As Cork City and Dundalk get set to do battle in the FAI Cup Final this weekend the MLS Playoffs are in full swing. The growth of Major League Soccer in twenty years and the attitude of its fans are in stark contrast with their Irish counterparts and the struggling League of Ireland.
This weekend sees the MLS clash of the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders in what has become the biggest derby in American soccer. The fixture is now synonymous with spectacular fan displays from both sets of supporters but, as Shawn Wheeler of the Emerald City Supporters writes, the rivalry goes back further than many would have thought.
The independent supporters group of the Portland Timbers, known as the Timbers Army, are renowned for their passionate and enthusiastic presence at all matches. “Tifo: Inside the Timbers Army,” follows the creation and unveiling of the tifo, a visual display, when the Timbers’ battle their biggest rivals, the Seattle Sounders.
Robbie Keane cancelled out Clint Dempsey’s earlier strike to send LA Galaxy into the Western Conference semi-final against Real Salt Lake. The result means Galaxy avoid the ‘Play-in’ knock-out round. Meanwhile, Thierry Henry’s New York Red Bulls captured the Eastern title and could yet face Keane’s defending champions for the MLS Cup.
Adidas Originals MLS Capsule Collection. The range features LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders.
Robbie Keane hit a first half hattrick for LA Galaxy against the Seattle Sounders to warm up for Ireland ‘s clash with England at Wembley. The match also saw the début of Galaxy’s new signing Robbie Rogers.