A crucial Eastern Conference clash at Audi Field highlights this eventful four-match Wednesday night in MLS. Here's what's at stake:
D.C., Philadelphia look to keep rolling
Both D.C. United and Philadelphia Union are surging in the Eastern Conference and this match (8 pm ET | TV & streaming info) could be season-defining for both sides.
A road win for Philly would beef up their contender bonafides and inch them even closer to a virtual lock on the MLS Cup Playoffs. Three points for United would see them climb into seventh place, just three points away from the East's final playoff place with three games in hand over incumbents Montreal Impact.
Those games in hand keep D.C.'s schedule busy, as they are in the middle of another three-match week. With Atlanta United coming to Audi Field on Sunday, picking up points on Wednesday is all the more important.
Red Bulls host Dynamo amid three-match week
For this interconference midweek match, both the New York Red Bulls and Houston Dynamo arrive under similar circumstances.
The Red Bulls play Houston (8 pm ET | TV & streaming info) after back-to-back rivalry games, a 1-1 draw with NYCFC and 1-0 win over D.C., before facing the Impact on Saturday. Houston travel to Red Bull Arena between Texas Derby matches, with Saturday's game against FC Dallas deciding who wins "El Capitan."
Before either team can focus on the weekend, there are three points at stake on Wednesday. The Red Bulls can leap ahead of Atlanta atop the Supporters' Shield race with a win, while Houston desperately need a victory if they are to retain any hope for the playoffs.
Three big points up for grabs in Portland
After marauding on a 15-match unbeaten streak, Portland have suddenly lost four straight and are back below the playoff line after their stinging 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders on Sunday. Things don't get any easier at midweek, with desperate Toronto FC arriving in the Pacific Northwest (10:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info).
Toronto gained ground on Montreal for the final Eastern Conference playoff place on Saturday and are now six points below the playoff line with two games in hand. It's now or never for TFC, and head coach Greg Vanney said the team needs to win six of their remaining eight games. Can they do it?
Can San Jose escape "rock bottom" against Dallas?
"I thought I was in a rock bottom, but I have found it again," Chris Wondolowskisaid Saturday after San Jose coughed up a 2-0 lead at home in their 3-2 loss to Vancouver. Times are bleak for the Earthquakes. At least they still have Wondo's chase for Landon Donovan's MLS goal record to focus on, where he's now four goals back heading into Wednesday's home match against FC Dallas (10:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info).
Dallas, meanwhile, are far from rock bottom, even if they haven't exactly been worldbeaters lately. They sit in first place in the Western Conference, a point ahead of Sporting Kansas City, and will be looking to avenge their lone home loss of the season against the Quakes at the beginning of the month.
