Major League Soccer: Must Watch Matches In 2015

The unveiling of the 2015 Major League Soccer schedule has brought about change for the league. The schedule finalizes the additions of expansion teams Orlando City and New York City FC, as well as the loss of Chivas USA. Some key news was also revealed along with the schedule.

The addition of an end of season decision day highlights the changes for 2015. Teams from the same conference will all play at the same time, with the Eastern Conference at 5pm and the Western Conference at 7pm.

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With this setup, the playoff race will likely not be decided until the final whistle has blown. The added excitement of a decision day has proved massively successful around the world, so adding it to the league brings some tension as the season winds down and the playoff race concludes.

The second major change is the expansion of the MLS Cup playoffs from ten to twelve teams. For the first time ever, the top six clubs in both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference will qualify for the leagues knockout round.

For now however, the most important thing is the arrival of the 2015 Major League Soccer schedule. Having taken a look at the schedule, we have found the three most anticipated matches of the upcoming season.

Sunday March 8th – Orlando City vs New York City FC

What a way to start a season. The first weekend of action will feature a battle of the two newest MLS clubs. Orlando City will host their first ever Major League Soccer match against fellow newcomer NYCFC. Both clubs will be looking for a win to open not only their season, but also their franchise.

They will both be looking for strong performances from their squads, with Orlando City expected to lean heavily on Brazilian star Kaka, as well as returning star Brek Shea. NYCFC will be looking to counter with a strong attack, which will be led by David Villa. The expected signing of Mix Diskerud for NYCFC will only bolster the all blues midfield.

The match will be extremely important for both sides, as they both want to start off their MLS debut with a win. Losing is not an option for either side, so expect an exceptionally hard fought battle between the two.

Sunday May 10th – New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC

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The first battle for New York. The inaugural New York derby will set the stage for the future of both sides. Both have recently experienced some turmoil that affected the love of their supporters. For NYCFC, the extension of Frank Lampard’s time in Manchester has angered the club’s followers.

The Red Bulls appear to have followed their rivals, announcing the firing of manager Mike Petke didn’t go down too well with the fans either. With the loss of Star Thierry Henry, as well as the impending departure of Tim Cahill, NYRB will need to drastically improve the squad if they are to compete in the loaded Eastern Conference.

Both clubs will be anxious to play in this match. For NYCFC, taking it to their rivals in their first season will help prove that NYCFC is the club for New York. For the Red Bulls, the match provides an opportunity to teach little brother a lesson by showing the league — and New York — that the Red Bulls are the real deal.

Sunday October 25th – Sporting Kansas City vs Los Angeles Galaxy

The Los Angeles Galaxy are the face of MLS. Having won three of the last four MLS Cup titles, Los Angeles has proven that they are the team to beat in all of Major League Soccer. However, the one title that Los Angeles didn’t win, was won by their hosts.

Sporting Kansas City engineered the biggest turn around in league history. The re-branding from Kansas City Wizards to Sporting KC — along with a new stadium — has made them one of the most supported teams in the country.

The meeting between these two clubs on decision day will only heighten the interest in the match. Both clubs will be expected to contend for the Supporter’s Shield. Should the shield come down to this match for both squads, the importance could make it an all-time great.

Possibly playing a role in the match will be newcomer Steven Gerrard. These are the matches that can define a player, if Gerrard is to really replace Landon Donovan, he will need to give a good account of himself, and lead Los Angeles to victory.