MLS Match Week 9 – Your Hooligan Picks | OneFootball

The games prefaced with an asterisk (*) are Hooligan’s must-watch fixtures.

Austin FC vs. LA Galaxy

1:45PM ET @ Q2 Stadium, Austin, TexasAirs on FOX & Streaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassMLS certainly picked a dud for the national broadcast. Austin haven’t exactly been lighting up the league, and the LA Galaxy’s woeful season is well known to anyone with a passing interest in the sport. The most exciting thing you see might be Matthew McConaughey in his green suit banging the drum to get crowd fired up.

*Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami CF

4:30pm ET @ FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OhioStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassTwo reasons this is a Hooligan Pick. One. This is a battle between the last two undefeated teams in the MLS. Two. If #1 wasn’t reason enough, it’s the only game on its time slot.

CF Montréal vs. Orlando City SC

7:30pm ET @ Stade Saputo, Montréal, CanadaStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassCF Montréal are finally playing a home game. Will it be a win? I think so. Here’s why…. uh…. I got nothing.

*Charlotte FC vs. San Diego FC

7:30pm ET @ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North CarolinaStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season Pass#2 in the East vs. #3 in the West? Sign me up, please. While Wilfried Zaha gets a lot of attention for Charlotte, the team’s attacking core is built around midfielder Pep Biel and forward Patrick Agyemang. SDFC’s back line will have a long day of defending.

New England Revolution vs. New York City FC

7:30pm ET @ Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MassachusettsStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassNeither club is in consistent form, which means this has the potential to be a great game. Or one of the worst. Flip a coin.

New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United

7:30pm ET @ Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New JerseyStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassAs Graham Chapman (portraying King Arthur in Monty Python and the Holy Grail) would say: “Run away!” D.C. United are in trouble. After a decent start (2 draws and a win), they’ve hit the skids. They’ve allowed 13 goals in their past four games, and scored three. They are so reliant on Christian Benteke offensively it’s not funny. He’s scored five of the team’s nine, and assisted one other. Red Bulls’ coaches probably don’t have to do much more defensive planning than paste a picture of Benteke in the locker room and say: “Just mark this guy.”

Philadelphia Union vs. Atlanta United FC

7:30pm ET @ Subaru Park, Chester, PennsylvaniaStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassTwo storied and venerable clubs that have been swirling in the toilet bowl recently. After an explosive start to the season, Philly has stalled. They’ve scored one goal in their last three, after netting twelve in the first five. For all the hype surrounding Miggy Almíron’s return, and the signing of Emmanuel Latte Lath, the Five Stripes have little to show. Lath, to be fair, has done his part with seven contributions (five goals; two assists)… which is 63% of the team’s offensive this season.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Nashville SC

7:30pm ET @ Lumen Field, Seattle, WashingtonStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassBoth teams really like playing at home, so for this one the edge goes to Seattle.

*Chicago Fire FC vs. FC Cincinnati

8:30pm ET @ Soldier Field, Chicago, IllinoisStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassLots of folks picked FC Cincinnati to take it all this season. So far, they’ve lived up to the hype, even if their last three wins were by a single goal. Chicago’s turnaround from a forgettable 2024 continues to roll on. This should be an excellent, if tactical, game.

Houston Dynamo FC vs. Colorado Rapids

8:30pm ET @ Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TexasStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassNo two way about it… this contest is Colorado’s to lose. They are, quite simply, a better team at this point in the season.

Minnesota United FC vs. FC Dallas

8:30pm ET @ Allianz Field, Saint Paul, MinnesotaStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassThe only reason this isn’t a Hooligan Pick is because this should be an easy win for Minnesota, and it had the bad luck of being scheduled against two other monster fixtures at the same time (Chicago-Cincy and St. Louis-Vancouver). The Loons been overshadowed by more explosive sides so far, but they’re sitting second in the West with only one loss.

*St. Louis CITY SC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

8:30pm ET @ Energizer Park, St. Louis, MissouriStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassThese two teams are oil and water. CITY embody disciplined, organized (some might say, dull) soccer. Their five goals scored is nearly balanced by six against, making them both the stingiest defensive side as well as one of the least effective offensively. An odd combo. Whitecaps are simply fire this year. With a +11 GD, expect them to hammer at that CITY backline.

Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC

9:30pm ET @ America First Field, Sandy, UtahStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassThe Canadians will be looking to grab their first W in this fixture; they suffer from draw-itis. RSL are one of two teams without a draw this season and would be content to get one, if it means not being the first team to lose to the visitors.

Portland Timbers vs. LAFC

10:15pm ET @ Providence Park, Portland, OregonAirs nationally on FS1 & Streaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassAfter a tough start Portland have been on a nice run of form (3 wins and 2 draws). The big question is which LAFC team will step onto the pitch? Will it be the one that thumped Columbus in the CONCACAF Cup 3 – 0? Or the one that capitulated to Seattle 5 – 2?

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City

10:30pm ET @ PayPal Park, San Jose, CaliforniaStreaming on AppleTV+ MLS Season PassThis is a must-win for the Quakes. SKC allowed four last week to a Timbers team that had only scored six the entire season. The Quakes have significantly more firepower that Portland. If they squander this chance….