MLS Week 23 Predictions

Saturday, August 20th
New England Revolution - New York Red Bulls: Previously I would have easily sided with the Red Bulls for the victory, but in the past couple of months they have become a completely different complete. While they are still higher in the standings than the Revolution, they are no longer at the top of the table and that's a result of their struggles recently. I don't see the Revolution pulling out a win, so I'm gonna side with yet another draw for the Red Bulls.

FC Dallas - Seattle Sounders FC: This has without a doubt got to be the weekends largest game. Only one point separates these teams, Dallas with forty three and the Sounders with forty two, and a victory for either hands them second place in the western conference and the standings overall. Also possibly at risk here is the battle to catch the LA Galaxy in the race for the Supporter's Shield, with so few games left in the season this could be make or break for either team in their push to get past the Galaxy. Two elements complicating the matter is the sweltering heat (predicted ninety six degrees at kick off) and the fact that both teams are coming off mid-week Champions League matches. Dallas clearly has the advantage when it comes to heat, but the Sounders may have the advantage when it comes having all of their key players rested up and ready, having played mostly reserve players in their match against Comunicaciones while Dallas elected to field all of their starters against Pumas UNAM down in Mexico. This is definitely a close and highly contested match, but with the advantage of having rested starters and a incredibly strong bench once exhaustion becomes a factor,  think that the Sounders can do it.

Portland Timbers - Vancouver Whitecaps: The competition for the Cascadia Cup is beginning to heat up.  Unlike the Sounders, who at this point have pretty much guaranteed themselves a spot in the play-offs, the Timbers (7-12-5, 26 Pts) have just the slightest of chances of making it into the play-offs and the Whitecaps (3-12-9, 18 Pts) have no hope at all of making it into the post season and thus have only the Cascadia Cup to fight for, as well as their pride. And in this match pride is certainly one of the major motivating factors for victory, the rivalry between the two dates all the way back to the NASL days in the seventies. As is customary with rivalry matches, all previous form can be taken and thrown out the window. Despite that, I have a strong feeling that the Timbers are gonna win this.

LA Galaxy - San Jose Earthquakes: One of the leagues strongest versus one of the leagues weakest. The Galaxy recently held a fourteen game unbeaten streak, while the Earthquakes currently hold an eleven game winless streak. Each have new strikers that they are certainly hoping will make a difference, the Galaxy with Robbie Keane and te Earthquakes with Edmundo Zora. All things considered, unless the Earthquake can pull off some miraculous the Galaxy have these three points in the bag.