MLS Week 4 preview: Revs take on the Big Apple, slumping Sounders seek 1st win
Referee controversies and injuries dominated the headlines last weekend as the 2016 season started heating up, and a few surprise contenders have emerged as we enter the fourth week of MLS action.
Here are three key matchups ahead of Week 4:
Revolution in the Big Apple
This is a bit of a strange week of action in MLS due to an international break smack dab in the middle; as such, the New England Revolution actually play two matches in this round, the first against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium, then a second at home against the New York Red Bulls.
New York and Boston have a fierce history of rivalry in sports: the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox duke it out regularly in the MLB and the battle between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots is always entertaining in the NFL.
That rivalry extends to MLS, as well, with the Revs defeating the Red Bulls all three times last season, but beating NYCFC only once, losing the first two encounters between them in 2015.
Slumping Sounders face Montreal
The Seattle Sounders are down in the dumps, sitting last in the league with zero points in three games. Hopes for a turnaround may prove futile in this round, though, as the Sounders host an in-form Montreal Impact team.
Sigi Schmid's side is now feeling a bit desperate for a win, or even a draw, but will need to rediscover their goal-scoring instinct, too; the Sounders have scored just two goals thus far this season, good for joint-worst in the league. Clint Dempsey and Jordan Morris will need to ramp up their production.
Luckily for Seattle, Didier Drogba, who made his return from a knee injury last week, likely won't feature in this match, as the former Chelsea striker probably won't be risked on the freshly laid artificial turf at CenturyLink Field.
Hollywood South vs. Hollywood North
The city of Los Angeles is known, predominantly, for its prominence in the world of film and television, but Vancouver has thrown its weight around in this space, too; many of today's best TV shows and movies are produced up north, after all.
LA Galaxy defender Robbie Rogers knows full well just how Vancouver gripped the entertainment landscape; his significant other, Greg Berlanti, is the producer of hit TV shows like "Arrow," "The Flash," and DC's "Legends of Tomorrow," which are all filmed in Vancouver.
Rogers still has to represent California when the Galaxy take on the Vancouver Whitecaps (who also face the Houston Dynamo this week) in a showdown born behind the scenes of the silver screens. There are bragging rights at stake in this one, though shiny golden idols probably won't be handed out to the victors on the night.