USMNT Weekend viewing guide: back from the brink

Wow, what a week it’s been in the soccer world. But we’ve made it to the weekend with all the leagues intact and it’s time for some actual on the field competition. Included this weekend is one of the would-be breakaway clubs taking center stage on Saturday on network TV with our boy Christian Pulisic. All that and more in this what we have to look forward to this weekend:

Friday

Sporting Kansas City v Orlando City SC - 7:55p on FS1

Orlando City drew their opener with Atlanta United last weekend but had a pretty good week regardless as Daryl Dike continues to impress on his loan with Barnsley. This week it was yet another goal, in yet another way as he scored on a lovely little over the head shot:

While last weekends scoreless draw didn’t give Orlando any evidence of how they will replace Dike’s production in their lineup you can bet they’ll keep looking so they are able to take advantage of the rumored transfer windfall. Perhaps it will come in the form of Chris Mueller who got the start last weekend and went 90’ before a late substitution. Andres Perea started on the bench but was a halftime substitute.

Orlando’s opponent this weekend is Sporting Kansas City who started their campaign with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls. Gianluca Busio, who seems to consistently have transfer rumors swirling himself (the man must have a busy agent) started in a forward position for SKC, a new role for the young man who is still just 18-years-old.

Other Notes:

• Sebastian Saucedo and Pumas UNAM face Puebla at 8:30p on ESPN Deportes. Saucedo has started the past two games for Pumas who currently sit in 13th.

Saturday

West Ham United v Chelsea - 12:30p on NBC

Christian Pulisic and Chelsea played lowly Brighton & Hove Albion to a scoreless draw on Tuesday but maintain a fourth place spot just ahead of this weekends opponent West Ham United who are coming off a 3-2 loss to Newcastle United. This one could be an interesting clash as Chelsea have one of the stingiest defenses in the EPL while West Ham have a high functioning offense but their defense has been a weakness. Christian Pulisic seems to have turned a bit of a corner with the club having now started four straight league matches and scoring three goals in his last three games. The match this weekend will be on NBC so hopefully Pulisic can get a fifth straight start and give us an opportunity to watch him on center stage.

Other Notes:

• The San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas will take the field on Saturday afternoon in a match that can be seen on TUDN and Univision. Paxton Pomykal made a return from injury as a substitute for Dallas last weekend while Jackson Yueill and Cade Cowell got the start in a 2-1 loss for San Jose.
• LAFC and Seattle meet in a Western Conference heavyweight matchup Saturday evening at 6:08p on big ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Josh Atencio and the Roldan brothers put a 4-0 smackdown on Minnesota last weekend.

Looking through the paywall:

• Josh Sargent and Werder Bremen face Union Berlin at 9:30a on ESPN+. The team has lost six straight matches and are now just four points out of the relegation spots with four games to play.
• Wolfsburg and John Anthony Brooks face Borussia Dortmund and Giovanni Reyna this Saturday at 9:30a on ESPN+. Dortmund have won three straight Bundesliga matches and a win over Wolfsburg would pull them within two points of the third place club for Champions League qualification.
• Yunus Musah’s minutes have picked up recently and he saw a second straight start for Valencia on Wednesday. The club face Deportivo Alaves at 12:30p on Fanatiz USA and beIN Sport.
• Nashville SC (Walker Zimmerman) and Montreal (Djordje Mihailovic) face off at 2:08p on ESPN+.
• Toronto FC (Bradley, Akinola, and Altidore) face Vancouver at 3:08p on ESPN+.
• New England (Matt Turner) and DC United (play your kids) play at 8:08p on ESPN+.
• Atlanta (Bello, Robinson) and Chicago meet at 8:08p on ESPN+.
• Philadelphia (Fontana, Flach) meet Inter Miami at 8:08p on ESPN+.
• Minnesota United (Doston) look to rebound against Real Salt Lake at 8:08p on ESPN+.
• The Colorado Rapids (Kellyn Acosta) place Austin FC at 9:08p on ESPN+.
• The nightcap features the Portland Timbers (Williamson) facing off with the Houston Dynamo at 9:38p on EPSN+.

Sunday

LA Galaxy v New York Red Bulls - 5:55p on FS1

The weekend closes up with the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls meeting Sunday evening and this one could be worth the watch just for the Caden Clark bangers potential. Clark had a really nice goal for NYRB last weekend in their 2-1 loss to Sporting KC and will look to build on that through the year.

Chicharito picked up two goals for the Galaxy last weekend in their come from behind victory over Inter Miami. Sebastian Lletget started and played the full 90’ while Adam Saldana also started but was pulled at the 60’ mark and Cameron Dunbar came on for the final 15’.

Looking through the paywall:

• Weston McKennie and Juventus face Fiorentina at 9a on ESPN+. Juve holds just a two point lead for the final Champions League position.
• Tyler Adams and RB Leipzig have fallen a full ten points back of league leading Bayern Munich but remain on the front foot in the race for Champions League. They face Stuttgart at 9:30a on ESPN+.
• Sergino Dest and Barcelona look to keep pace in a tight La Liga race when they face Villarreal at 10:15a on Fanatiz USA and beIN Sports.
• Bryan Reynolds is progressing nicely since joining Roma in January, having started two of their past three matches. The team play Cagliari at Noon on ESPN+.
• Timothy Weah and Lille continue to hold a razor thin margin with five games remaining in Ligue 1 play. The team faces fourth place Lyon this weekend at 3p on Fanatiz USA and beIN Sport.

Let us know what you’re watching in the comments below.