Here is everything you need to know about MLS and North American soccer this morning:
Big Apple duo hits the road
A tempting MLS contest will go down on Sunday, when New York City FC visit resurgent MLS Cup holders Toronto FC (4 pm ET | ESPN, TSN – Full TV & streaming info). NYCFC boss Dome Torrent is not fooled by the BMO side's current table slot, insisting that they're playing like champions again. READ MORE | PREVIEW
Chicago has a tall task ahead if they want to snap a six-match losing skid, with the high-flying New York Red Bulls headed to town for a Saturday dust-up (8:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). Toyota Park has generally been a house of horrors for the Red Bulls, but they have gone 2-0-2 on their last four visits. PREVIEW
Big home tilts for Seattle, Portland
Seattle will aim to make it five wins in a row when West leaders FC Dallas invade for Sunday's nationally-televised weekend capper (10 pm ET | FS1, TSN – Full TV & streaming info). Though Garth Lagerway saw his move for for Peru playmaker Paolo Hurtado hijacked on deadline day, the Sounders GM believes the club is now ready for the season's final push to the postseason. READ MORE | PREVIEW
Elsewhere in Cascadia, Portland will try establish a new club record unbeaten streak in Saturday's home derby with Vancouver (11 pm ET | TSN – Full TV & streaming info). The trends seem to indicate that the home side have a good chance to make it 16 bulletproof results in a row; Portland haven't lost at home all season (7-0-3) and the Whitecaps have only managed a single MLS victory in 13 Rose City tries. PREVIEW
Big soccer weekend in LA
Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns as the LA Galaxy answer a StubHub challenge from visiting Minnesota United (10:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). The Galaxy, who have put up four goals in each of their last two home games, swept this season series last year. PREVIEW
At the same time across town, fourth-place LAFC will open the gate to square off against third-place Sporting KC in what promises to be a tense Western affair (10:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). The teams are level on points, and each has won but once recently – five league games for LAFC and six for Sporting. PREVIEW
Cross-conference duels at MAPFRE, RioT
Columbus will be out for its third straight victory when Houston comes to town on Saturday night (7:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). Crew SC head coach Gregg Berhalter believes that the return of Justin Meram will restore balance to an attack that has been starving for production from the flank. READ MORE | PREVIEW
Montreal will try to find some breathing room in the Eastern Conference playoff race when they hit the road for Saturday's game at Real Salt Lake (10 pm ET | TVAS – Full TV & streaming info). However, the Impact have yet to win at Rio Tinto in three tries. PREVIEW
Lions, Union travel for Eastern scraps
An important Eastern tilt is set for Saturday in New England, where the sixth place Revs will "welcome" seventh place Philadelphia (7:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). On Thursday, the Union presented new sporting director Ernst Tanner, who says he intends to continue the club project of developing youngsters. READ MORE | PREVIEW
Orlando City will try to snap an eight-game road losing slide when they make their first Audi Field visit to tackle D.C. United on Sunday (8 pm ET | FS1 – Full TV & streaming info). Though the transfer deadline has passed, Lions boos James O'Connor hinted that they're still in talks with a some potential free-agent targets. READ MORE | PREVIEW
Can Quakes shake Colorado again?
Two Western sides trying to build off of slump-busting wins will clash on Saturday when Colorado hosts San Jose (9 pm ET | TV & streaming info). Though the Earthquakes have traditionally been among the rudest Rocky Mountain guests, they are winless in their last six visits. PREVIEW
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