. . . all 19 MLS teams are in action this weekend, though DC is playing a friendly rather than in MLS action directly. So it's a busy one for sure, with NBCSN finding time for two MLS games (one each Saturday and Sunday) despite the busy Olympic schedule. Nice, that. All start times EDT; all games broadcast on MLS Live and Direct Kick unless otherwise noted. Friday 27 July Vancouver at Salt Lake, 9:00 (game moved from Saturday to accommodate Neil Diamond concert at Rio Tinto) Saturday 28 July Houston at Toronto, 4:30 New York at Montreal, 7:30 Los Angeles at Dallas, 8:00, NBCSN Columbus at Kansas City, 8:30 Seattle at Colorado, 9:00 Chicago at San Jose, 10:30 Chivas USA at Portland, 11:00 Sunday 29 July New England at Philadelphia, 7:00, NBCSN As always, keep it friendly here in the neutral PBP thread.
One more thing: because of the way in which Olympic broadcasts work - tape delayed in the first place, and then not simulcast even in the various time zones here in the US of A - we'll enforce a blackout of comments about results in the various events. Call it, I don't know, the sitruc rule.
With the week DeMerit has had (redeye to ASG, full 90 at ASG, still on tarmac in NY as of late afternoon Thursday), he's going to all Come sleep with me And stay til tomorrow
Tonight's match is big for both sides - really big for RSL as they're running out of home match opportunities to score points.
Toronto, Montreal, FCD, Colorado and Portland all with basically must win games at home to keep their various respective minimal (or even less) chances alive of getting into the playoffs. Colorado and Montreal with better chances than the rest, but they have to start getting points, especially at home. (Colorado even more particularly has to stop their 5 game losing streak.)
I'm afraid I might have to make a terrible pun about Cowgirls in the Sandy, to at least get us talking about the better Neil.
Both Beckerman and Demerit in the starting lineups tonight - who needs rest? Vancouver: Cannon, Lee, Demerit, Bonjour, Rochat, Koffie, Davidson, Robson, Richards, Mattocks, Camillo RSL: Rimando, Mansally, Borchers, Watson-Siriboe, Beltran, Beckerman, Johnson, Gil, Morales, Espindola, Saborio
I surely thought Kreis would rest some guys ahead of the big trip to Costa Rica - beyond Wingert that is (Olave picked up a minor injury, so that was a no brainer).
Four hundred miles from home, sitting outside on a farm frustrated because an earlier storm knocked the power out, you nearly brought a tear to my eyes. Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler It's hot as ******** down here. I almost want air conditioning as much as I want electricity to charge my computer. Almost.
You also didn't think Beckerman (or Demerit) would play in the ASG It's a tough call for Kreis - against the team directly behind them in the standings they certainly want to get the win and put some space between them. But this could be RSL's last chance at winning the CCL before they have to do some rebuilding of the team in the next 18 months.
Don't know what Dunseth is talking about questioning if Camillo was onside on that last play. He was onside by about 5 yards, with all 4 defenders behind him, it wasn't even close.
Not surprisingly, looks like Vancouver is playing very defensively. On that last play Richards and Mattocks were the only two Whitecaps in the offensive third, wasting a nice cross by Richards.
If even I'm watching this and El Salvador-AS Roma and I don't have power, everyone should have to watch this. No excuses.