Thursday 17 September 2015 17:26, UK
With five games left of the regular season plus Drogba and Lampard in action, here is what to look out for in MLS this weekend.
Toronto FC v Colorado Rapids: Can Toronto get back to their free-flowing best?
Toronto look comfortably on course to make the Eastern Conference play-off places, but a third consecutive loss against the struggling New York City may be causing a few nerves for the Canadian outfit as Montreal lead the chasing pack.
After having seven shots on target, Toronto were still unable to convert any of their opportunities into goals.
As effective as Sebastian Giovinco has been this season, the Italian has scored one goal in the last six matches he has played. When he is not scoring, goals throughout the team start lacking.
But against Colorado, Greg Vanney's men have a strong chance of hitting their stride. The Rapids are bottom of the west and seven points off the play-off places. Colorado boast experience, yet will feel hard done by letting in game-deciding goals in their last two matches, resulting in one loss and a draw.
It may not be a high-scoring affair, but there could be plenty of late game drama in this one.
Vancouver Whitecaps v Seattle Sounders: With points and silverware both on offer, can Seattle overcome the league leaders?
A fierce rivalry with an added bonus.
It is the last game in the Cascadia Cup series, with Seattle just one point above Vancouver in the competition standings. Only a win for the Whitecaps is enough to topple the Sounders and lift the cup for the third year running.
But the cup - along with the bragging rights - is not all this game means. There are potential play-off and positioning implications to this contest.
A win for the Whitecaps and they stay at the top of the Western Conference, but a loss will leave them subject to being overtaken by FC Dallas or LA Galaxy.
For Seattle, a win would put them in a strong position to stay in the conference places and perhaps put pressure on the leading three teams, and what may give Seattle even greater confidence is they beat Vancouver 2-0 away from home only four months ago.
New York City v San Jose Earthquakes: Will San Jose spoil Frank Lampard's week?
Frank Lampard scored his first goal for New York City against Toronto on Wednesday night since making his debut against Montreal on August 1; a moment in which he expressed his relief post-game.
After not joining NYCFC until July, the 37-year-old has not received the warmest welcome by all fans after uninspiring performances and injury problems, but the Englishman's typical goal - a late run into the box - should help to release some tension.
San Jose travel to Yankee Stadium knowing that a win on Saturday could launch them from being outside the play-off places in the west to as high as fourth place, if results go their way.
A home draw against Montreal mid-week was a slight disappointment for head coach Dominic Kinnear as the Impact went down to 10 men, while his side dominated possession and created almost double the amount of chances.
It will be fully in San Jose's own interest to lock down a play-off position, and possibly end New York City and Frank Lampard's slight play-off hopes.
Montreal Impact v New England Revolution: Will Didier Drogba's Montreal maximise their advantage against the leaders of the east?
Didier Drogba and Co have one win in their last seven league matches, and are currently holding on to the sixth and final play-off place in the Eastern Conference.
However, they face a Revolution side in immense form, having won their last six matches in a row - with winger Diego Fagundez scoring in each of the last four games.
Recent results do not necessarily tell the whole story for Montreal though, as the last three games have been under interim manager Mauro Biello, who led the Impact to a 4-3 win against Chicago Fire before a 0-0 draw at LA Galaxy and a midweek 1-1 tie away to San Jose. Before that, Montreal had lost the previous three.
Biello has stopped the slide, but now they face the most in-form team in the league currently top of the Eastern Conference.
A win for Montreal can help create a gulf between the teams above and below the red line, and being the only team with three games in hand, the chances of securing a play-off spot could be greatly boosted.
Sporting Kansas City v FC Dallas: Are Sporting KC able to keep their play-off hopes alive?
FC Dallas have the best points-per-game average in the league as they battle it out with Vancouver and LA Galaxy to take the lead in the conference.
The Texan club have won their last three in a row, conceding just once as head coach Oscar Pareja looks on course to maintain at least a top three finish.
What is more impressive is Dallas' ability to gain wins without their star midfielder Mauro Diaz, who has been out with injury during their last five league matches. But now the tricky Argentine could be fit for Friday.
Their capability of grinding out wins contrasts Sporting Kansas City's performances as it stands. Kansas have lost four and drawn one of their last five matches, meaning that no win on Friday night could see them drop out of the play-off positions with San Jose just a point off.
At least they will have English striker Dom Dwyer available for selection, who had his suspension rescinded by MLS' independent review panel on Tuesday.
