MLS Weekend Preview: New York City FC ready for Yankee Stadium debut
Controversy and squabble dogged New York City FC for most of the buildup to its inaugural season. The buildup lurched from crisis to misstep to peculiarity with only the momentary diversion toward soccer-related topics. The inaugural draw against Orlando City on Sunday finally offered a reprieve, but it also created a significant marker for NYCFC to match in the race between the expansion sides.
The scrutiny continued this week with NYCFC’s home debut at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC stuck out its chest by revealing its season-ticket base of 15,000 in the buildup and then watched the New York Daily News plaster an overhead shot of the suspect surface at Yankee Stadium and the skeptical comments of Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira on its back cover on Thursday.
NYCFC finally receives a chance to issue its response against New England on Sunday. There is no room to hide with Yankee Stadium on full display. It is a public opportunity to evaluate the progress of the club on and off the field and weigh the viability of the hallowed baseball venue as a temporary solution.
The verdicts will arrive immediately. If NYCFC can pull through from a logistical standpoint and put on a show in its first match, then some of the chatter might die down a bit. If the first game falls flat, then the questions will continue and increase in the days and the weeks ahead.
The unrelenting quest to tab NYCFC as an immediate success or failure is part of life in the big city. The exercise has little to do with Jason Kreis or his players, though a victory over the Revs would certainly help. It is all about making the right impression to cast the early tumult aside and set the club on the proper course after its initial Bronx unveiling.
Houston Dynamo -- Orlando City, Friday, 7:00p.m. ET (UniMas, Univision Deportes)
Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric produced save after save last weekend to allow Giles Barnes’ winner to stand in the 1-0 victory over Columbus. The promising number one needs more protection and the home side requires more of the ball against an Orlando City side still searching for its identity. Look for Kaka to drift in search of space as he did last Sunday, but his teammates must focus on complementing his runs instead of dragging additional markers toward him.
Chicago Fire -- Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, 6:00p.m. ET (TSN)
Veteran goalkeeper Jon Busch will make his first start for the Fire since 2009 with Sean Johnson (infection) ruled out. Busch will expect the players in front of him to perk up considerably after a languid display at LA Galaxy to open the season. Vancouver will certainly increase the tempo when it can, but the emphasis will once again fall on Pedro Morales and his ability to spread the field with his diagonals.
Columbus Crew SC -- Toronto FC, Saturday, 7:30p.m. ET (TSN2)
The midfield battle looms as the potentially decisive factor in the first Trillium Cup meeting of the season. Crew SC must cope without the suspended Tony Tchani (one-match ban for a challenge on Houston midfielder Leonel Miranda on Saturday) as it attempts to exercise dominion over the proceedings. Tchani’s absence leaves the home side a bit lightweight in the center of the park. If TFC can crowd out Crew SC with its midfield diamond and restrict the service to Kei Kamara, then the Reds stand a good chance of leaving MAPFRE Stadium with a result.
FC Dallas -- Sporting Kansas City, Saturday, 8:30p.m. ET
Sporting Kansas City lost its appeal to rescind Matt Besler’s second booking from the 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls last weekend. The decision by an independent review panel this week forces Peter Vermes to change his options in the middle of his defense. Erik Palmer-Brown holds the inside track to partner Ike Opara, while Jalil Anibaba presents another option. The reconstituted back four must prepare for a rugged 90 minutes against Blas Perez and a FCD side still looking for top gear after a halting performance in the 1-0 victory over San Jose on Saturday.
Real Salt Lake -- Philadelphia Union, Saturday, 9:30p.m. ET
RSL coach Jeff Cassar plumped for the 4-3-3 formation often used during preseason in the 0-0 draw at Portland on Saturday. The gambit allows him to accommodate Olmes Garcia and Sebastian Jaime in his starting XI, but both players contributed little during the trip to Providence Park. Expect the midfield to provide more supply against a Union side still stinging from its referee-marred 0-0 draw with Colorado at PPL Park on Saturday.
Seattle Sounders -- San Jose Earthquakes, Saturday, 10:00p.m. ET
Sounders FC hit the ground running with the performance of Opening Weekend in the 3-0 victory over New England on Sunday. This particular affair against the Earthquakes offers a chance to hone those attributes and maintain the level of sharpness displayed on the third goal. San Jose coach Dominic Kinnear is in the midst of figuring out how to get his best players on the field and sorting through his short-term and long-term options. This game – particularly given the quality of the opposition – presents rather harsh conditions to make those judgments.
New York City FC -- New England Revolution, Sunday, 5:00p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)
Surface issues could play a significant role in this encounter. NYCFC -- on the evidence of its first performance and its philosophical leanings -- prefers to keep the ball on the ground. New England faces fitness questions about Lee Nguyen (groin) heading into the match. The modest dimensions and the quality of the sod play into the considerations in both camps. Expect the two sides to compensate accordingly as they try to navigate through this significant occasion.
Portland Timbers -- LA Galaxy, Sunday, 7:00p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes)
Balance is the primary concern for the Timbers as they await the arrival of the MLS Cup holders. Portland boss Caleb Porter opted for traditional holding players George Fochive and Jack Jewsbury to compensate for the raft of injuries in that department and provide more positional solidity in midfield for the 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Both players must occupy that space in front of the back four to ensure Robbie Keane does not find ways to obtain the ball more frequently than he did against Chicago last Friday.
