MLS Matchday 6 Preview

MLS Matchday 6 Preview

New England Revolution: Los Angeles Galaxy

Saturday, 3PM CT, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA

Normally I would say that this Saturday afternoon ESPN2 showdown would be great. Bad blood still steaming over from Galaxy's 1-0 win in extra time at MLS Cup 2005, or New England's 1-0 win against Galaxy on Matchday 1. BUT IT WON'T BE. This game is going to be just genuinely awful and may well be a pain to watch. Both teams are wallowing in mid-table obscurity. The stars of both teams, Landon Donovan for Galaxy and Clint Dempsey for Revolution were just named to the US World Cup team, so Lord knows they're not gonna be taking too many risks for fear of pulling a Wayne Rooney. The pitch at Gillette Stadium is a fricken onion patch no matter how good it looks on TV. The only player who will probably give a damn is Taylor Twellman, trying to prove Coach Arena that his snub for the World Cup team was a mistake.

My pick: New England 1:2 Los Angeles

Kansas City Wizards: Chicago Fire

Saturday, 7:30 PM CT, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

The first meeting this season for the Eastern Conference rivals will find a small pack of Section 8 Chicago traveling to the border state to watch the Fire play the blues. Kansas City needs to start getting some good crowds or else this team is going to be relocated. They cannot stay in Arrowhead for more than another year. Eddie Johnson, recently named to the World Cup team also has a history of being injury prone, so he may also play it safe in this game, which should provide ample opportunities for the Fire's Thiago and Chris Rolfe to attack the KC net.

My pick: Kansas City 1:1 Fire

Houston Dynamo: FC Dallas

Saturday, 7:30 PM CT, Robertson Stadium, Houston, TX

The first ever Texas Derby match in MLS history sees the Hoops traveling to the BAyou to take on Dynamo. FCD is a better team, but I like Dynamo's chances of knocking them off at home in front of a very partisan crowd eager to take home the first of four Tejano Classic matches this season.

My pick: Dynamo 3:1 FCD

Real Salt Lake: Columbus Crew

Saturday, 8:00 PM CT, Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT

Speaking of matches that are just gonna be terrible. I have absolutely no reason to care about the outcome of this game, nor to subject my eyes to watching Real's maroon and blue kits go against the Columbus fighting bananas. Both teams here are just genuinely awful. I would go with Columbus's yellow submarine to sink Real, but Real is riding the back of a 17-game losing streak, and I think if it's gonna get snapped at all, it's going to have to happen against Columbus. I like the Stormin' Mormons.

My pick: RSL 2:0 Columbus

Colorado Rapids: DC United

Saturday, 8:00 PM CT, Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver, CO

The Rapids are unveilling a third jersey tonight, ditching their Inter Milan ripoff threads for green, leading many to think that a rebranding of the team is in the works in time for the move to their new stadium in Commerce City, CO next spring. Regardless of how snazzy the team looks, the Black and White ThreeStripes are going to walk all over this woeful Crapids team.

My pick: United 3:1 Colorado

Chivas USA and Red Bull New York have the week off. Thank God.