Move over Sounders FC and LA Galaxy, because the West has a surprising new leader: FC Dallas. The young but talented team from Texas has taken the league by storm in the first half of the season, but will the second half see them run out of steam as the established powers rise back to the top?
Before the MLS season resumes from its All-Star break, let’s first take a closer look at the current holders of the Western Conference’s playoff spots, and find out some vital pieces of information that will likely define the rest of their respective seasons. We’ll also take a look at the team outside the top six with the best chance of making a run at a playoff spot.
Check out our Eastern Conference preview as well, but in the meantime, read on below for our complete MLS Western Conference preview.
[sc:Soccer ]MLS Mid-Season Western Conference Preview
1. FC Dallas
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 11-5-5 (38 points)
[sc:Soccer240banner ]FC Dallas’s young and talented team is continuing its maturation process in a big way this season. After a trip to the conference semifinal last season, Dallas is currently top of the West by two points with the help of a remarkable home record (8-1-2).
Despite not having a notable superstar in the squad, Dallas does have a fast-rising star in Fabian Castillo (eight goals and six assists) to lead a host of other young, up-and-coming players.
The big question now is whether the team’s general lack of experience will keep them from hanging on to the top spot in the second half, especially with tough and experienced competition out West. It certainly won’t be much of a surprise if that indeed turns out to be the case.
2. Vancouver Whitecaps
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 11-8-3 (36 points)
There’s hardly any mystery to Vancouver’s game. The Caps aren’t the most explosive offensive team as they lack the top-line attacking talent. But they play very solid defense (they’ve conceded just 22 goals in 22 games) and have an excellent goalie in David Ousted, which makes them pretty tough to beat. They’ve lost just three times this season, tied for the second fewest losses thus far.
The Caps squeezed through to the playoffs last season by scoring just 42 goals in 34 games – the lowest output of any playoff team. It’ll be tough to stay in the top three in the West with such low goal scoring numbers – they’re on pace for just over 41 this season – but it’ll take something drastic for them to not stay within the last three playoff spots.
3. Los Angeles Galaxy
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 9-7-7 (34 points)
The Galaxy have been quite the Jekyll and Hyde team this season. At home, they’ve been amazing, with nine wins and one loss in 12 games with 28 goals scored and just seven conceded. Dominant. They’ve been the exact opposite of dominant on the road though, with five draws and six losses in 11 games (no wins) with just eight goals scored and 21 conceded. Awful.
Maybe the addition of Steven Gerrard in the heart of the Galaxy midfield can change the team’s fortunes. They’ve certainly got the firepower to challenge for the top seed with reigning MVP Robbie Keane (nine goals in 13 games) leading the league’s highest-scoring offense in the first half (1.56 goals per game).
4. Sporting Kansas City
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 9-4-6 (33 points)
Sporting Kansas City only finds itself fourth at the break because it’s played just 19 games, the fewest total in the West. SKC actually averages 1.74 points per game, which would put it just behind FC Dallas for the best average in the entire league.
Sporting has had arguably the MVP of the first half with Benny Feilhaber, who has already set new career-highs in goals (seven) and assists (10). Newcomer Krisztian Nemeth has also supplied a lot of firepower with seven goals alongside star striker Dom Dwyer, who has six.
With a much-improved offense combining with a very solid defense (just 20 goals conceded in 19 games, the second-best mark in the league), Kansas City will be one of the teams that will be challenging for top spot in the conference.
5. Seattle Sounders FC
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 10-10-2 (32 points)
It was a wildly disappointing first half of the season for Sounders FC. Despite having the best defensive record in the league on a per game basis (0.954 goals allowed per game), Seattle slumped to 10 defeats in 22 games, the most out of any current playoff team in the league.
A big factor in Seattle’s struggles has been the fact that designated players Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins have both missed about half the season. Unsurprisingly, the team’s offense has taken a huge hit, and has scored just 25 goals.
There’s still a lot of time for Seattle to make its way back up the standings during the second half, but it’ll need to have its lethal strike partnership back together again. If not, it could struggle to hold on to a playoff spot.
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6. Portland Timbers FC
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 9-8-5 (32 points)
Fanendo Adi has done his very best to keep Portland FC very much alive in the playoff race. The 25-year old striker has already reached last year’s total of nine goals in two less appearances, but he’s had very little help from his teammates. Portland has also suffered from the “great-at-home-but-bad-on-the-road syndrome” that has plagued the Galaxy. The Timbers are 6-1-4 at home and 3-7-1 on the road.
That great home form could be Portland’s one saving grace, especially since the rest of the West isn’t exactly the best. If the Timbers can keep winning on home soil, that final playoff spot is definitely within reach.
Biggest Playoff Threat Outside the Top 6 – Real Salt Lake
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 7-7-8 (29 points)
Real Salt Lake, which finished third in the West last season, finds itself on the outside the playoff picture looking in at the break. Salt Lake has suffered from a lack of goals, scoring just 23 in 22 games thus far. Javier Morales is the team’s leading scorer with a paltry five goals.
However, the Royals should get an infusion of offense in the second half of the season as last year’s top scorer Joao Plata returns to form after a broken foot that caused him to miss the first few months of the season. He scored his first two goals of the campaign in RSL’s last two games before the All-Star break, which resulted in two wins. With one of its star men back, Real Salt Lake looks primed to make a run back to the playoff spots.
Writer’s Prediction
The Western Conference playoff teams will be:
- Sporting Kansas City
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- FC Dallas
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- Real Salt Lake
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