So we go into Week Three of MLS, with the first indicators of early season form beginning to appear that little bit more distinct. This weekend sees a number of teams at the right and wrong ends of 100% records facing off. On Saturday night Vancouver (2 wins) host D.C. United (2 losses). D.C. are coming off a 3-1 defeat at Los Angeles, who arrested their own mini-slump with that win and now have a rest week to plot their renewed focus on MLS.

LA's week one conquerors Real Salt Lake have won both their games so far, and will fancy their chances on Saturday night, playing at home to the winless Chivas USA after comfortably defeating a stuttering New York last week. For their part New York will be hoping to stop the rot of their two road defeats when they play Colorado in their 2012 home opener on Sunday afternoon. It won't be easy against a side with a 100% win record of their own. In Sunday afternoon's other game, Sporting Kansas City are likely to be facing a defensive minded FC Dallas, who may be unbeaten, but seemed to lack ambition in the later stages of their draw with Portland Timbers last week.

After a dire first half against Philadelphia Union in the opening game of their season, Portland's season is beginning to click and they will fancy their chances against New England on Saturday afternoon. The Revs have lost both games and need their new look defense to develop some solidity. Speaking of which, Toronto face San Jose on Saturday, with some familiar problems at the back. Torsten Frings' efficiency in the sweeper role has masked a sometimes shaky Toronto defense since his arrival, but a hamstring injury picked up against Seattle will keep him out for 4-6 weeks and leave that defense exposed. San Jose's attack aren't likely to be as potent as Santos Laguna's front line will be in the Champions League semi-final, but Frings will be greatly missed.

The Sounders put three past Toronto at the weekend and seemed to have recovered from their own mauling at the hands of Santos Laguna. Seattle stay at home this weekend for the visit of Houston, who have impressed in winning the opening two of their seven game road stretch - though the Sounders will be by far their toughest test yet. That one's on Friday night and we hope you'll join us for live minute by minute commentary. Somebody's '0' has got to go...

The weekend's fixtures are rounded out by the cross border tussle of Columbus against Montreal on Saturday afternoon and Chicago facing Philadelphia on Saturday night. Columbus will be hoping that a week off has been enough to regroup from a bad opening game, in time to face a Montreal team who were unable to turn a pressing display against Chicago into a win, in their raucous MLS home debut. Chicago, for their part, will be glad to kick off their home campaign after the distractions of the party in Quebec. They'll face a Philadelphia side yet to pick up a point and apparently yet to settle on a first team either. Some early season patterns are yet to assert themselves...

...though some should be becoming familiar - such as our Friday morning preview of the weekend's action. We've asked supporter group reps, beat writers and bloggers, to give us their reaction to last week's games and look forward to this week. The results are below. Agree? Disagree? Have your say in the comments below and check back on Monday where we'll discover the 5 things we learned this weekend (here are last week's so you're up to speed).

All game times below are EST.

Seattle Sounders v Houston Dynamo - Fri 10pm (NBCSN)

Guardian minute by minute live game

Dave Clark, Sounder at Heart, Seattle:

Last week's result was a demonstration of how diverse this attack can be. A team will have to shut down more than just Montero and Rosales, because there are other men that will step forward. Friday night will be a test of Seattle's defense on dead balls - it's Houston's best way to score. The good news for Sounders fans is that the Dynamo shouldn't score more than a goal. Seattle can handle that.

Zach Woosley, Dynamo Theory, Houston:

The Dynamo's 1-0 win over San Jose was better than expected, it's not that I didn't think they could win, I just wouldn't have minded a draw. The continued offensive struggles are a bit of a concern, but this team is so strong defensively (and deep) that it's hard not to think they'll be in every match. The attack combination of Brian Ching and Will Bruin is still not convincing anyone, but it's early and in MLS, it's not how you start, it's how you finish.

This will easily be Houston's toughest match of the season so far. Any trip to Seattle is tough, but the Sounders are still fired up from their CCL elimination and they looked downright scary on the attack against Toronto. Then again, TFC's defense was a mess, so the Dynamo should do a better job of containing the Sounders. I expect a tough, physical match in which the Dynamo try to slow things down and grind out a result. With the game on fake grass, I expect Brian Ching to not start to save wear and tear on his knees and legs.

Toronto FC v San Jose Earthquakes - Sat 1pm (TSN/RDS)

Duncan Fletcher, Waking the Red, Toronto:

The Seattle game was a bit of a crash back to earth after the high of beating the Galaxy in the CCL. All the defensive frailties that TFC just got away with against L.A were exposed again and this time Seattle made them count. By far the worst thing to come out of that game was the injury to captain and converted Centre Back/Sweeper Torsten Frings. There's now a lot of pressure on some very average MLS level defenders to step up in his absence.

While a loss away to Seattle can be forgiven as not unexpected, this week's game against San Jose Earthquakes in our home opener is one that TFC really should be winning if they want to be seen as a side with potential to make the playoffs and compete this year. Frings' absence will force changes and may see the team change from a 3-4-3 to a flat back 4. Up front former 'Quakes forward Ryan Johnson is looking deadly, having scored in every game so far. If he can keep that form up and last season's top scorer Danny Koevermans can get himself going, the goals will take care of themselves. As always, questions remain at the back. I'd expect plenty of goals at both ends of the pitch, and I'm fairly confident TFC will come out on top.

Lisa Erickson, Center Line Soccer, San Jose:

The green numbers on the San Jose Earthquakes' shirts weren't enough to bring them luck in finishing on this St. Patrick's Day. They dominated the stats against Houston in everything but fouls and yellow cards; however, the Quakes just couldn't find that equalizer or game winning goal.

So, it's off to Toronto. Former TFC player, Alan Gordon is almost 100% healthy, so it would be great if he could get minutes up at the top with Chris Wondolowski rather than Steven Lenhart; the latter has been struggling to get his soccer sense back after being away from the game since July. Another key tool in the offensive box is Simon Dawkins, who has been trying to build a rapport with the new faces on the pitch in order to see time in the starting XI. The question is whether Frank Yallop will save the Tottenham Hotspur man as a super sub like the beginning of last year, or will Dawkins even find time on the pitch in Toronto.

Other news out of Santa Clara is that center back Jason Hernandez is back to being 100% healthy, so will Yallop decide to pull Justin Morrow (a natural left back who has been filling in as CB), or keep the speedy youngster to add protection, with Ramiro Corralas still at left back? Finally, every SJ fan is asking when Colombian Tressor Moreno, who saw his first MLS minutes against Houston) will be considered 'match fit' enough to really make the central midfield his home.

San Jose has never lost at Toronto since coming back in 2008 and I feel that will be the case again, however, I think Ryan Johnson will score against his old club and speedy Joao Plata will challange the brute Victor Bernardez and win. My guess is a 2-2 draw.

New England Revolution v Portland Timbers - Sat 4pm

Christopher Camille, Midnight Riders, author of NE tactics blog Soccer Theory:

The jury continues to be out on this year's version of the Revs. In week one the squad was shorthanded due to injuries. This past week, Stephen McCarthy, filling in at center back for injured defenders John Lozano and Darius Barnes, picked up a red card in the 14th minute which ensured a uphill battle for the Revs the rest of the way. A team low on confidence is never going to get a result with only 10 men.

This coming week the hope is the Revs can get back on track and Jay Heaps will be able to show us the attacking soccer he's promised all off-season. Perhaps playing in front of their first home crowd of the season will inspire them. Nothing says home-cooking like the plastic pitch 45 minutes outside of Boston, inside the mostly empty behemoth that is Gillette Stadium.

Michael Orr, Mao Football, host of Soccer made in PDX podcast:

Despite taking only a point from a severely understrength FC Dallas, coming from behind for the second straight week is a vast improvement from 2011 for the Portland Timbers. With a different goal scorer on each of the four goals so far this season, Portland appears to be moving toward a more balanced allocation of offense in 2012.

Last season, Portland managed a draw away against this week's opponent, New England Revolution, before blasting the Eastern Conference's worst team 3-0 at Jeld-Wen Field. Though the Timbers typically struggle away from home, New England has started this season poorly and Portland is poised to bring the explosive, but heretofore-injured winger Franck Songo'o into the eighteen. All three points will be expected of the Timbers, to use as momentum ahead of a massive home tie with Real Salt Lake the following weekend.

Columbus Crew v Montreal Impact - Sat 4pm

Ben Hoelzel, Crew Union, Columbus Crew:

Opening week was a disaster. Several starters were missing from the line-up. A couple more were really the walking wounded, most notably Eddie Gaven, and Dilly Duka went out with an injury early on in the game. The Crew spent the bye week scrimmaging three college teams, and by Saturday were looking a bit more confident in the final third. Injury woes are still an issue, and the Montreal Impact didn't look like a push-over expansion side against Chicago last week. But, when it comes to Canadians visiting Columbus you have to like the Crew's chances. Everyone expects a very happy "Crewsmas Day" celebration as the Nordecke rejoices an easy home opener win.

Christian Bourque, Ultras Montreal:

Beyond the 58,900 sellout crowd and that feeling that we were witnessing an historic day for soccer in Montreal, what went down on the pitch was no less satisfying. The team played a well structured game where Montreal gave very little space to the Fire in the last 30 meters. Chicago converted on one of their only two real opportunities. Maybe Montreal deserved the 3 points, but we'll take the draw this early in the season.

I expect the Impact will go to Columbus with the same approach of being very compact and solid up the middle. Keep the pressure on and work off the counter. The Impact do not need to take chances early. Coming from an away loss for their home opener, let the Crew open up the play and potentially open up opportunities for Montreal on the counter. Arnaud, Felipe and Bernier need to keep a close eye on Mirosevic who will be playing under high expectations from local fans.

Chicago Fire v Philadelphia Union - Sat 8.30pm

Stephen Piggott, Hot Time in Old Town, Whiskey Brothers Aught Five, Chicago:

A point on the road in front of almost 60,000 people is a good result on paper but I am looking for a big improvement at home this week. Montreal neutralized the Fire's counter attack by playing extremely deep and unfortunately, there was no plan B. Grazzini was effectively kicked off the field by a very physical Montreal team intent on stopping the Fire from playing their game. Still, there were plenty of positives, none more so than keeper Paolo Tornaghi, who proved to Fire fans that he is a more than capable deputy for Sean Johnson (who could miss plenty of games this season due to Olympic commitments).

The Fire will be out for revenge against Philly, who took four points from us last season. The team realistically created only one chance last week and I look for them to create a lot more at home. The Fire need a big improvement from Pappa and must create more room for Grazzini to work his magic. If that happens we should win comfortably against the Union.

Corey Furlan, Vice-President, Sons of Ben:

The last game felt like 2010: dominate the run of play, tons of opportunity, no goals to show for it... It's hard to put the finger on the problem, but the shuffling in and out of players doesn't help. We have no idea who's going to start (they didn't start their captain in the last game). It takes time to settle in a new look side, but...

If they don't get a result this weekend things could get ugly here - the fanbase is starting to get a little restless. When you include last season the team has now lost five games in a row, and it's going to be even tougher with Sheanon Williams being called up to join Adu with the Olympic team. But of the three sides we'll have faced so far, I don't think Chicago are as good as Colorado or Portland, so I'll go out on a limb and say Philadelphia win 2-1.

Real Salt Lake v Chivas USA - Sat 9pm

Donny Salazar, Captain, Real Salt Lake Royal Army:

St. Patrick's Day and football on the same Saturday, you can't really get much better than that! Well actually you can, with a 2-0 RSL victory over the New York Red Bulls. Starting off we had a line up change. RSL had planned on resting Tony Beltran, however Terukazu Tanaka was out with the flu putting Beltran back up on the starting XI. Nick Rimando had a great night with 4 saves, hopefully earning himself another MLS "Save of the Week" nomination. NYRB went with a 4-5-1 line up, which tells me that they were geared up for a draw rather than a win. Fortunately Luis Gil and Fabián Espíndola were able to pick apart the line putting a goal each in the back of the net. The only thing that could have silenced the crowd would have been Thierry Henry making that bicycle kick. The shot took everybody by surprise, luckily it was just wide. To top off our St. Patrick's Day celebration, newcomer and Irishman Jonny Steele was subbed in late in the match, relieving the fiery Sebastian Velasquez.

The atmosphere for our home opener was nothing short of incredible. Die-hard RSL fan, Branden Steinekert (drummer for the band Rancid and Utah resident) wrote a chant called "Believe" that went viral. Everybody took to it and adopted it as our new anthem, including head coach Jason Kreis. When you have 16,738 fans on their feet chanting the lyrics it gives you chills. Bring on the Chivas, Saturday March 24. We expect a highly emotional game next week. This is only the second meeting against Chivas since Marcos Mondaini mistimed a tackle from behind, breaking the leg of RSL midfielder Javier Morales.

Alicia Ratterree, The Goat Parade, Chivas USA:

Chivas USA lost last week 1-0 at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Injuries really hobbled Chivas ahead of the match, most notably forward Juan Pablo Angel who was out with concussion-like symptoms. But they controlled the play for the first half and had several good chances on goal. The play of Vancouver goalkeepers Joe Cannon and Brad Knighton kept the Whitecaps in the match, and Jay DeMerit scored his first career goal in MLS midway through the second half to get the visitors the victory. Although Chivas played well for most of the match, the single major mistake on the set piece that led to the goal left them without any points for a second consecutive week.

This week, Chivas are set to take on Real Salt Lake on the road. It will be a tough match, no doubt about it. RSL are arguably the best team in MLS so far this season, while Chivas are pretty close to the bottom. But I think they will try to play a conservative approach, playing team defense, and going for a draw, or if they can finally score a goal, perhaps even a win. Otherwise, this match will be an important barometer to see how Chivas stack up to very good teams in a stacked Western Conference.

Vancouver Whitecaps v D.C. United - Sat 10pm

Brenton Walters, Communications Director, Vancouver Southsiders

While we didn't play a great game against Chivas, we still kept a clean sheet and got the win on a nice goal from captain Jay DeMerit, for our first road win in MLS. Our midfield was outplayed and our attackers weren't on the same page, but our backline and keepers (starter Joe Cannon went off injured in the first half) were excellent.

DC will be a tough test, but hopefully the team is starting to gel more and we can generate more offence. We have the firepower, we just have to build better from the back. Starting the season with three wins is maybe asking too much; I'm predicting a well-played draw.

Kim Kolb, Screaming Eagles

The game in LA was a positive step from the opening game against Kansas City, but the team is still obviously not clicking on several levels. Though there was more commitment from players and a certain level of deliberate thought in the offense. But LA offered too much firepower, and broke United down. United stayed on the West Coast during the week, hopefully, this will allow the team to dedicate themselves in training as well as continue to bond as a group, if United's two high priced players, Boscovic and Salihi find their way back to the starting lineup, the team should be able to mount some threats against the Whitecaps, but to add to the challenge, Vancouver hasn't given up a goal this year.

New York Red Bulls v Colorado Rapids - Sun 4pm

Mark Fishkin, host, Seeing Red podcast, New York:

Winning at RSL last week was going to be a massive challenge, but two defensive lapses cost RBNY points for the second straight week. Starting young Icelandic midfielder Victor Palsson was a disastrous decision by New York Coach Hans Backe. Palsson completed more passes to Salt Lake players than his own side, his worst setting up a perfect RSL counterattack that led to the home side's first goal. New York finally opens its home schedule but faces an defeated team in Colorado. The Red Bulls get Rafa Marquez back from suspension, which should relax the defense. The Rapids will be without Red Bull-killer Jeff Larentowicz, who scored both goals in the clubs' 2-2 draw at Red Bull Arena last May. The key for New York (1 goal scored in 2 matches) will be generating meaningful scoring opportunities. Sadly, savior Luke Rodgers remains in the UK in visa limbo.

Todd Haggerty, Pid Army:

The 10-man Rapids, with goals from Jaime Castrillon and Tony Cascio, defeated a Union team with more drama than an episode of Murder She Wrote. This week the 'Pids pay visit to another struggling team, New York. Even without the GinjaNinja (suspended) the Rapids should be able to beat the Red Bulls by exploiting their weak back line.

Sporting Kansas City v Dallas FC - 7pm

Sean Dane, Hype man, The Cauldron, Sporting Kansas City:

Last weeks home opener could not have gone better. Capitalizing on an early NE red card we marched to a 3-0 thumping of NE. All the guys looked energized by the sold out crowd and our ROTY CJ Sapong looks to be in the same form he had last year. Watching Collin head off with a back injury was a little scary but he looks to be ok. Livestrong Park was rocking and speaking of marching we had a little pregame fun in the Kansas City St. Patricks Day parade...

We welcome Dallas into the Blue Hell this week. This used to be one of the best match ups of the year based on team name, (The Wiz vs The Burn). We look to continue using our home field advantage and take another 3 points. With Teal still out with the national team, look for Kei and CJ to lead the charge again. If I had to play keeper against these two I would just stay home.

Jon Beard, The Inferno, Dallas:

Well where do you begin with last week's game? The odd timing of the Leyva/John substitution has already been discussed to death, so I won't do so more here, but I will say one thing - I'm sure NBC were glad that their first game was the previous one against New York, rather than this pretty dull affair. Unfortunately, the rumors that Ferreira and Castillo would be back proved false, and we were left with a makeshift wing of Rodriguez and Leyva. While these two did combine to create Blas Perez's first MLS goal, the lack of depth made Coach Hyndman bunker down with 8 defensive outfield players for the entire second half. Though Portland only managed to tie the game on a Hernandez defensive blunder, it is still a worry that Hyndman has players on the bench that he didn't feel he could trust. A lot of fans were looking for Wiedeman or new signing Perea to enter the game to provide an offensive spark that never happened.

For the upcoming game in Kansas, it feels like Dallas will almost certainly look to lock up the game on the defense and attack only on the counter again. With Shea and Rodriguez out for national team duties, and Castillo and likely Ferreira still out with injuries, the starting wingers will almost certainly be the incredibly skilled, but lazy, Leyva and hard-working Wiedeman, with Villar in between, none of whom will likely strike too much fear into the KC defense. I would expect Dallas to look to escape Kansas with either a 1-0, 0-0 or 1-1 result, which the majority of fans will be perfectly happy with, under the circumstances. Given the slow starts of the last couple of years, 5-7 points from the first 3 games with several key absences would be an excellent beginning to the season.

You've read the previews - now have your say. How will your team get on this weekend? And be sure to join us for Seattle Sounders v Houston Dynamo - Live!

MLS standings

MLS schedule