[TV] Action starts on Friday, when Colorado - in Coach Gary Smith's second game -- hosts Real Salt Lake. Smith, like Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, lost in his debut. ... Arena's Los Angeles travels to New England on Saturday. ... New York vs. D.C. United is crucial to both teams' playoff hopes. ... Nigerian Emmanuel Ekpo, the first MLS player to win an Olympic medal, rejoins the Columbus Crew, which travels to Dallas. ... Kansas City and San Jose meet for the first time this season. ... Chivas USA hosts Toronto FC ... and on Sunday Chicago, which has the league's best road record, is guest to two-time defending champ Houston. For TV info on this weekend's MLS action ...

SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 29
Real Salt Lake-Colorado, 9 pm ET.
Direct Kick, MLSLIVE.tv
Saturday, Aug. 30
New England-Los Angeles, 7:30 pm ET.
HDNet, Direct Kick, MLSLIVE.tv
D.C. United-New York, 7:30 pm ET.
Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Espanol
FC Dallas-Columbus, 9 pm ET.
Direct Kick, MLSLIVE.tv
San Jose-Kansas City, 10 pm ET.
Direct Kick, MLSLIVE.tv
Chivas USA-Toronto FC, 10:30 pm ET.
Direct Kick, MLSLIVE.tv
Sunday, Aug. 31
Houston-Chicago, 7 pm ET.
Direct Kick, MLSLIVE.tv

MLS
STANDINGS
Eastern Conference
New England 37 points
Columbus 37
Chicago 35
D.C. United 31
New York 31
Toronto FC 26
Kansas City 26

Western Conference
Houston 32
Real Salt Lake 27
FC Dallas 26
Colorado 24
Los Angeles 24
Chivas USA 24
San Jose 22

LEADING SCORERS
Donovan (Los Angeles) 14 goals
Cooper (FC Dallas) 13
Buddle (Los Angeles) 12
Emilio (D.C. United) 11
Ching (Houston) 9
J. Moreno (D.C. United) 9
Angel (New York) 8
A. Moreno (Columbus) 7
Barrett (Toronto FC) 7
Ralston (New England) 6
Cristman (New England) 6