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5 to Watch This Weekend

Jack McInerney Looks to Rise Above the Rest

Both the United States men's and women's national teams take the field this weekend but don't miss the young Philadelphia Union forward as he hopes to catch Jurgen Klinsmann's eye.
BY Eduardo Mendez Posted
May 31, 2013
2:00 PM
Get ready for a celebration. A U.S. Soccer Centennial Celebration to be exact. The Stars and Stripes will come in all different shapes and sizes this weekend, but don’t neglect some Americans on the rise in MLS. Here’s your curated guide for this weekend’s action.

SATURDAY
U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team vs. Congo DR
9:30 a.m. (all times Eastern)
5:00 p.m. (delayed) on beIN Sport

This will be the third match of the 2013 Toulon Tournament for the U.S. Under-20s. The previous two have not gone according to plan. Tab Ramos’ young squad lost by a combined score of 6-2 to Colombia and France. An opportunity to advance in the tournament has faded, but American soccer fans are aware of the bigger picture. This experience is about preparation and education ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

Toronto FC vs. Philadelphia Union
6:00 p.m.
MLS Live

The Jack McInerney watch continues in MLS Week 14. A four-goal performance in April allowed the young forward to jump 24 spots in May's ASN 100. Even in the limelight, McInerney continues to respond. A stellar three-goal performance in May sees the 20-year-old goal machine atop the Golden Boot race.

SUNDAY
United States vs. Germany
2:30 p.m.
ESPN 2

The top-ranked player in the ASN 100 will be available Sunday afternoon. If you need further explanation to tune in for this one, you’re officially on the wrong website (but stick around and learn).

U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Canada
4:30 p.m.
ESPN News

Who could forget Alex Morgan’s game-winning goal in the 2012 London Summer Olympics? We know Canada hasn’t. Another epic battle with our neighbors from the North awaits the U.S. women’s national team. This time, Canada hopes to exact revenge on its own turf. Don’t expect to see Hope Solo or Megan Rapinoe in this rematch. Solo is recovering from injury, and Rapinoe is still in Europe with her club Lyon. But it will be another epic encounter between two familiar foes.

New England vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
4:30 p.m.
NBC Sports Network

Robbie Rogers became the first openly gay male athlete in team sports after he made his debut last Sunday. Now, Rogers will look to become the only thing that matters: A repeat champion. A trip to New England to face the upstart Revolution is his next step toward capturing another MLS Cup title.

BEST OF THE REST
MLS: Sporting Kansas City vs. Montreal Impact (8:30 p.m., Saturday, MLS Live)—Graham Zusi and Matt Besler will not be available for this Eastern Conference showdown. They have bigger fish to fry at RFK Stadium. The opportunity is there for the Impact to avenge a Week 5 loss.

NO U.S. ANGLE BUT...
German Cup: Bayern Munich vs. VfB Stuttgart (1:45 p.m., Saturday, ESPN News)—Can Bayern Munich complete the historic treble?

So what are you watching this weekend? Which matches did we miss that we should tune in for? Let us know in the new and improved comments section.

Eduardo Mendez is a Brooklyn-based writer and an ASN contributor.

 

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