Two nationally televised MLS matches fall on either side of Saturday night’s contest between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake at Children’s Mercy Park (tickets). Let’s jump straight into the Week 9 headliners.
Orlando City SC vs. Colorado Rapids | 3 p.m. CT Saturday, Facebook Live & UniMas
It’s a mismatch on paper as the hottest team in the Eastern Conference hosts arguably the coldest team in the West. Orlando City (5-1-0, 15 points) jutted to first place with an impressive 2-1 win at New York City FC last Sunday and takes a perfect 4-0-0 home record into Saturday afternoon’s matchup at their new stadium. Lions striker Cyle Larin is off to a flying start with six goals in as many appearances.
Meanwhile, Colorado (1-4-1, 4 points) sits at the bottom of the Western Conference table and has lost all three away games in 2017. The Rapids have managed just one goal away from home—a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time top cap off a 3-1 loss at Sporting KC.
Atlanta United FC vs. D.C. United | 2 p.m. CT Sunday, FS1 and FOX Deportes
Explosive expansion side Atlanta United FC (3-2-2, 11 points) plays host to a stuttering D.C. United outfit (2-3-2, 8 points) on Sunday at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Atlanta leads the league with 2.43 goals per game and boasts a wealth of attacking talent through Hector Villalba (4 goals, 2 assists), Miguel Almiron (2 goals, 4 assists) and Yamil Asad (2 goals, 2 assists).
On the flipside, no team in the Eastern Conference has scored fewer goals than D.C.’s six. United has already been shut out four times in 2017, but has managed to take seven points from its last four fixtures.
