Major League Soccer, Week 31: Galaxy Defeat Chivas USA In SuperClasico

Galaxy starters: Saunders; DeLaGarza, Gonzalez, Berhalter, Dunivant; Magee, Beckham, Juninho, Cardozo; Barrett, Cristman. Bench: Ricketts, Robinson, Birchall, Keat, Kirovski, Lopez, Stephens.

Chivas USA starters: Kennedy, Valentin, Boyens, Lopes, Jazic, Zemanski, LaBrocca, Lahoud, Mondaini, Angel, and Moreno. Bench: Thorton, Pearce, Courtois, Elliot, Gavin, Estupinian, and Flores.

Shea volleyed home a header from a free kick that wasn’t cleared out to give the home side the insurance goal they were looking for. The goal was Shea’s 11th of the season and the assist up his season total up to four.

The win was Dallas’ first back-to-back win since their three-game winning streak at the end of June. The Toros are now sitting at 52 points on the season - tied with Real Salt Lake for third in the Western Conference.

D.C. United Lineup (4-4-2): Hamid; Korb, McDonald, Kitchen, Woolard; Najar, Simms, King, da Luz; De Rosario, Wolff

Substitutes From: Davies, Ngwenya, Brettschneider, Quaranta, White, Burch, Willis

Sporting is looking to stay on the Union’s heels for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a win, but as importantly, clinch a playoff spot. The Red Bulls need three points to put some space between them and Portland and DC for the final playoff spot, but down a man they will take one point now.

Winning this game would give the Union a huge leg up in the race to win the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They already lead, but three more points would give them no less than a two-point lead by the end of the weekend with just one game left to play. A loss could leave them with the very real possibility of having to go through the Western Conference and with an extra game to play.

To get the latest updates on all the playoff implications, be sure to follow this StoryStream.

The expanded MLS playoffs were designed at least in part to ensure that more of the games were meaningful. Despite 13 teams still being mathematically alive with just two weeks left to go, results this weekend will probably determine whether or not next week is very interesting. A number of teams no longer control their own destiny, so those that do can’t waste their chances.

Dynamo: They picked up a huge win on Friday, but with just one game left to play, they are really reliant on other teams slipping to have any real shot at the top spot in the East. They will close out at home against the Galaxy.

Based on the lineups, both teams look like they are taking this match quite seriously. Although Nyassi and Cummings have not played consistently this season because of injury and the depth, both have contributed in key moments during the season and their collective speed should definitely be cause for concern for the RSL defense. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake are playing many automatic starters, although Yordany Alvarez is getting more time here at the end of the season. The big task, besides getting a victory, for RSL is to help Javi Morales get in full match fitness ahead of the playoffs. This game should provide a good test for him, as the atmosphere will likely be played at a playoff intensity.

What makes Keller’s story so perfect is not just that he returned to his native country and played well, it’s that he basically returned to the place he grew up. Despite living abroad for most of the previous 17 years, Keller fit right in when he returned to the Seattle area and instantly became the team’s most popular player. He will certainly be missed.