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3 things to watch in MLS: Week 9

Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters Picture Supplied by Action Images

Toronto FC kicks off this week of soccer with a Friday night tilt against Wilmer Cabrera's Houston Dynamo, and there's plenty more action on tap, as all 22 teams take to the field for Week 9 of the 2017 MLS season. Here are three things to keep an eye out for this week:

A Canadian clash

On Saturday, Montreal hosts Vancouver for the only meeting between these two Canadian outfits in the 2017 regular season, and while all eyes will be on star attackers like Ignacio Piatti and Fredy Montero, an astute observer would be wise to keep tabs on Anthony Jackson-Hamel.

The 23-year-old Impact academy graduate has scored three goals in the last two games, but has played a combined 36 minutes between them. It's an insane conversion rate made even more impressive by the fact that he nearly single-handedly secured four points for the Impact in that time.

His brace against Philadelphia last week gave the Impact a come-from-behind 3-3 draw, while his eight-minute cameo against Atlanta secured all three points with a 93rd-minute game-winning goal. The Whitecaps will be hoping Jackson-Hamel stays quiet, should he get a rare start.

Battle for the West

It's a rumble in the Western Conference jungle on Saturday, as second-placed Dallas hosts visiting table-toppers Portland in a match that could set the pace for the rest of the 2017 campaign. Dallas and Portland have emerged as the two contenders of this season's western division, and will meet for the first time.

Both sides feature plenty of creative talent, but the Timbers will be without star Diego Valeri, who will miss out due to injury. There is some good news for FC Dallas, as influential No. 10 Mauro Diaz has returned to training after suffering a torn Achilles and could return to the lineup soon. He won't be ready for Portland this time, but potentially the reverse leg on June 10.

In any case, MLS fans - and Sporting Kansas City supporters, in particular - will have plenty to look for in this heavyweight bout, as Dallas remains unbeaten in 11 consecutive matches.

Ending a slump

On the other end of the spectrum, two teams in dire straits meet with the hope that victory over the other can spur some sort of revival as the quarter mark of the season fast approaches. Curt Onalfo's LA Galaxy looks a shadow of its former self after suffering a 3-0 loss last week to Seattle.

Philadelphia is even worse off, still winless over seven matches and with 14 goals conceded. That's, well, 10 goals fewer than Minnesota United has allowed, but still good for the second-worst figure in the league. It's why head coach Jim Curtin could be on the chopping block, though Onalfo isn't in much better standing in Los Angeles.

While we have high hopes of an Alejandro Bedoya-inspired victory or a show put on by Giovani Dos Santos, it's equally likely that this fixture inspires little else but a 0-0 draw. One more loss for LA, however, and the Galaxy will match their entire loss total from the 2016 season. Not good.

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