FCD Fan’s Guide to Hatewatching First Round Game 1

I’m Dustin “El Jefe” Christmann, a die-hard FC Dallas fan since the team was known as the Dallas Burn. I’m also a bit of a hater, known for shouting some not-so-nice things from the stands at the Cotton Bowl and Toyota Stadium. But now, I’m channeling that energy into helping you, my fellow FCD supporters, navigate the world of Major League Soccer on TV.

Last week was a rollercoaster of emotion, right? The absence of key players had many of us bracing for a disappointing Decision Day. But lo and behold, FC Dallas pulled off a miraculous win in Vancouver while Portland faltered at home against San Diego. This unexpected turn of events landed FCD in seventh place, avoiding the wild-card game and leaving Portland to face RSL on Wednesday night.

I’m usually not one to buy into the whole “mentality” thing, but this season is starting to change my mind. Coach Eric Quill fielded a lineup devoid of Designated Players and still managed to defeat one of the league’s top teams. Yes, a questionable red card helped, but our boys fought hard for the full 90 minutes and secured the win they needed. Now, they’re gearing up for a rematch against Vancouver.

In the upcoming games, keep an eye on the East #2 FC Cincinnati facing off against East #7 Columbus Crew in what promises to be a heated clash. The “Hell is Real” rivalry may be often hyped, but it’s undeniably one of the most anticipated matchups of the first round. My bet is on Columbus, mainly because they held onto Lucho Acosta in the offseason instead of selling him to FCD for a cool $5 million.

In another exciting showdown, West #3 Los Angeles FC will take on West #6 Austin FC on Wednesday. LAFC has been on fire since the arrival of Son Heung-Min, notching up an impressive string of wins. Despite Austin’s recent victory over LAFC due to missing key players, I’m putting my support behind the home team in this match.

For those looking to show some love for the Eastern Conference, East #1 Philadelphia Union will go head-to-head with East #8 Chicago Fire on Sunday. Although Chicago may be the underdog in this matchup, they’ve proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with this season. It’s clear that the Chicago Fire of today are not the same struggling team of the past, and they might just surprise us all in this game.