While none of the four games on Wednesday’s docket jump off the page as being must-watch affairs, there’s actually a fair amount of intrigue tied to each of them. Now that we’re basically at the halfway point of the season, it’s fair to start looking at the playoff race and each one of these games could have an impact, especially on the final spots.
Major League Soccer (Mid)Week 17 Preview: 10-Team Playoff Creates Some Intrigue
New York Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC, 8 p.m., Wednesday
For all the talent at Hans Backe’s disposal, it’s more than a bit disappointing to here his players openly talking about just gunning for the playoffs. While totally falling out of the playoff picture, especially in the Eastern Conference, seems highly unlikely, they are just five points ahead of the No. 10 spot after their tie last week left them with just one win in their past 11 matches. Luckily, they are facing a Toronto FC team that only ended a nine-match winless streak of their own last week. TFC actually won two games last week, but both were against the Whitecaps, hardly indicative of an impending turnaround. If the Red Bulls fail to get three points here, feel free to start pressing the panic button. Pick: Red Bulls 2-0.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m., Wednesday
It was just five matches ago that Sporting were riding a 10-game winless streak and their season was quickly slipping away before they even had a chance to open their new stadium. Since then, however, their season has taken a dramatic turnaround as they’ve won four of five and are suddenly sitting in a tie for the No. 10 playoff spot. In three matches at Livestrong Sportin Park, they are undefeated. They’ll be facing a team that is doing just enough to remain slightly relevant. After a blazing start, the Rapids have crashed back down to earth and actually find themselves just three points ahead of the playoff pace after winning just once in their past 10. A Sporting victory would actually pull them even with the Rapids. Pick: Sporting 2-1.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Columbus Crew, 10 p.m., Wednesday
Every week I say how hard it is to figure out the Crew. It's getting a bit old, to be quite honest. Last week, they at least turned in a predictable result, by losing to a very good FC Dallas team. The Whitecaps seem like the kind of team they should be able to beat, but this game is in Vancouver and the Crew have just one road win this season. The Whitecaps are coming off a week in which they lost not just once, but twice to an awful Toronto FC team and actually may have gotten worse since the firing of Teitur Thordarson. Pick: Tied, 1-1.
Chivas USA vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m., Wednesday
The Goats are not having a great season. Under new head coach Robin Fraser, they’ve been good defensively, but not great. They’ve shown some flashes of scoring ability, but no consistency. In the world of the 10-team MLS playoffs, though, they find themselves just two points behind the pace for the final spot and a win this week would put them right back in contention. The Earthquakes have hit higher highs, but find themselves in a not-so-different position. They currently reside in the No. 9 playoff spot, but just three points ahead of 12th place Chivas USA. While this match may lack star power, it has plenty of intrigue. Pick: Chivas 2-1.
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