Chivas USA V FC Dallas
The hosts stopped their two game losing run with a draw against Colorado, despite ending the game with only nine men after midfielder Gabriel Farfan and forward Tristan Bowen were red carded. With Chivas having no game at the weekend the suspensions will start with the Dallas encounter and each player will be out for two game for their action, so they are eligible to return to the field for the away match against Vancouver Whitecaps on September 1. As always someone misfortune is someone else’s gain and that player could be midfielder Jose Manuel Rivera. He is the top scorer in the sides Reserve team with five goals and two assist and with a good optimism and camaraderie he could well fulfill the role needed during this time.
Dallas are on miserable run and are unable to buy a win. Defeat at the weekend against the Portland Timbers meant it has being eleven matches since they had a victory. With the playoff places drifting further away each week it looks like the great start to the season that they had which saw them win six out of their first eight contests will be going to waste if their form does not pick-up very soon. To add to their wows one of their few early loses was when they were soundly beaten 3-1 when making this exact trip back March. They did manage a goalless draw though when the two teams met last on 4 July in Texas.
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Portland Timbers V Real Salt Lake
A win for the hosts would close the gap on Real Salt Lake who currently top the Western Conference to three points and they would still have a game in hand on their opponents also, as they meet for the first time this season. After a unbeaten run of fifteen games near the start of proceedings they are currently accumulating points steadily if not spectacularly but have still yet to be beaten in the league at home. Someone who is on fire at the moment though is midfielder Diego Valeri who has assisted on each of the Timbers last six goals in MLS play.
The visitors come into this game on the back of a 4-2 loss to the LA Galaxy. In fact they have only registered one victory in their last five league contests, that being a 1-0 win over Houston as their lead over the rest of the chasing pack dwindles. They did overcome their opponents in the Semi Final of the US Open Cup recently with a 2-1 success though. They will however be missing midfielder Kyle Beckerman as a yellow card he picked up against the Galaxy means on the totting-up process he will be suspended for the trip to Oregon.