As opening weekends go, there actually aren't that many particularly intriguing match-ups for Week 1 of MLS action. There are only two matches that feature two playoff teams from last year, and one of them is New York Red Bulls-Seattle Sounders. That game looked really interesting when the schedule came out, but with several of the teams' top players either no longer with the team or recovering from injury, the game has lost some of its luster. That First Kick loss by the Sounders didn't exactly help, either.
MLS Preview, Picks Week 1: Let The Canadian Derby Begin
The other match featuring two playoff teams is San Jose Earthquakes-Real Salt Lake, which isn't exactly oozing with star power. RSL is coming off a huge victory in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, and is going to be missing defensive dynamo Jamison Olave.
That leaves us with the first ever all-Canadian matchup as potentially the most intriguing of the week. Sure, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC have met in competitive environments before, but never on equal standing. The rivalry is most certainly fledgling, but add in some cultural animosity, a new stadium and a new team, it could at least get interesting.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Toronto FC, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (ET), TSN
Like many of the other great soccer rivalries, Toronto-Vancouver predates MLS. Since at least 2002, teams representing those cities have met almost every year, and competed for the Voyageurs Cup. The Whitecaps and TFC have played twice a year since 2008, with Vancouver holding a slight 2-1-3 advantage. So, this game is not exactly new. What is new is that this is the first time the cities have squared off while playing top-division soccer since the days of the NASL. It’s also the first game in the refurbished Empire Field, which for all its faults does seem like a proper pitch. There are those that have downplayed the significance of this game. But with so much energy of the Cascadia rivalry focusing on Portland-Seattle, I could see this game really becoming a much bigger deal.
Pick: Whitecaps 1-0
New York Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
It's still unclear if the Sounders will be without the services of Steve Zakuani, who played on Tuesday despite suffering a groin tear on March 11, and the Red Bulls are suffering a host of ailments of their own. Although it is worth noting that Juan Agudelo appears fit and ready to start alongside Thierry Henry. It seems silly to say this, but the Sounders could really use a result here after losing at home to open the season. Seattle fans can be a sensitive lot and two straight losses to open the season could cause a fair bit of panic. There's considerably less pressure on the Red Bulls, other than whatever comes with a season-opening game at home.
Pick: Tied 1-1
DC United vs. Columbus Crew, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
One of the sexy picks to make a playoff run and one of the popular picks to fall flat on their collective face, this is a match that could at least give us an idea of how fair those predictions are. DC United has been lauded for an offseason that has included the addition of U.S. internationals Dax McCarty and Charlie Davies and much-hyped rookie Perry Kitchen. The Crew have added Ray Burse. OK, that's probably not fair since William Hesmer appears to be ready to start in goal, but it's just hard to see what the rebuilding plan for this team really was. Maybe we learn this weekend.
Pick: DC 2-1
Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union, Saturday, 8:30 p.m.
Both of these teams underwent a fair amount of overhaul in the offseason, with the Dynamo now a popular pick as the second or third best team in the Eastern Conference. Part of what people liked about their offseason was the quality of their SuperDraft picks, Kofi Sarkodie and Will Bruin, both of whom might start. If at least one of them does, it will be the first time in Dynamo history a rookie has started the opener. The Union will get to see just how much of an improvement goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon represents over his predecessors, and how Sebastian Le Toux adapts to playing as a midfielder.
Pick: Dynamo 2-1
FC Dallas vs. Chicago Fire, Saturday, 8:30 p.m.
Believe it or not, this is actually one of the league’s original rivalries, as these two teams play for the Brimstone Cup because, well, they both used to have “hot” names (FCD was, of couse, originally the Dallas Burn). Not sure this game really fits the classic definition of rivalry, but it does give us a chance to see two teams with decidedly new looks. The Toros should have some of their youngsters getting significant time, while the Fire are expected to officially unveil their version of the 3-5-2.
Pick: FCD 2-0
Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers, Saturday, 9 p.m., FSC
Opening at altitude against the defending champs was probably not the nicest thing MLS schedule-makers could do for the Timbers, but thems the breaks I suppose. The Rapids are largely expected to use the exact same tactics, start the exact same players and drive many of the league's fans the exact same amount of crazy as they did last year. The biggest offseason addition just signed with the team the other day, so the highly anticipated Caleb Folan debut may have to wait. The Timbers, meanwhile, are a big bundle of unknown commodity. We know some of these players, but anyone who says they know how they'll play together is probably just overcompensating for a rough childhood.
Pick: Rapids 3-1
Chivas USA vs. Sporting Kansas City, Saturday, 10:30 p.m.
Probably not the game most people are dying to see, but I am actually looking forward to this one. Both of these are teams I expect to surprise a few people, as I really like what they've done to improve since 2010. The Goats have a whole new defense that should be good enough to steal a few extra points on their own. The big question will be if they can score, something I'm expecting Justin Braun, Tristan Bowen and even Alejandro Moreno to do a bit of this year. SKC, meanwhile, begins their season-opening 10-game roadtrip, likely lacking the services of Teal Bunbury and Ryan Smith. This might be their toughest matchup until the schedule takes a decidedly harsh turn on April 30.
Pick: Tied 1-1
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake, Saturday, 10:30 p.m.
Not exactly a sexy matchup, but one that should at least feature competent play on both sides. The Earthquakes have a handful of new faces after their surprising run to the conference finals a year ago, mainly with the idea of helping bolster an attack that was a tad Chris Wondolowski-centric. That said, the Quakes Starting XI still looks pretty much the same, which is to say that a center back who missed more than half of the season is still the team’s second-best scorer, until proven otherwise. One of the deep, dark secrets of RSL’s juggernaut is that they are downright mortal away from Rio Tinto. Last year they went 4-4-7 with a +1 goal-difference, easily the best road mark in franchise history, but in sharp contrast to their dominating ways at home. They are also coming off a highly emotional victory against Saprissa in CCL, setting this up as a potential let down.
Pick: Tied 1-1
LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution, Sunday, 8 p.m., Telefutura
With one win already under the belts, despite missing three of their expected starters, the season is already off to bit of a charmed start for the Galaxy. Now, they get a Revolution team that was not particularly good to begin with, but is already dealing with some injury concerns. It’s a curious opening match to put all by itself on Sunday, almost like the league wanted to make sure LA could open at home in proper fashion. Not being a conspiracy theorist, I’ll assume it’s because they wanted to stoke that fierce Revolution-Galaxy rivalry.
Pick: Galaxy 2-0
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