Season Rewind: Wild Card
HARRISON, NJ (Dec. 6, 2011) – The New York Red Bulls will face FC Dallas in both teams’ 2012 MLS Regular Season opener on Sunday, March 11 at 3:00 PM at Pizza Hut Park. The match will be televised live by NBC Sports Network – the first game broadcasted by the League’s new national partner, NBC. It will be the first time the teams will face off since the Red Bulls eliminated their Western Conference rival, 2-0, in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoff Wild Card Round on Oct. 26 in Frisco, TX.
Last week, the Red Bulls announced that their 2012 home opener at Red Bull Arena will take place on Sunday, March 25 with time, broadcast information and opponent to be determined upon the completion of the full MLS schedule in the coming weeks. Season ticket plans for the Red Bulls’ 2012 home schedule at Red Bull Arena are available now by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com/tickets.
The Red Bulls-FC Dallas showdown is one of four nationally-televised MLS First Kick games that will take place during the opening week of the 2012 season. New York is 10-8-2 all-time against FC Dallas in regular season action and has gone unbeaten in its last five (3-0-2). The list of matches is below:
Home teams listed first, all times Eastern
Sat., March 10 – Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Montreal Impact
6 p.m. ET on TSN and in French on RDS2 from BC Place
·The MLS debut for Montreal Impact, the League’s 19th team.
·Launches a new chapter in a 20-year-old rivalry between these two Canadian clubs, who had many spirited encounters in lower divisions.
·In their first MLS home game, Vancouver defeated Toronto FC, 4-2. The Impact will hope to steal a precious road win – something that has yet eluded the Whitecaps.
Sun., March 11 – FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls
3 p.m. on NBC Sports Network, from Pizza Hut Park
·The first MLS game to be broadcast as part of the new, three-year partnership with NBC.
·FC Dallas will look to avenge their elimination from the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs by the Red Bulls on Oct. 26 at Pizza Hut Park.
·Two of the League’s hottest stars are likely to factor prominently – FC Dallas’ Brek Shea and New York’s Thierry Henry – both named to the 2011 MLS Best XI.
Sun., March 11 – Chivas USA vs. Houston Dynamo
7 p.m. ET on Galavision, from The Home Depot Center
·Just 113 days after their 1-0 loss in the championship, the Dynamo return to the site of MLS Cup.
·Two of the largest Hispanic fan bases in MLS have a vested interest in the first Spanish-language broadcast of the new season.
·Chivas USA defeated Houston 3-0 in Carson last May, their first win against the Dynamo since their inaugural season (2006).
Mon., March 12 – Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union
9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes & ESPN3.com from Jeld-Wen Field
·Timbers Army and the always-boisterous Jeld-Wen Field await the Union in the 11th Monday game in MLS history.
·Two of the most exciting rookies in 2011 – Portland’s Darlington Nagbe and Philly’s Michael Farfán – will look to provide a spark for their team.
·Portland sold out every league game in 2011, while Philadelphia’s PPL Park was filled to about 99 percent capacity and the Sons of Ben traveled well.
Each club will play 34 games in the 2012 MLS Regular Season; CLICK HERE for details on the format.
