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2018 MLS season: Conference previews and predictions

By Roy Emanuel

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 03: Portland Timbers fans hold up a tifo before their match against the Minnesota United at Providence Park on March 3, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 03: Portland Timbers fans hold up a tifo before their match against the Minnesota United at Providence Park on March 3, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 30: Clint Dempsey #2, right, of the Seattle Sounders celebrates scoring a goal on goalkeeper Joe Willis #31 of the Houston Dynamo and Leonardo #22 of the Houston Dynamo during the second half of the second leg of the MLS Western Conference Finals at CenturyLink Field on November 30, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Sounder won the match 3-0 and aggregate score 5-0. At right is Victor Rodriguez #8 of the Seattle Sounders. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 30: Clint Dempsey #2, right, of the Seattle Sounders celebrates scoring a goal on goalkeeper Joe Willis #31 of the Houston Dynamo and Leonardo #22 of the Houston Dynamo during the second half of the second leg of the MLS Western Conference Finals at CenturyLink Field on November 30, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Sounder won the match 3-0 and aggregate score 5-0. At right is Victor Rodriguez #8 of the Seattle Sounders. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Western Conference

The wild, wild west returns for Major League Soccer, and there are several candidates to claim the crown in 2018. Seattle Sounders were prepared to make a run for their third consecutive trip to the MLS Cup final, but suffered a key injury blow before the regular season began.

Forward Jordan Morris tore his ACL and will miss the entire campaign, as manager Brian Schmetzer now must see increased production from Clint Dempsey up front.

The unfamiliar “rebuilding” of the Los Angeles Galaxy after a disappointing 2017 still features major talent, as Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos will be set to encounter a new city rival. LAFC arrive with Carlos Vela and Benny Feilhaber, setting up what should be very entertaining fixtures between the two clubs.

Last season’s league MVP Diego Valeri will be expecting to get the Portland Timbers back to a cup final, and the Houston Dynamo look to follow up a promising year by going even further in the playoffs.

The Vancouver Whitecaps and manager Carl Robinson made a statement with their 5-0 drubbing of San Jose Earthquakes in the wild card round, but will have to be prepared to raise their game if they are to build upon that success.

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Seattle certainly should have been the early favorite, but Morris’ absence will hurt. With a talented squad and a new coach with plenty of MLS experience, it will be their Cascadia rival that makes the final.

Western Conference champion: Portland Timbers

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