Games to Watch: MLS Cup Playoffs conference semifinals quadrupleheader
I'm including broadcasters this time, and I'm including Canadian coverage too since I have a lot of readers up there these days.
The return legs for all four series will be played next Sunday, with the exact order of games still to be determined.
E1. New York Red Bulls at E4. D.C. United, 3:00 p.m.
ESPN and TSN Go: Glenn Davis and Alejandro Moreno
ESPN Deportes: Richard Mendez and Giovanni Savarese
No rivalry in Major League Soccer carries more history than this one. This will be the 83rd all-time meeting of the two teams, and the 12th all-time in the playoffs. New York, led by Sacha Kljestan and Dax McCarty, won the Supporters' Shield for compiling MLS' best regular-season record. D.C. will look to goalkeeper Bill Hamid to marshal the defense, and ex-Red Bull Fabián Espíndola to lead the attack.
W2. Vancouver Whitecaps at W3. Portland Timbers, 5:00 p.m.
ESPN: Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman and Monica González
ESPN Deportes (Spanish): Richard Mendez and Giovanni Savarese
TSN1: Luke Wileman and Jason deVos in in the booth; Perry Solkowski on the sideline
This series continues a Pacific Northwest rivalry that dates all the way back to the North American Soccer League in the 1970s. Both teams are stacked with young, dynamic attackers: Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri for Portland, Kekutah Manneh and Pedro Morales for Vancouver.
Columbus Crew at Montréal Impact, 7:00 p.m.
Fox Sports 1: J.P. Dellacamera and Brad Friedel in the booth, Brian Dunseth on the sideline
Fox Sports Go (Spanish): John Laguna and Alvaro Izquierdo
TSN1: Vic Rauter and Greg Sutton in the booth; Kristian Jack on the sideline
RDS2 (French): Claudine Douville and Jean Gounelle in the booth; Patrick Friolet on the sideline; Michel Y. Lacroix, Patrick Leduc and Olivier Brett at the on-site studio
All eyes in will be on two of MLS' most dominant strikers. Montreal's Didier Drogba has been electrifying since joining the Impact in late summer, with 11 goals in 11 games. Columbus' Kei Kamara might not be a household name, but his 22 goals and eight assists this year drew plenty of attention leaguewide.
In addition to the on-site broadcast team, Fox has a studio crew in Los Angeles for this game and the one that follows. Rob Stone hosts wth analysts Eric Wynalda, Stuart Holden and Landon Donovan.
Because of World Series coverage, there is no Spanish-language Fox Deportes simulcast of this game or the one that follows. The feeds are exclusively streamed online through Fox Sports Go.
FC Dallas at Seattle Sounders, 9:30 p.m.
Fox Sports 1 and TSN2: John Strong, Alexi Lalas and Julie Stewart-Binks
Fox Sports Go (Spanish): Troy Santiago and Claudio Suárez
Despite carrying MLS' lowest payroll - just over $4 million - Dallas finished first in the West in the regular season. They did so thanks to a roster stacked with skilled youngsters, from academy products Kellyn Acosta (20) and Victor Ulloa (23) to South American hidden gems Fabían Castillo (23) and Mauro Díaz (24). It's a model for success that the Union have made no secret of wanting to emulate.
Seattle spent over $13 million on a squad that boasts World Cup veterans Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and Nelson Valdez. Yet the Sounders in fourth place, and barely edged Los Angeles at home in the first round of the playoffs. The stage is set for a dramatic clash of styles.