The second installment of Heineken Rivalry Week in 2017 highlights a jam-packed Week 25 in Major League Soccer. Seven midweek matches will entertain fans on Wednesday, followed by an intriguing 11-game slate that spans Friday to Sunday.
Sporting Kansas City will continue their chase for the top spot in the Western Conference when they visit the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium, set to kick off at 8 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX Sports Midwest Plus. These sides have shared a rich head-to-head history in recent years, notably squaring off in three straight postseasons from 2011-2013 to make for an appropriate Rivalry Week fixture.
Fortunately for soccer fans across Kansas City, there will be no shortage of MLS action televised nationally over the next several days. A whopping five matches will air across the country in Week 25 as MLS closes the curtains on August and sets the stage for the regular season stretch run. We take a look at those matchups below.
FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo | 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, Facebook Live & UniMas
The 2017 edition of the Texas Derby will be decided Wednesday when fifth-place FC Dallas (9-6-8, 35 points) and the Houston Dynamo (10-8-7, 37 points) brace for their third regular-season battle of the year. The sides played to a pair of draws in the previous two encounters and will look at Wednesday as a great opportunity to gain some much-needed momentum. FC Dallas is winless in four straight — including a 2-0 setback at the hands of Sporting KC on Saturday — while Houston lost 2-1 at Vancouver the same night to drop their road record to a dismal 1-8-4.
New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC | 6 p.m. CT Friday, ESPN & ESPN Deportes
New York City FC (14-7-4, 46 points) is within touching distance of Toronto FC for the Supporters’ Shield, while the Red Bulls (12-10-2, 38 points) have managed to reach the U.S. Open Cup Final while staying in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Golden Boot leader David Villa and NYCFC will be going for the regular-season sweep at Red Bull Arena, having previously defeated their New Jersey-based rivals 2-0 in June and 3-2 on Aug. 6
Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC | 3:30 p.m. CT Sunday, ESPN & ESPN Deportes
An odd scheduling quirk will see the Canadian rivals meet three times over the final two months of the regular season. The first battle is set for Sunday at Stade Saputo, where Ignacio Piatti and the Impact (10-8-6, 36 points) will host Sebastian Giovinco and a red-hot Toronto side that appears poised to hoist the Supporters’ Shield title. Montreal will have the advantage of rest, however, as Toronto (14-3-8, 50 points) must first host the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.
LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 6 p.m. CT Sunday, FS1 & FOX Deportes
The final chapter of this year’s Cali Clasico will unfold Sunday at StubHub Center in what is simply a must-win for the hosts. LA Galaxy (6-12-5, 23 points) are 11 points adrift of the playoff positions and in real danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2008. Meanwhile, San Jose (9-10-6, 33 points) sits one point below the red line and is desperate to snap a four-year playoff drought. With an air of desperation lingering, this Western Conference matchup offers a different type of intrigue.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers | 8:30 p.m. CT Sunday, FS1 & FOX Deportes
Arguably no team is hotter right now than the defending MLS Cup champions, as Seattle (11-7-7, 40 points) has won six of seven to move into a first-place tie with Sporting KC atop the West. The Timbers (10-9-7, 37 points) have rebounded from a summer swoon themselves, taking wins in three of their last five. Both teams have midweek fixtures on tap — Seattle visits Vancouver and Portland hosts Colorado — but Sunday’s showdown at CenturyLink Field will serve up an electric atmosphere for another chapter in the colorful Cascadia rivalry.
