Los Angeles and Columbus, the league's top two teams, receive stern tests on their return to action on Saturday, both teams having had last weekend off. Galaxy return to the pitch to host the reformed Red Bull at 6 p.m. Eastern while the Crew visit defending champion Real Salt Lake at 8 p.m.
Major League Soccer Weekend: Galaxy-Red Bull, Real Salt Lake-Columbus Highlight Seven-Match Saturday
When last we saw Los Angeles in league action, they were being upset by the Chicago Fire at Home Depot Center, 3-2 on August 1. In the interim, the Galaxy have played in Puerto Rico (being eliminated from CONCACAF Champions League) and welcomed Real Madrid to Pasadena. Today, Bruce Arena's team welcomes a Red Bull side that had their own struggles against Chicago, being held to a scoreless draw last weekend in Bridgeview.
Hope to take advantage of Los Angeles’s struggles, Columbus, leading the Eastern Conference with 37 points, will be at Rio Tinto this evening. The Crew come into the match three points back of L.A. in the overall standings but only one point ahead of Salt Lake, who have played one more match. Jason Kreis’s team is coming-off consecutive missed opportunities, held to a draws in Kansas City (last weekend) and Philadelphia (mid-week), matches in which wins would have pulled Salt Lake even with Los Angeles.
In the day's first match, Philadelphia will host Colorado (4 p.m., Eastern), the Rapids coming off a 1-0 victory over San Jose last weekend; the Earthquakes, hoping to bridge the three-point gap between them and eighth place (and off this weekend) Toronto, host Kansas City (10 p.m.); an injury-hampered Houston is in New England (8 p.m.); Ben Olsen and D.C. United host FC Dallas (8 p.m.); and Chivas USA welcomes Seattle to Home Depot Center in the day's last kick-off (11 p.m.).
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