The week in soccer
Orlando City at New York Red Bulls 7 p.m. Friday (UniMás) Sacha Kljestan's Red Bulls are already the first team to qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs. Now they're taking aim at finishing atop the Eastern Conference and at the best overall record in MLS, too. Orlando's playoff hopes are fading, but they aren't dead yet. Can Kaká lead a late surge to get the Lions over the line?
Orlando City at New York Red Bulls
7 p.m. Friday (UniMás)
Sacha Kljestan's Red Bulls are already the first team to qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs. Now they're taking aim at finishing atop the Eastern Conference and at the best overall record in MLS, too. Orlando's playoff hopes are fading, but they aren't dead yet. Can Kaká lead a late surge to get the Lions over the line?
Seattle Sounders at Sporting Kansas City
5 p.m. Sunday (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)
Sporting manager Peter Vermes, a Delran native, faces a dilemma. With a U.S. Open Cup final matchup against the Union looming on Wednesday, does he play all his starters in this game, which has big implications for Western Conference playoff seeding? Or does he rest big names such as midfield maestro Benny Feilhaber and striker Dom Dwyer?
Across the field, Seattle is catching fire at just the right time. Sensational strikers Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins are healthy and pouring in goals, which bodes well for the Sounders' quest to finally win their first MLS Cup.
Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes
7 p.m. Sunday (FS1, Fox Deportes)
Both of these teams are within a game of the last Western Conference playoff spot with a month to go in the season. San Jose will look to midfielder Anibal Godoy and forward Chris Wondolowski. RSL got a midsummer boost from forward Juan Manuel "Burrito" Martínez, and still has veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
Los Angeles Galaxy at FC Dallas
9:30 p.m. Sunday (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)
No player in MLS is bringing more sizzle right now than L.A.'s Giovani dos Santos. The Mexican national team fan favorite has livened up the Galaxy's attack, playing a mix of midfield and forward. He'll be a handful for Dallas defender Matt Hedges, one of the underrated players at his position in the league.
Seattle Reign vs. FC Kansas City
9:30 p.m. Thursday (FS1)
The National Women's Soccer League crowns its champion with a matchup of teams stacked with World Cup winners. In a rematch of last year's title game, Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo lead Seattle against Kansas City's Amy Rodriguez, Heather O'Reilly, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Lauren Holiday. It will be the final game of Holiday's career; she wants to start a family with her husband, former 76ers guard Jrue Holiday.
- Jonathan Tannenwald