Soccer <\/p>\n
Before the FIFA Club World Cup<\/a> and Concacaf Gold Cup<\/a> break arrives, we’ve got a jam-packed Matchday 19 slate.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Here’s what awaits on Saturday as games unfold across Major League Soccer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The LA Galaxy<\/a> are fresh off their first win of the season, earning a 2-0 victory<\/a> over Real Salt Lake<\/a> before the June international window.<\/p>\n Offseason signing Lucas Sanabria<\/a> and Designated Player Joseph Paintsil<\/a> both scored, and goalkeeper Novak Mi\u0107ovi\u0107<\/a> made four saves to help improve the vibes in Carson.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n But with a 1W-12L-4D record halfway through their 2025 season, every match is essentially a must-win as Greg Vanney’s group looks to go from the Western Conference basement to making the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Meanwhile, St. Louis<\/a> most recently suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat<\/a> at the Portland Timbers<\/a> on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire.<\/p>\n It was their second match since parting ways with Olof Mellberg<\/a> and elevating David Critchley to interim head coach.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n St. Louis will hope to rebound and complete the season sweep of LA; they earned a 3-0 win<\/a> over the defending MLS Cup champions back in early March.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Columbus<\/a> are looking to course-correct from a recent dip, which has seen the 2023 MLS Cup champions go winless over their past six matches (0W-2L-4D).<\/p>\n The Crew’s most recent setback was a 5-1 defeat<\/a> at Inter Miami<\/a>, making it 14 goals allowed during this uncharacteristic slump.<\/p>\n Can head coach Wilfried Nancy’s team respond and avoid slipping further down the Eastern Conference table? As spectacular as Diego Rossi<\/a>‘s been this year, they’ll need far more than the Uruguayan star.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Vancouver<\/a> are coming off a 3-0 victory<\/a> over visiting rival Seattle Sounders FC<\/a>, bouncing back from their defeat to Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> final.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Head coach Jesper S\u00f8rensen will again need to utilize the Whitecaps’ depth, given numerous high-profile absences. Chief among them are top scorer Brian White<\/a> (10 goals) and breakout midfielder Sebastian Berhalter<\/a>, who are representing the USMNT<\/a> at the Gold Cup. Ali Ahmed<\/a> and Jayden Nelson<\/a> are with Canada<\/a> at the same tournament.<\/p>\n The ‘Caps, who lead the Supporters’ Shield standings, travel cross-continent as owners of a club-record 11-match unbeaten run in MLS play.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Two of the Western Conference’s finest clash when San Diego FC<\/a> visit Allianz Field to take on high-flying Minnesota United<\/a>.<\/p>\n San Diego are second in the West as they enjoy a fantastic expansion season under head coach Mikey Varas, whose team has won five of their last seven matches. That includes a 2-0 win<\/a> over visiting Austin FC<\/a> two weekends ago, with USMNT midfielder Luca de la Torre<\/a> among the goalscorers before heading to the Gold Cup.<\/p>\n DP forwards Anders Dreyer<\/a> (6g\/8a) and Chucky Lozano<\/a> (5g\/7a) have been at the center of San Diego’s early success. The latter suffered an injury that kept him off of Mexico’s Gold Cup roster, although Varas clarified last week<\/a> that it’s not as significant as the hamstring strain that sidelined Lozano through most of March.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Loons continue to impress under head coach Eric Ramsay, whose side sits third in the West and is level with San Diego on 30 points. Can they leapfrog the newcomers?<\/p>\n Leading scorer Tani Oluwaseyi<\/a> (8g\/5a) will be with Canada at the Gold Cup, giving striker Kelvin Yeboah<\/a> (4g\/1a) the ideal opportunity to start and build chemistry in attack with fellow DP Joaqu\u00edn Pereyra<\/a> (2g\/7a).<\/p>\n Minnesota also have goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair<\/a> with Canada at the Gold Cup, likely giving backup Alec Smir<\/a> a start. St. Clair has a league-best eight clean sheets this season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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