Chris Wondolowski #8 of San Jose Earthquakes (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
The San Jose Earthquakes head to FC Dallas Stadium to take on FC Dallas on Saturday evening in what should be a thrilling match from start to finish. As Kenny Cooper and Chris Wondolowski headline each of the potent attacks, MLS fans both in attendance and those tuning in should be in for a shootout.
Editor's Note: This piece continues our extensive preview of the 2011 MLS campaign. Our first three
MLS preview pieces are linked below: Number 7: Omar Bravo: Next Designated Player to Fail, or is
Sporting KC the place for a revival? MLS Eastern Conference Preview: Five Most Intriguing Sides
Number Six: Charlie Davies: The Player, The [.
Fresh off a 2-1 win over Cruz Azul in CONCACAF Champions League play in mid-week, Toronto FC
will try to ride that momentum when it hosts the New York Red Bulls Saturday afternoon at BMO
Field.
The Red Bulls and Toronto are both chasing Columbus in the Eastern Conference standings, and
with the Crew hosting Colorado later on Saturday, picking up some points in this match is important
for both sides.
FC Dallas and Chicago battled to a 1-1 draw Thursday night, but that still leaves seven matches
on the Saturday schedule all slated for well after the U.S./Turkey send-off game in
Philadelphia.
The Columbus Crew welcome in the Galaxy for a battle of conference leaders the first of several
matches that Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle will miss because of international duty.
Even while Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle and Sacha Kljestan train with the U.S. men's national
team in hopes of making the World Cup roster, the MLS schedule churns on this weekend.
There are two games tonight in advance of a four-game menu on Saturday, topped off with a lone
Sunday fixture.
It's a full set of matches in Major League Soccer this week with Chivas USA hosting Chicago on
Thursday, 6 games on Saturday, and one more on Sunday. On Wednesday Columbus played San Jose and
won 2-1 with a goal from Schelotto. Chivas vs Chicago will be the marquee match as its the top team
in the East battling the top team in the West.
With about a third of the Major League Soccer season, Chivas USA remains on top in the Western
Conference while the Eastern Conference is very crowded. The top 4 teams are all within 2 points of
each other. On Saturday there are 6 games with one on Sunday. Here's a full preview of this
weekend's matches (all times are EST).
Predicting the MLS standings is impossible, so I don't try. Instead, I'm going to focus on the
much more predictable performance of the MLS team mascots, who sweat their furry testicles off for
less money and recognition than the players. Actually, in the MLS, some of the mascots might get
paid more than the players, and some receive more recognition.
