MLS Week 24: Complete Schedule and 5 Things to Watch for This Weekend

Don't fixate on Clint Dempsey's anticipated return in MLS Week 24. The search for Jack McInerney's form is equally worth your watchful eye this weekend.

A total of eight MLS clubs were in action on Wednesday. The Montreal Impact and Sporting Kansas City captured much-needed CONCACAF Champions League victories. Real Salt Lake and D.C. United followed suit by advancing to the U.S. Open Cup final.

Nine MLS matches will follow this weekend. But with so much action on tap, what warrants your attention?

Read on to find out.

Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, credit all statistics to the official MLS Press Box Stats and Standings.

Complete Schedule and Guide

Before we delve into the featured storylines for this weekend's action, here is the complete schedule and guide for Week 24.

The results from Wednesday's action are posted as well.

Wednesday

Los Angeles Galaxy 0-2 AC Milan (International Champions Cup)

Montreal Impact 1-0 San Jose Earthquakes (CONCACAF Champions League)

Real Esteli 0-2 Sporting Kansas City (CONCACAF Champions League)

Chicago Fire 0-2 DC United (U.S. Open Cup)

Real Salt Lake 1-2 Portland Timbers (U.S. Open Cup)

Saturday

Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders, 7:00 p.m. ET, MLS Live

Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live

Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United, 8:00 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution, 8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live

Chicago Fire vs. Montreal Impact, 8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live

Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo, 9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live

Sunday

FC Dallas vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN 2

Chivas USA vs. Colorado Rapids, 11:00 p.m. ET, UniMas

The Story to Watch: Clint Dempsey's Anticipated Debut with Seattle

Forget the story of MLS Week 24, this could potentially be the story of 2013.

Clint Dempsey fully participated in training with the Sounders on Wednesday. According to the club's official website, the American captain has already set his sights on Toronto FC:

"

It felt good to get out and train today and get a good sweat. There's a lot of quality in this team. I'm just looking forward to getting to know the team better and helping the team do well. I look forward to Toronto.

"

Despite being allotted minimal integration time with his new teammates, Dempsey expects to contribute "in some capacity" on Saturday.

Now, one training session is hardly enough to build a rapport that could successfully translate on the pitch. But with transcendent quality—and not to mention a record-breaking salary—comes great responsibility. 

Head coach Sigi Schmid expects nothing less from his newest acquisition:

"

The main thing is that what good players do in games, in critical moments, is they step up and they take charge of the game. That's what we expect from him.

"

What's expected from Coach Schmid is a victory in Week 24. With this much firepower at his disposal, anything less would be inexcusable.

Especially against Toronto.

The Number to Watch: 524

This was believed to be the summer of Jack McInerney.

The 21-year-old sensation jumped to the forefront of American soccer this season with a scorching touch and 10 goals to boot. A Gold Cup invitation from Juergen Klinsmann further inflated the hype.

But as the summer months hit, so too did McInerney's drought.

The young American forward has failed to score a goal since June 1. The clock has been running since his late equalizer against Toronto FC in Week 14. Not including stoppage time, the clock has officially struck 524 minutes. 

According to MLS' official website, McInerney's prolonged drought is beginning to take its toll:

"

It gets frustrating. For forwards, it's all about getting on a little streak. I haven't scored in a while and it's frustrating. I really need to just get one of those tap-ins like I got in the beginning of the season to get rolling again.

"

Jack Mac is correct in this regard: It only takes one goal to instantly build a striker's confidence. 

Recent history says D.C. United will lay the foundation for that confidence in Week 24. 

McInerney netted his only brace of the season in the previous matchup between the two clubs. The Union went on to capture a 3-2 victory at PPL Park. Perhaps of more importance, the Black and Red have conceded a woeful 36 goals this season.

A repeat performance against his I-95 rival can put Jack Mac back on track.

The Player to Watch: Omar Gonzalez

When the words "designated player" are uttered, you pay attention.

According to Grant Wahl's stellar reporting, the Galaxy are expected to announce Omar Gonzalez as their third designated player. The 24-year-old center-back would be the first defensive DP in MLS since...Rafa Marquez.

Talk about night and day.

The question remains: Is Gonzalez worth the Galaxy's final DP slot?

Ask the 2012 version of the Los Angeles Galaxy if you want the answer.

The Galaxy began their 2012 campaign with a shaky 6-9-2 record. Even worse, the club conceded an average of 1.94 goals per game. It's no coincidence that Gonzalez was recovering from a torn ACL during that stretch.

His recovery altered their fortunes. 

Upon Gonzalez's return, the Galaxy's bruising defense conceded an average of 1.00 goals per game in the final 12 games of the regular season. That stupefying turnaround included six shutouts, which is three more than the club had during the absence of its young center-back.

Gonzalez put an exclamation point on his return with an MVP performance in the 2012 MLS Cup.

True, the Galaxy are synonymous with big-name signings. But sometimes, it's better to bank on the devil you know than the devil you don't.

Los Angeles knows this "devil," and so does the rest of MLS.

You can bank on another stellar performance in Week 24.

The Team to Watch: The San Jose Earthquakes

All it takes is one winning streak to breed optimism in MLS.

The Earthquakes are living proof entering Week 24.

After a sluggish 5-9-6 start, San Jose's hope for another playoff run was bleak. A 1.05 points-per-game average was never enough to clinch a playoff spot in the Western Conference. But three matches and nine points later, the Earthquakes now sit three points behind the Whitecaps for the fifth and final playoff spot in the West.

The club looks to build on that form this weekend.

With a trip to BC Place in the cards for Saturday, the plot thickens in Week 24. A victory could see the reigning Supporters' Shield champions back in the playoff picture for the first time in 2013.

Fingers crossed the Earthquakes can keep their cleats on for a full 90 minutes this time around.

The Match to Watch: Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo

Two of MLS' traditional powers will collide in Week 24.

Real Salt Lake enters the weekend riding high after securing the club's first-ever berth in the U.S. Open Cup final. But recent league form has failed to meet expectations. The Claret and Cobalt are currently riding a three-game winless streak.

The same cannot be said for the Dynamo.

Houston snapped a seven-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over the Union in Week 19. Since then, the club has extended its unbeaten run to four games. After a 672-minute scoreless drought, even Will Bruin has decided to join in on the fun.

Alexander Lopez—the Dynamo's newest acquisition and young designated player—expects to do the same upon receipt of his P-1 Visa and international transfer certificate.

But the real fun comes between the posts on Saturday.

Tally Hall and Nick Rimando won't come within 100 yards of each other once the opening whistle blows. But according to Houston's website, Hall understands the nature of the beast in this inter-conference showdown:

"

As another goalkeeper you look at it and say "ok, let's battle." It's fun. We don't get to shoot on each other but we're on the same field competing so you have that intensity and for me that's what the game's about.

"

What this game is about is an all-important three points for both clubs.

RSL's stranglehold on the Supporters' Shield has dwindled down to the first tiebreaker. Houston's playoff security in the Eastern Conference is but a meager three points.

Expect a riot at the RioT in Week 24.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC