Games to Watch: MLS, English leagues climax, Europa League final
Chicago Fire at Columbus Crew
8:00 p.m. Friday (Univision Deportes)
Harrison Shipp and the Fire took a gut punch last Friday when they gave up a stoppage time equalizer at New York City FC. Now Chicago faces another tough road test, against a quietly strong Crew squad that features playmaker Federico Higuaín.
Los Angeles Galaxy at Houston Dynamo
10:00 p.m. Friday (Univision Deportes)
The Galaxy suffered one of their most shocking defeats in a long time on Sunday: a 4-0 rout at Orlando City. We'll see whether the reigning champs, led by Robbie Keane, can rebound in Houston's heat and tight confines. Dynamo forward Giles Barnes is tied for second on MLS' goal-scoring charts with six this season.
Manchester United at Hull City
10:00 a.m. Sunday (NBC, Telemundo)
There won't be much drama on the last day of the Premier League season, save for which team will take the last relegation spot. If Hull is to stay up, it will need big performances from forwards Abel Hernández and Nikica Jelavić.
The other game of consequence, played at the same time, will be Newcastle hosting West Ham United on USA Network. Newcastle, which have just one 10-goal scorer this season in Papiss Cissé, is currently two points above Hull in the standings. If Newcastle loses and Hull wins, the Magpies and their huge fan base will be out of the Premier League for the second time in the last 10 years.
Orlando City at San Jose Earthquakes
7:00 p.m. Sunday (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)
San Jose star Chris Wondolowski is one goal away from becoming just the ninth player in Major League Soccer with 100 career goals in the league. He'll try to get it against an Orlando squad that's missing stalwart defender Aurélien Collin due to a hamstring injury. Collin's likely replacements are youngster Tommy Redding and Seb Irish veteran Sean St. Ledger.
Norwich City vs. Middlesborough
10:00 a.m. Monday (beIN Sports, beIN Sports Español)
A day after the Premier League's relegation drama, we'll find out which team will join Bournemouth and Watford in the top flight next season. The final of England's second-division playoffs is dubbed "the richest game in world football" because of how much TV money the winner gets from promotion.
This time, the payout is estimated at $186.5 million. It will either go to Norwich, where journeyman forward Cameron Jerome has enjoyed a 19-goal renaissance this season; or a Middlesborough squad whose top scorer is 21-year-old Patrick Bamford.
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk vs. Sevilla
2:00 p.m. Wednesday (Fox Sports 1, ESPN Deportes)
The Champions League commands the biggest European spotlight, but next week, the continent's lesser competition will take center stage. For as much as the Europa League gets overlooked, it's still a trophy, and the winner will qualify for next season's Champions League.
Philadelphia soccer fans with long memories might recall that Dnipro played the U.S. national team at Franklin Field in 1989. Dnipro's current squad is led by Ukrainian national team midfield stalwart Yevhen Konoplyanka. Sevilla's marquee names are forwards Gerard Delofeu, on loan from Barcelona; and Kevin Gameiro, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain.