Kick Off!

Major League Soccer kicks off it's 15th season tonight. After narrowly avoiding the first work stoppage in league history, the season opener features the league's two newest teams, the Seattle Sounders and the expansion Philadelphia Union. The contest is a snapshot of two very different teams.

The Sounders burst onto the scene in 2009 with a strong fan base and surprising success, finishing with a 12-7-11 record before bowing out of the playoffs in the conference semi-finals. They became the second expansion team in history to win the U.S. Open Cup and make the playoffs during their first season. They also set an MLS attendance record. The Sounders feature a strong squad with veterans Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg, and are expected to pick up where they left off last season.

Unlike Seattle, Philadelphia is a series of unknowns. Philadelphia does not have a strong soccer fan base already in place, so it remains to be seen how much community support the team will receive. The only proven solid player on the squad is Brazilian midfielder Fred. However youngsters Amobi Okugu and Sebastien Le Toux could provide key support. The other big unknown for the Union is the play of Danny Mwanga. The Union's front office convinced the home-grown Mwanga to stay in the States and help build the league rather than flee for Europe. If Mwanga can establish himself as the stalwart of the Union's offense, the team may be able to replicate some of Seattle's success both on the field and in the community.