MLS Preview: Crew and Red Bulls, RSL and Dallas in key match-ups

Posted Jul 17, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 17, 2010 at 11:05 AM

Real Salt Lake travels to Dallas in the West, while New York heads to Columbus in the East for two top of the conference match-ups in Saturday’s Major League Soccer action.

TORONTO (6-4-4) AT PHILADELPHIA (3-8-2): Toronto started the season poorly on the road, losing its first four games away from BMO Field this season. It has turned that form around in its last two road trips, earning a win and a draw to help it move into third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Union have played better of late, and were unlucky to fall against San Jose last Saturday after controlling most of the game only to the caught on the counter-attack in stoppage time to conceded the game-winning goal. But the Union rebounded in midweek to earn a 1-0 victory in an exhibition against Glasgow Celtic, and appear to be finding their rhythm as the second half of the season approaches.

NEW YORK (8-5-2) AT COLUMBUS (8-3-4): The Red Bulls can take the lead in the Eastern Conference with victory against the Crew, but they’ll have to do it without new signing Thierry Henry, who is expected to make his debut on Thursday in an exhibition against Tottenham Hotspur.

New York is on a five-game undefeated streak, but has only drawn its last two matches including a 0-0 tie against D.C. United last weekend. The Crew were on a good run of form themselves, but surprisingly lost 1-0 to Kansas City on Wednesday night, ending their five-game undefeated streak.

Columbus won the first meeting of the season between the teams 3-1 back in May. Another victory tonight and they would hold a five-point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.

REAL SALT LAKE (9-3-3) AT DALLAS (5-2-7): RSL is on a 10-game undefeated streak as it travels to Dallas, including a good victory on the road against Chicago in its last outing. Alvaro Saborio has been one of the catalysts for that streak, leading the team with seven goals and four assists, and the side could see the return of Kyle Beckerman after a foot injury.

RSL faces a strong challenge at Pizza Hut Park, though, a venue where it has never earned a point in seven previous visits. Dallas is on its own five-game undefeated streak, pulling out a draw last Sunday in Seattle on David Ferreira’s late goal. Having only lost twice this season, Dallas has proved itself a tough team to play against, but still needs more out of its offense if it is to bridge the eight-point gap to the top two.

KANSAS CITY (4-8-3) AT COLORADO (6-4-4): The Wizards earned a surprise 1-0 victory against Columbus on Wednesday for their second victory in as many months. Rookie Teal Bunbury scored his first goal in MLS in his fourth start, but the biggest catalyst for the victory was the continued strong play of goalkeeper Jimmy Neilsen, who recorded seven saves against the Crew and has six shutouts this season.

Neilsen could also be key in tonight’s game, but Colorado has been surprisingly average in front of goal this season. While Connor Casey has six goals individually, the Rapids have scored just 16 goals in 14 games, the fewest in the Western Conference. Omar Cummings needs to up his strike-rate, having scored just 4 goals on 17 shots on goal this season.