The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. Two teams, one amazing rivalry, thousands of hungry fans eager to have first division professional soccer in their cities again.
To call the MLS Expansion Class of 2011 a special one is an
understatement. Not because the Timbers and Whitecaps are ready to
dominate the league with their play, but because the history and
tradition they bring is unlike that of any MLS expansion class
before it.
The Pacific Northwest has been a hotbed for soccer in
America for decades, going back to the NASL days when the teams had
the same names their MLS counterparts have today. In those days,
Portland, Vancouver and Seattle boasted some of the strongest
support in the NASL, something we were reminded of when Seattle
joined MLS in 2009 and quickly set a new standard for fan
support.
Portland and Vancouver should take it to another level, not
only with their fans, but with the rivalries that will instantly be
created. We will have to wait a while before Portland, Seattle and
Vancouver start playing each other, but the anticipation for those
matches is already reaching a boil in the Pacific Northwest.
Fans in Canada won't have to wait for Vancouver to take on
Toronto FC. The Canadian clubs square off this weekend in the type
of match-up we will come to see more and more off with Montreal set
to join MLS in 2012.
Along with a rivalry, Toronto FC should also provide
Vancouver and Portland a cautionary tale for what can happen when
an expansion team with great support squanders an opportunity.
Toronto FC once boasted the best fan support in the league, even as
the club struggled through the usual expansion team struggles. Four
years later, Toronto FC has failed to produce a successful or
entertaining product and the result is now a once-passionate market
has begun to lose patience and suddenly a team that sold out its
games regularly is finding more and more empty seats.
To Portland's credit, the club looks to be getting off to a
good start in terms of building a competitive club. Head coach John
Spencer has compiled an impressive collection of talent,
particularly attacking talent, that should make the Timbers
entertaining, though defensive concerns could be an issue.
Vancouver has taken a more international approach to team
building, with several non-Canadians, such as American defender Jay
DeMerit and French striker Eric Hassli, expected to play key
roles.
Seattle set the bar high for expansion teams by winning a
U.S. Open Cup title and reaching the playoffs in its first MLS
season in 2009, but those standards are not what Portland and
Vancouver will be measured by just yet. They will be measured by
their ability to engage and cultivate strong fan bases and their
ability to construct clubs capable of succeeding, both on the field
and off the field, for years to come.
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While Vancouver and Portland will make their MLS debuts on
Saturday, 14 of the league's other 16 teams will be kicking off
their seasons. Here is a closer look at the match-ups in the first
full MLS weekend:
MLS WEEK ONE
SATURDAY
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Toronto FC
The Whitecaps make their MLS debut against an ideal opponent
in Canadian rival Toronto FC, which is undergoing its own
rebuilding phase. Vancouver's defense should be solid from the
start, but the offense could take time to get going. Toronto has so
many MLS newcomers in the lineup that could struggle at the start.
Don’t expect fireworks here, but look for the Whitecaps to
post a win in their debut. Whitecaps 1, Toronto FC 0.
D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew
Eastern Conference rivals do battle in a match that will be
headlined by the emotional return to first team soccer of Charlie
Davies. Columbus went through an off-season overhaul and still has
some good pieces, but the Crew is a young team that could feel the
impact of losing so many key leaders from the 2010 team. D.C. opens
the season in impressive fashion with a convincing victory. D.C.
United 2, Crew 0.
New York Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders
MLS schedule-makers didn't do the Sounders any favors. Just
days after opening with a loss to Los Angeles in Seattle on
Tuesday, the Sounders have traveled across the country to take on a
loaded Red Bulls squad. With a healthy Thierry Henry and Juan
Agudelo, the Red Bulls should pressure Seattle’s tough
defense and kick their season off with a victory. Red Bulls, 2,
Sounders 1.
Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union
Two teams that made some very good off-season additions
square off. The Dynamo have a revamped team and this match will be
the team's chance to send a message of its intent to be a force in
the East. The Union’s defense is still a work in progress and
that uncertainty in the back makes it tough to pick a road win
here. Houston should prevail. Dynamo 2, Union 1
FC Dallas vs. Chicago Fire
One team has championship aspirations while the other looks
like a disaster waiting to happen. FC Dallas could tear apart the
Fire defense if Chicago's 3-5-2 formation doesn't work out well.
David Ferreira should have a field day while Chicago struggles to
find the net in a Dallas victory. FC Dallas 3, Fire 0.
Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers
The defending champions will bring the trophy to Dick's
Sporting Goods Park, while the Timbers look to spoil that party in
their MLS debut. Portland has some exciting attacking players, but
the Timbers defense still has question marks and the Rapids has the
attackers to make them pay. Omar Cummings has a big day in a
Colorado win. Rapids 3, Timbers 1.
Chivas USA vs. Sporting Kansas City
Jimmy Conrad doesn't have to wait long to face his former
team. Chivas USA has a rebuilt defense that includes Conrad, but
the Rojiblancos' offensive woes could be a problem again, even
against a Sporting KC defense that is also a work in progress. The
Sporting attack should find the net, but this one looks destined to
be a draw. Chivas USA 1, Sporting KC 1.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake
The Earthquakes are tough at home but Real Salt Lake is in
mid-season form right now thanks to its CONCACAF Champions League
run. RSL should be favored in this one, but San Jose's defense is
tough enough to keep things interesting, especially against an RSL
side that could be feeling the fatigue of a mid-week game. Chris
Wondolowski finds the net as the Earthquakes take points off RSL.
Earthquakes 1, Real Salt Lake 1.
SUNDAY
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New England Revolution
The Galaxy looked good in beating Seattle in the opener, and
could welcome back Juan Pablo Angel and Omar Gonzalez to face the
Revs. New England will trot out a revamped defense, but it won't be
enough to slow down a Galaxy attack ready to flex its muscles.
Galaxy 2, Revolution 0.
Ives Galarcep is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com covering Major League Soccer and the U.S. national team.
