Around MLS: Opening Weekend Open Thread

The season is here folks. The Portland Timbers may not kick off until Saturday, but there are six more matches before the Timbers play and another three after them to round out the weekend.

We will always have plenty of places to talk Timbers, but this can be our spot for the rest of the league.

So, here are this weekend's matches:

Friday, March 6th

LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire

Watch it on: UniMas

Kickoff: 7:00 pm pacific at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA

Match Rating: 5/5

This is it. The season starts with the same old really good Galaxy taking on a Fire side that, depending on which match you watched in the Simple Invitational, are either very interesting or very boring. Either way, soccer is back, even if it is on UniMas.

Saturday, March 7th

D.C. United vs. Montreal Impact

Watch it on: MLS Live

Kickoff: 12:00 pm pacific at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Match rating: 2/5

Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado Rapids

Watch it on: MLS Live

Kickoff: 1:00 pm pacific at PPL Park in Chester, PA

Match Rating: 2/5

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Toronto FC

Watch it on: MLS Live

Kickoff: 3:00 pm pacific at BC Place in Vancouver, BC, Canada

Match Rating: 4/5

Vancouver looks like a playoff team again this year, but the real attraction is the annual absurdity of Toronto. With Some of the most expensive designated players in the league history, plus some other guys, Toronto should be worth checking out.

Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew

Watch it on: MLS Live

Kickoff: 5:30 pm pacific at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, TX

Match Rating: 3/5

FC Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes

Watch it on: MLS Live

Kickoff: 5:30 pm pacific at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX

Match Rating: 3/5

Sunday, March 8th

Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC

Watch it on: ESPN2

Kickoff: 2:00 pm pacific at the Orlando Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL

Match Rating: 5/5

The two newest franchises in the league, one built from scratch and the other from the lower leagues, have some big names on hand as Kaka and David Villa square off in this one. Both teams look like they should* be pretty good and with 60,000 people in attendance, this game should make for some great watching.

*for expansion teams

Sporting Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls

Watch it on: FOX Sports 1

Kickoff: 4:00 pm pacific at Sporting Park in Kansas City, KA

Match Rating: 3/5

Seattle Sounders vs. New England Revolution

Watch it on: FOX Sports 1

Kickoff: 6:30 pm pacific at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA

Match Rating: either 1/5 or 5/5

This match will see two of the three best teams in MLS last year face off. It is going to be a good game. The only issue is the possibility that Seattle might win.