In a full weekend slate in MLS -- a welcome relief -- one game stands out above the rest. A
Mid-Atlantic rivalry will be born, when the new Philadelphia Union host their first-ever game
against nearby D.C. United.
A crowd of more than 30,000+ is expected at Lincoln Financial Field, the temporary home of the
Union as they await the completion of PPL Park.
Two games doesn't mean much. But for two Eastern Conference foes, the season trajectory is
already going in opposite directions.
The New York Red Bulls ended a horrendous road run of away form, winning by a slim 1-0 lead in
Seattle. Macoumba Kandji's goal served to be the difference, as Tim Ream and Mike Petke shut down
Seattle (with the help of some wasteful finishing).
Two home openers, two wins. That was the result for both Seattle and New York the prior week,
with the Red Bulls christening their new stadium by eking a 1-0 win over Chicago and the Sounders
overcoming the thuggish tendencies of new boys Philadelphia.
While the light schedule is a puzzling momentum-killer, the two clubs face each other in the
weekend's most interesting matchup.
When Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark both made the jump to Europe over the offseason, Dominic
Kinnear's job became infinitely more difficult.
In Thursday night's 2-1 win against Real Salt Lake, Houston showed they remain a work in
progress -- something that most clubs are dealing with.
