship a fair few at the back, too. That's also been true of St Louis City, who have looked great going forward but have also conceded the second most goals in the Western Conference so far. They host FC Dallas on Saturday and the visitors - hurting from the late Copa Tejas loss to Austin FC last week - will certainly be looking to add to City's minus column.
Saturday's final game is the sole 3.30am kick-off and it comes from a Lumen Field that has had precious little to cheer so far this season. True, Seattle Sounders have had something of an injury crisis but, with just two pointss from five games, they've also underdelivered. CF Montreal are in town and could be ripe for picking off, having as they are a middling season so far, but never unestimate Sounders' ability to shit the bed this season. The weekend finishes in Kansas City, something nobody wants to hear, but it will be Sporting Kansas City versus Portland Timbers, free on AppleTV, at 6.45pm. Timbers started Phil Neville's tenure brilliantly but have lapsed into the inconsistent form that saw them miss out on the play-offs last season and will be wary of the home side's attacking prowess.
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