Whoa. Just whoa. If you thought Week 33 and the Final Push to the Playoffs packed a punch, what will Decision Day be like? With the Armchair Analyst in New York City, the guys get in the same room for banter, breakdowns and some serious analysis of Sunday’s MLS doubleheader.
Starting in the Western Conference, FC Dallas grabbed control of the Supporters’ Shield race … but may have lost Mauro Diaz for months and Kellyn Acosta for the playoff run. The magical unicorn’s apparent Achilles injury breaks Andrew’s heart, but perhaps Carlos Ruiz and his timeless goal magic can fuel an MLS Cup run in Big D. Seattle, meanwhile, wasted another opportunity to clinch a playoff spot, meaning there are three up for grabs among four teams with Portland and Kansas City controlling their own fates. Can Colorado pip Dallas to the Shield? It’d be a fitting bow on the Rapids’ best regular season ever.
In the Eastern Conference, Drogba-gate dominates the headlines. Long story short, Didier Drogba decided coming off the bench wasn’t for him, so the Impact went out and nabbed a point sans superstar via a hard-fought draw with archrivals Toronto FC, led by Sebastian Giovinco (the Atomic Ant is back!) and Jozy Altidore. Elsewhere, the Red Bulls locked up the top seed, but gave their fanbase more late heart palpitations, Philly backed into the Knockout Round, D.C. United are playing the best soccer in MLS, and New York City FC are still the most schizophrenic team in North America.
Don’t tune out before the mailbag, in which Doyle explains the origins of the Octagon, Michael Bradley’s TFC future gets a harder look, the guys explain the repercussions ofSunday’s Expansion Priority Draft, MLS affiliates book their places in USL Cup and Steve Jobs … no, Bob Bradley … nearly leads Swansea City to a massive road win in his first EPL match.
