The American weekend preview
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Mar 24, 2023
The USA's three Division I and Division 2 pro leagues are in action with slates of games while USMNT players based abroad are off due to the international break.
Soccer on TV: Weekend viewing
SATURDAY
• Major League Soccer
A full slate of games is scheduled despite the FIFA international window, which will force most teams to play short-handed.
Missing are many of the stars of the 2023 season's first four weeks: Atlanta United's Thiago Almada, who scored the winning goal for world champion Argentina in its homecoming match on Thursday night before 83,000 fans in Buenos Aires, LAFC's Denis Bouanga (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duty with Gabon) and Daniel Gazdag (Euro 2024 qualifying with Hungary).
Red-hot Atlanta United (11 goals in four games) is also without new Greek DP forward Giorgos Giakoumakis and Miles Robinson, the sole U.S. call-up from MLS for matches against Grenada and El Salvador, for its game at Columbus. The Five Stripes will have 18-year-old Caleb Wiley (3 goals and 2 assists), who did not travel with the U.S. U-20s to Spain.
The MLS team worst hit is unbeaten Minnesota United. The Loons will be without seven starters — Dayne St. Clair, Kemar Lawrence, Michael Boxall, Kervin Arriaga, Joseph Rosales, Robin Lod and Bongokuhle Hlongwane — for their game against Vancouver.
• Reading: 'Chippy' St. Louis City looks to stay perfect
APPLE TV/MLS SEASON PASS
*Portland vs. LA Galaxy 4:30 pm. (free)
Charlotte FC vs. NY Red Bulls 7:30 pm.
Columbus vs. Atlanta United 7:30 pm.
DC United vs. New England 7:30 pm. (free)
Inter Miami vs. Chicago 7:30 pm. (free)
Philadelphia vs. Orlando City 7:30 pm. (free)
Austin FC vs. Colorado 8:30 pm.
Houston vs. NYCFC 8:30 pm.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Seattle 8:30 pm.
Minnesota United vs. Vancouver 8:30 pm.
Nashville SC vs. FC Cincinnati 8:30 pm. (free)
Real Salt Lake vs. St. Louis City 9:30 pm. (free)
LAFC vs. FC Dallas 10:30 pm.
San Jose vs. Toronto FC 10:30 pm.
*Also on Fox and Fox Deportes.
Note: All times ET.
• National Women's Soccer League
In its brief stay at new Snapdragon Stadium, the San Diego Wave set an NWSL attendance record with a sellout crowd of 32,000 fans for its match against Angel City FC and a playoff record with 26,215 fans for its 2022 quarterfinal match against Chicago. Another record will fall as the Wave has sold more more 23,500 tickets for its match against the Red Stars, which will be an attendance record for a season opener.
• SA's NWSL 2023 Previews:
Angel City FC | Chicago | Gotham FC
Houston | KC Current | NC Courage
OL Reign | Orlando | Portland
Racing Louisville | San Diego | Washington
CBS SPORTS NETWORK
San Diego vs. Chicago 10 pm.
Note: All times ET.
• USL Championship
This weekend's big game pits Sac Republic FC against San Diego at Heart Health Park. The Loyal is the only unbeaten and untied team in the Western Conference while Sacramento enters the game with a win and tie.
Veteran keeper Bill Hamid arrived just at the right time at Memphis 901, where he is reunited with his idol Tim Howard, the Memphis sporting director. Memphis 901 heads to Oakland after opening the season with a pair of 3-1 losses.
Besides the Roots, Louisville City (the only other unbeaten and untied team), Hartford Athletic, Detroit City FC and FC Tulsa play their 2023 home openers.
ESPN+
Hartford vs. Birmingham 2 pm.
Louisville City vs. El Paso 3 pm.
Detroit City FC vs. Indy Eleven 4 pm.
Charleston vs. Tampa Bay 7:30 pm.
FC Tulsa vs. Loudoun United 7:30 pm.
San Antonio FC vs. Colorado Springs 8:30 pm.
Sac Republic FC vs. San Diego 10 pm.
Orange County SC vs. Las Vegas 10 pm.
Oakland vs. Memphis 901 10 pm.
Note: All times ET.
SUNDAY
• National Women's Soccer League
All the home teams except Angel City made offseason coaching moves: Mark Parsons in at Washington, Mike Norris at Portland and Sam Laity at Houston, while Gotham FC opens in Los Angeles with new boss Juan Carlos Amoros on the sidelines.
PARAMOUNT+
Washington vs. OL Reign 4 pm.
Portland vs. Orlando 5 pm.
Houston vs. Racing Louisville 7 pm.
Angel City FC vs.Gotham FC 9 pm.
Note: All times ET.
Photo: Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United).
