MLS Week 28 Preview: Race for the Supporters' Shield heats up
Week 28 of the 2016 MLS season has all 20 teams across the league competing for three points, and those points come at a premium, as there remains a handful of games left in the campaign.
Here are three matchups worth watching in Week 28:
Cascadia Cup, Round 7
The Cascadia Cup continues on Saturday at CenturyLink Field with the Seattle Sounders hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps in the seventh of nine total matches of this in-season tournament.
Here's how things stand going into this match:
| Team | Points | W-L-D |
|---|---|---|
| Portland Timbers | 9 | 3-2-0 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 6 | 2-1-0 |
| Seattle Sounders | 3 | 1-3-0 |
The Portland Timbers hold the lead with three remaining fixtures, having procured nine points in five matches, but the Whitecaps have two games in hand and will be looking for a win against the Sounders for three more points, though an on-fire Nicolas Lodeiro will have different ideas.
Battle for the Eastern Conference
Toronto FC hosts the New York Red Bulls at BMO Field on Sunday afternoon, and the Reds will be looking to extend their lead atop the Eastern Conference standings, with the Red Bulls nipping at their heels down by only two points.
While Greg Vanney's side commands the No. 1 position in the eastern table, they do so with a game in hand on both the Red Bulls and New York City FC - also at 44 points - and, as such, Toronto FC needs a win to create some distance in the standings.
An in-form Jozy Altidore should help, though TFC supporters could see Sebastian Giovinco make his return from injury sooner than expected. The Atomic Ant was sidelined after picking up a double knock against the Montreal Impact in late August.
However, Toronto must beware the threat of Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has scored nine goals in his last eight games, and leads the league's Golden Boot race with 18 goals in the season.
Supporters' Shield on the line
New York City FC hosts FC Dallas on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, and you can bet the New York Red Bulls, LA Galaxy, Colorado Rapids, and Toronto FC will be watching keenly, as this match could have implications in the MLS Supporters' Shield race.
It's the first time FC Dallas visits Yankee Stadium, too.
Dallas leads the league with 51 points in 29 matches, but with only five games remaining, points will come at a premium, something NYCFC will be counting on in their own efforts to procure the coveted year-end trophy.
Toronto FC, the LA Galaxy, Rapids, and the Red Bulls each have a claim to the title as well, since the margin between each team is quite narrow, and Toronto and LA fans in particular will silently cross their fingers and hope for a draw, or at least an NYCFC win, to open the door for a new overall leader next week.