NBC Sports Group to Air Over 20 Hours of Live Soccer Coverage this Weekend

NBC Sports Group presents more than 20 hours of live soccer coverage this weekend highlighted by a Premier League-Major League Soccer quintupleheader on NBCSN Saturday and a doubleheader on NBC Sunday.

NBCSN presents more than 12 hours of live soccer coverage on Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. ET with Premier League Live. Live MLS coverage on NBCSN begins at 3 p.m. ET when playoff contender Philadelphia Union faces 2013 Supporters' Shield candidate Sporting Kansas City following the Fulham-Southampton Premier League match. At 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, the San Jose Earthquakes host FC Dallas.

NBC's MLS coverage on Sunday is highlighted by the Houston Dynamo taking on D.C. United at 1:30 p.m. ET, following live Premier League coverage (Chelsea v. Manchester City). MLS coverage begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET with the finale of MLS Insider on NBCSN. Earlier Saturday on NBCSN, Crystal Palace host Arsenal at 7:45 a.m. ET and Manchester United host Stoke City at 10 a.m. ET.

The Philadelphia Union, San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo still have a chance at making the MLS Cup Playoffs.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports Group's lead MLS play-by-play announcer John Strong will call NBCSN's Philadelphia Union-Sporting Kansas City coverage on Saturday as well as NBC's D.C. United-Houston Dynamo match on Sunday. Strong will be joined by analyst and former English footballer Robbie Mustoe and host Russ Thaler.

Strong on the importance of this weekend's matches: "This has been an amazing fall in MLS, and it's all built up perfectly to this final weekend. Every match has some kind of meaning, whether for the Supporters' Shield, playoff positioning, or just getting into the postseason. I love that we have the earliest game on Saturday and Sunday: both have the potential to set up a chain reaction throughout the day that can completely change the playoff picture. The desperation and urgency on display throughout both days will make for incredible viewing."

Mustoe: "This is an exciting time to watch MLS as this weekend sets the stage for what will be an exciting MLS Cup Playoffs. Both the Philadelphia Union and Houston Dynamo cling to the hope of playoff spots. But Sporting Kansas City, who have clinched a berth in the playoffs, need to beat the Union in order to keep alive their chances of winning the coveted 2013 Supporters' Shield."

Announcer JP Dellacamera will handle play-by-play for Saturday's San Jose Earthquakes-FC Dallas match alongside analyst Brian Dunseth and host Sebastian Salazar.

MLS INSIDER: This week's season finale of MLS Insider airs Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The show looks at the New York Red Bulls' past woes as they aim to break an alleged curse and Capture the club's first major trophy - the 2013 Supporters' Shield. In addition, the episode looks at Toronto FC's new regime and attitude and shares a poetic perspective on the greatness of LA Galaxy striker and Irish national team footballer Robbie Keane.

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