MLS Heineken Rivalry Week is back, and that means four tantalizing clashes between some of the most storied teams in MLS.
Three of the games on tap are reduxes of the ones we saw at the end of June – San Jose vs. LA, Seattle vs. Portland and Toronto vs. Montreal – while the Atlantic Cup bout between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls now enters the mix. All four, however, promise thrills that will bring the best out of both the players and the fans as the playoff stakes rise and bragging rights are put on the line.
For those of you who missed the games last time around, here's a quick primer:
What's the story behind these rivalries?
Two of these rivalries, the Atlantic Cup and the California Clasico between San Jose and LA, are the oldest in MLS. All four teams involved are MLS original teams with a rich history of success, and the meetings between these coastal rivals have always been spicy, whether in the regular season, playoffs or US Open Cup.
In Friday's Rivalry Week opener between San Jose and LA, the season series is evenly poised after each team took their home game earlier this year. This will be the first edition of the Clasico played at Avaya Stadium in league play (the Galaxy posted a 1-0 win in the US Open Cup in July). With San Jose all of a sudden contending for a playoff spot, the atmosphere promises to be unforgettable with a star-studded LA team in town.
The Atlantic Cup is the most-played rivalry, and indeed the most-played matchup in all of MLS. As such, it has produced some memorable meetings in its 20 years, from epic playoff series to high-level trolling of the other team to just downright bizarre games. The teams are battling for first place in the Eastern Conference this year, adding some extra meaning to a contest that already boasts plenty of it.
As far as the other two matchups are concerned, Toronto and Montreal will meet again at BMO Field after Toronto took the first game of the season series with a 3-1 victory on June 24. The history of the 401 Derby – so named for the stretch of highway that separates the two Canadian metropolises – draws largely from the two teams' frequent battles in the Amway Canadian Championship. But it's now becoming increasingly important on the MLS scene, with both teams contending for a place in the 2015 postseason.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Cascadia clash between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. Though both teams are relatively new to the MLS scene (Seattle entered the league in 2009, Portland in 2011), this rivalry dates back to 1975, when previous editions of the teams met for the first time in the old North American Soccer League.
Each team has earned a home win in the 2015 regular-season series, and Portland also won an unforgettable US Open Cup game in June. Both teams will be hunting for all three points, not only for bragging rights and positioning, but to strike a blow at the Vancouver Whitecaps' chances of winning a third straight Cascadia Cup.
When and where can I watch?
All four of these games will be on national TV in their respective countries:
- Fri. 8/28, 11 pm ET: San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy – UniMás in the United States, MLS LIVE in Canada
- Sat. 8/29, 4 pm ET: Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact – TSN and RDS2 in Canada, MLS LIVE in the United States
- Sun. 8/30, 4:30 pm ET: Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers – ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the United States, TSN2 in Canada
- Sun. 8/30, 7 pm ET: New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United – Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes in the United States, TSN2 in Canada
Will I have a chance to see these matchups again?
This is the final regular-season matchup in all of the series except for Toronto-Montreal, so this is your last chance to see most of these teams play each other until next season. Toronto and Montreal will meet again in the latter's city on the final day of the regular season – Decision Day. That promises to be a tremendous matchup, especially considering playoff qualification and placement will likely hang in the balance for both teams.
