MLS Week 3 preview: The California Clasico kicks off; Drogba returns
The second week of MLS action provided plenty of interesting talking points as many of the league's basement clubs trounced mightier opposition, often claiming three points in dramatic fashion.
Week 3 promises to be just as exciting - here are three key matchups:
High-flying Impact welcome back Didier Drogba
The Montreal Impact welcome back star striker Drogba ahead of Saturday's clash against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. The Ivorian spent the last few weeks recovering from a knee injury and didn't feature in his side's first two matches.
But, the former Chelsea man is set to return at long last against Dallas, on a natural grass surface; his trepidation towards playing on artificial surfaces seems warranted, based on Drogba's short stay in MLS. In his half-season last year, Drogba struggled with health, needing medical assistance for extended stretches of time match after match.
Still, Drogba scored some great goals and the Impact hope he can take an already soaring team and make them clear contenders in 2016.
The California Clasico: Los Angeles hosts San Jose
Last weekend, two Texas rivals squared off in what proved to be a fascinating 5-0 win for the Houston Dynamo, and Week 3 offers a similar derby-day match in California, as the LA Galaxy host the San Jose Earthquakes.
A star-studded LA Galaxy side featuring Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Nigel De Jong, Ashley Cole, and Giovani Dos Santos takes on Chris Wondolowski and co. at the StubHub Center. San Jose striker Quincy Amarikwa will be looking to repeat his goal-scoring heroics, too.
It's a rivalry known as the California Clasico, a name that doesn't quite offer the punch of the LA-Chivas USA "SuperClasico" derby, but one steeped in league history; The teams shared the spoils of MLS Cup victory throughout the turn of the century and square off once again for three points in the west.
Seattle, Vancouver shake, shake, shake it off
It's a bit odd to see the last-placed Seattle Sounders take on the ninth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps in this Western Conference clash - the first Cascadia Cup match of the year - but alas, here we are. These two MLS powerhouses kicked off 2016 in poor form, losing their first two fixtures in lackluster fashion.
The Sounders, still reeling from the loss of Obafemi Martins, have found the back of the net just once this season as the club tries to figure out how to attack again. Meanwhile, Vancouver, bereft of Steven Beitashour, have suddenly exposed the right flank of their back four as a major weakness.
Win, lose, or draw, at least one of these struggling sides will earn a point (or three). It's a prospect both head coaches will be relishing as they look to right their respective ships. Jordan Morris will continue his hunt for a first-ever MLS goal, but Clint Dempsey might just have a bit more luck attacking down Vancouver's right-hand side.