The Major League Soccer (MLS) season is now moving into the more critical phase of matches as the play-offs approach and with significant stakes in each of the games, the matches promise to be exciting. The quest for a play-off spot is not the only goal, as the qualified teams will be looking to seal home advantage as well. We look ahead to the action in the three matches to be played on Saturday.

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Orlando City Vs New York City FC

The final play-off spot race in the Eastern Conference could produce an interesting climax as Orlando still have hopes of snatching the final spot. New York may be out of the race for the play-offs, but they can play spoil sport for the chances of Orlando.

For Orlando City, the task cannot be simpler. They will have to win this game to keep their play-off ambitions alive in their first MLS season. The home side comes into the game on the back of a four match winning streak. The latest one was a narrow 2-1 victory over Montreal Impact which kept their prospects alive.

On the other hand, New York City FC saw their bid for a post season berth evaporate last week. The 2-1 defeat by D.C. United all but closed the doors for New York in their inaugural season in MLS. A side with nothing to play for can be a double edged sword and Orlando will be wary of this.

This will be the third meeting between the sides this season. The first game ended in a 1-1 draw while the second one saw NYFC claim a 5-3 victory. David Villa continues to top the charts for NYFC and could be a thorn for the hosts, but we expect Orlando to fight aggressively for maximum points.

San Jose Earthquakes Vs Sporting Kansas City

This is another critical match over the weekend, this time in Western Conference. The Quakers are sitting right on the edge with three points separating them from the sixth placed Portland Timbers. Sporting is in a little more comfortable position with four points more and sitting in fourth place.

The 'Quakes have seen their hopes for a play-offs berth take a knock after their 1-1 home draw with Vancouver in their last match. They have to win this game and hope that Portland drops points along the route.

Sporting are in a better position, having played one game less, but have also accumulated four points more. They could seal their spot with a victory and could even boost their hopes of home advantage for the play-offs.

Their last meeting ended in a thrashing for Sporting with the Quakes running 5-0 victors. However, their other meetings have been traditionally low scoring games. We think that Sporting look good to avenge their loss in this fixture.

Toronto FC Vs Columbus Crew

This Eastern Conference match is between a side which has confirmed its play-off berth and a side trying to seal its own. With the added motive of claiming home game advantage, this will not be your normal ‘dead rubber’ game.

Toronto come into this game on the back of a four game winning streak and their win in the last round confirmed their position in the play-offs. The home side will not want to lose their winning momentum and this will make things difficult for Crew.

The visitors on the other hand are in a tight race to the finish and will look to win this game. Such is the tight nature of things that a win for Crew could see them leapfrog Toronto in the table.

Toronto could just ease after securing their qualification and Crew could just be in a spot to clinch that window of opportunity.

This weekend promises a lot of action and these games are just the start. Watch out for our previews of the other games over the weekend and don’t forget to stay tuned for all the action in MLS.

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