With Memorial Day in the rearview mirror and a third of the season in the books, MLS teams should have a feel for what type of team they are going to be for the 2009 season.
On Thursday night, two teams leading their respective packs square off at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., as Western Conference leader Chivas USA hosts Eastern Conference leader the Chicago Fire.
Is this a prelude to MLS Cup 2009? Possibly, but don't book your tickets for the November finale just yet. Who would have put New York in last year's championship? Exactly. No one.
Chicago enters the match as the last unbeaten team in MLS (4-0-6), while Chivas has been pretty stellar on their home turf at 5-0-1. The Fire are coming off of two road wins in Toronto and New York. Chivas USA, on the other hand, has stuggled of late in letting a lead slip late in a draw with D.C. United and scraping by with a point in a come-from-behind draw with Kansas City last weekend.
Already being billed by Chivas USA as
"the most exciting game of the year" and local fans' last opportunity to say "Bye-Bye Blanco" before he retires at the end of the season, Thursday's match should make for entertaining television (granted, not quite as compelling as Wednesday's Champions League finale between Man U and Barcelona, but let's not digress).
The Goats need to pass this test to prove that all of their wins have come against the league's weaker competitors. The Fire need to remain unbeaten for two more matches to tie the MLS mark for most consecutive games without a loss. Chivas USA will be pushed by the Fire, but expect the league leaders to shake off some recent injuries to come out on top.
Top Choice: Chivas USA (Season Top Choice record:
3-4)
The Fire may not be good enough to pick in Thursday's match, but that does not mean you should abandon them entirely this week. The team returns to Bridgeview, Ill., to host FC Dallas on Sunday. The Brimstone rivals will meet for the second time this season after Chicago claimed a dominant 3-1 win to open the season in Dallas. Against a weak and wounded Hoops squad, expect the results to be similar this time around.
Best Bet:
Chicago Fire (Season Best Bet record:
3-4)
Your pick for CHV v. CHI is due Wednesday. Your pick for CHI v. FCD is due Saturday.