PBP: 2026 MLS Season Week 3 PBP Thread March 7 - 8 {R}

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by jaykoz3, Mar 6, 2026.

  1. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We're barely into March and it's already week 3 of the 2026 MLS Season. Chicago dispatched Montreal 3-0 on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Baby Bulls made it two wins to start the season as they beat the Revs 1-0. The Rapids rebounded from their poor week 1 showing to beat the Timbers 2-0. At a frigid Allianz Arena, the Loons scored off of a set piece to get the best of FC Cincy 1-0. The Quakes won their second straight to to start the season with their 2-0 result against Atlanta. LAFC followed up their beatdown of Miami in week 1 with a workmanlike 2-0 win over the Dynamo. Vancouver eased to a 3-0 victory over TFC at BC Place. The Galaxy also had an easy game against Charlotte, as they rode a 3 goal first half blitz to the shutout win. New York City got a late winner to keep Philadelphia winless. Messi and Miami spotted Orlando two first half goals, and then beat them 4-2. San Diego beat St Louis 2-0 to end the week.

    Week 3 has a handful of intriguing games. New York City hosts Orlando to get the week started. Miami travels to Baltimore to take on DC United. The Crew host the Fire in a game that on paper has the potential to be high scoring (it's gonna end 0-0 now isn't it?). After two home wins, the Quakes travel cross country to take on the winless Union. Nashville and Minnesota will meet in Music City in a good cross conference matchup. Saturday's night cap is a Cascadia derby in the Rose City between the Timbers and the Whitecaps. Sunday Night Soccer sees FCC host TFC.

    As usual all game times are eastern. National broadcasts & Free games are listed. All games can be viewed on Apple TV.

    MLS N&A play by play threads are neutral spaces. Keep all rivalry-esque banter out of these parts. Bullying. personal attacks and/or trolling will not be tolerated.

    Saturday, March 7

    NYC vs ORL 2:39PM
    DCU vs MIA 4:39PM
    ATL vs RSL 7:39PM
    CHA vs ATX 7:39PM
    CLB vs CHI 7:39PM
    PHL vs SJE 7:39PM
    SKC vs SAN 8:39PM
    NSH vs MNU 8:39PM
    STL vs SEA 8:39PM
    COL vs LAG 9:39PM
    LAX vs FCD 10:39PM
    POR vs VAN 10:39PM

    Sunday, March 8

    RNY vs MTL 4:39PM
    FCC vs TFC 7:09PM
     
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  2. fortcollins

    fortcollins Member+

    St. Louis City SC
    Apr 12, 2006
    Fort Collins
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sounders78 and xtomx repped this.
  3. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    New England and Houston are off this week due to stadium issues in Foxborough.
     
  4. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So no HDNet Friday night game? :)

    Having that crisp picture was so transformational for my viewing experience. Easy to take for granted now (but try to watch highlights from games 20 years ago and you'll remember quickly enough).
     
  5. fortcollins

    fortcollins Member+

    St. Louis City SC
    Apr 12, 2006
    Fort Collins
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here is the Player Availability report for Matchday 3. It will be updated for the Sunday matches tomorrow evening.
     
  6. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    All we can offer is a not-yet-on-strike USL match, Lexington vs. Louisville. If they need a nickname for this rivalry, I suggest Kentucky Derby. I'm sure that isn't being used for anything else.
     
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  7. mbar

    mbar Member+

    Apr 30, 1999
    Los Angeles, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Any match particularly exciting to anybody? Nothing really jumps off the page to me this week.
     
    Egbert Sousé repped this.
  8. Sounders78

    Sounders78 Member+

    Apr 20, 2009
    Ireland
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    France

    Cascadia Cup: Timbers v Whitecaps
     
  9. sitruc

    sitruc Member+

    Jul 25, 2006
    Virginia
    I forgot today is the Baltimore game.
     
  10. fortcollins

    fortcollins Member+

    St. Louis City SC
    Apr 12, 2006
    Fort Collins
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The results from the first two weeks are interesting. The sample size is far too small and skewed to talk about trends, but a few things seems worthy of watching:
    • Matt Doyle notes that, so far, home teams have been dominant at a record pace (21-4-5). Doyle also notes that some of that is due to unequal team strength in specific matches.
    • Western Conference teams are undefeated against Eastern Conference teams (10-0-4). That said, Doyle notes that Western Conference teams have hosted every interconference match played in the first and second weeks. See bullet point one. This week, the Eastern Conference hosts all four of the interconference matches.
    • There have been quite a few clean sheets in matches (18 matches of 30 played, with 19 clean sheets because of the lone nil-nil). It's not unusual early in a season, but it's worth watching for the week the scoring really kicks in. (Pun intended.)
    • Some teams look more like hospital wards this week than soccer rosters. Other teams are healthy.
     
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  11. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yankee Stadium pitch looks like it hasn't seen the sun in years.
     
  12. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    39 year-old Maxi misses a sitter from 5 yards.
     
  13. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    RED CARD Crepeau, handling outside the box.
     
  14. fortcollins

    fortcollins Member+

    St. Louis City SC
    Apr 12, 2006
    Fort Collins
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  15. Jeremy Goodwin

    Jeremy Goodwin Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Feb 16, 1999
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ouch you don't see that every day.
     
  16. Egbert Sousé

    Egbert Sousé Member+

    NYCFC
    May 25, 2013
    nyc
    Club:
    New York City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Third straight match an NYCFC opponent gets a red!
     
  17. fortcollins

    fortcollins Member+

    St. Louis City SC
    Apr 12, 2006
    Fort Collins
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They should give the refs brighter colored jerseys. It's hard to see Guido Gonzales Jr He gets lost in the blazing sun.

    Oh wait. That IS Guido.
     
    Ismitje repped this.
  18. Jeremy Goodwin

    Jeremy Goodwin Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Feb 16, 1999
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Imagine how glorious that would look on a tube television. Colors bleeding across the entire screen.
     
    fortcollins repped this.
  19. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I sense a MLS record.

    Screenshot_20260307-195940.png
     
  20. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1-0 Pigeons
     
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  21. Egbert Sousé

    Egbert Sousé Member+

    NYCFC
    May 25, 2013
    nyc
    Club:
    New York City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    GOAL NEW YORK CITY!
     
  22. Jeremy Goodwin

    Jeremy Goodwin Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Feb 16, 1999
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Orlando's in for a long ride home.
     
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  23. fortcollins

    fortcollins Member+

    St. Louis City SC
    Apr 12, 2006
    Fort Collins
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There are rough starts to seasons, but wow. Orlando is having a moment.
     
  24. Jeremy Goodwin

    Jeremy Goodwin Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Feb 16, 1999
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Do you think they have a bet about how many times she can say Gryffindor in the course of the game?
     
  25. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    2-0 Pigeons
     

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