League

National TV: Four MLS matches highlight weekend slate

No Sporting Kansas City? No problem.


The MLS Supporters' Shield leaders are off this weekend, but soccer fans will have four other nationally televised matches to enjoy as a busy Week 11 draws to an exciting close. We give a rundown of those four games in the space below, three of which will take place on Mothers' Day in a mouthwatering tripleheader.


FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy | 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Twitter & Univision

Head coach Oscar Pareja's men haven't exactly turned heads in 2018, but they have just one loss this season and have conceded five fewer goals than any other team in the Western Conference. This is unwelcome news for the LA Galaxy who, despite bringing Zlatan Ibrahimovic into a talented lineup, have lost three straight games and four of their last five. FC Dallas (3-1-4, 13 points) played the Galaxy (3-5-1, 10 points) off the pitch the last time these teams met at Toyota Stadium last October, with the hosts running out 5-1 winners on Decision Day.


Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC | 3 p.m. CT Sunday, ESPN

The newest installment of the fierce Cascadia rivalry will feature two teams high on confidence. The Timbers (3-3-2, 11 points) have rattled off three consecutive wins after enduring a turbulent start to the campaign, while Seattle (2-4-2, 8 points) just notched a momentous 1-0 win at Toronto FC in Wednesday's rematch of the 2016 and 2017 MLS Cups. Providence Park will be rocking on Sunday afternoon, offering one of the league's best spectacles as a pair of familiar foes go to battle.


Orlando City SC vs. Atlanta United FC | 5 p.m. CT Sunday, FS1

Simply put, no team in MLS is hotter right now than Orlando City (6-2-1, 19 points). The Lions have rattled off a club-record six straight wins, averaging nearly three goals per game during the torrid stretch. Forward Dom Dwyer has led the way with six goals, while Yoshi Yotun has chipped in three goals and five assists. Yet it's Orlando's opponent that is widely considered the best team in MLS. Atlanta (7-2-1, 22 points) took a rare home stumble to Sporting KC on Wednesday, relinquishing first place in the Supporters' Shield race in the process, but the Five Stripes remain as dangerous as any outfit in the league with Josef Martinez (seven goals) and Miguel Almiron (six goals, five assists) leading the way.


LAFC vs. New York City FC | 7:30 p.m. CT Sunday, FS1

LAFC's homestand at the new Banc of California Stadium continues in the Sunday nightcap as the high-flying expansion side (6-2-1, 19 points) hosts Eastern Conference contenders New York City FC (6-2-2, 20 points). This compelling cross-conference matchup will see LAFC put a five-game unbeaten run on the line against an NYCFC outfit that suffered a 4-0 setback to rivals New York Red Bulls last weekend. If manager Patrick Vieira's men want to bounce back into the win column, they'll have to do so in a raucous environment 3,000 miles away from home.