The New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas will help kick off the MLS season with a nationally-televised game on Sunday afternoon. The teams are evenly matched and will be looking to start their respective seasons with a win, so it should be a terrific way to begin the campaign.

It was a pretty uneventful offseason for FCD. They did make some additions in the likes of Carlos Rodriguez and Hernand Pertuz to help a back line that struggled with consistency last season. Otherwise most of last year's top contributors return.

The Red Bulls made a few signings during the winter, but the biggest news was Tim Ream leaving the squad to join Bolton of the English Premier League. Filling that hole will be New York's biggest concern in the early going.

Where: FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas

When: Sunday, March 11 at 3 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network and MLS Direct Kick

Betting Odds: FC Dallas +119, New York Red Bulls +207, Draw +215

Player to Watch for Dallas: Brek Shea

While Shea might be best known for his recent appearances with the United States national team, he is coming off a solid league season as well. He scored a team-high 10 goals and added four assists in 2011, proving he's one of the league's rising stars.

The 22-year-old Texas native has been impressive during international duty. He's created a lot of scoring chances, both for himself and his teammates. Now he just needs to develop a killer instinct in front of net so those opportunities turn into goals.

He spent a portion of the offseason training with Arsenal in England. It will be interesting to see what he might have learned with the Gunners and how he'll put it to use throughout the season.

Player to Watch for New York: Thierry Henry

Henry spent a couple winter months on loan with the aforementioned Gunners. He scored several key goals for Arsenal and looked like he still belonged at the top flight English level. The superstar returns to New York hoping to build off a 15-goal season.

The Red Bulls have a lot of depth up front, so manager Hans Backe will have a little more flexibility to get the veteran some rest if need be. That said, Henry is a competitor above all else and will want to be on the pitch as often as possible.

He's probably still carrying some of that Arsenal momentum with him, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him get off to a red-hot start. FCD will need to keep an eye on him all afternoon.

Key Matchup: Kevin Hartman vs. Ryan Meara

A season's first couple games are crucial for a goalkeeper because the players in front of them are more prone to mistakes until they find their form.

It's a lesson Hartman has surely learned during his long career. He's been in the MLS since 1997 and has made almost 400 appearances over that span. Even though he's now 37 years old, the former UCLA Bruin is still one of the league's most reliable options between the pipes.

The story is almost directly opposite for Meara. The 21-year-old rookie has the inside track to make his first career start in the opener. He'll obviously be facing a lot of butterflies, so it will be vital for him to make a couple early saves to calm himself down.

What They're Saying

FCD midfielder Andrew Jacobson is looking forward to his second season with the squad, according to the team's official website:

“Just a full preseason,” Jacobson said when asked about the biggest personal difference between this year and last season.

“I came in midway through the preseason last year. Coming into preseason comfortable and knowing what’s expected of me. Being able to progress throughout the preseason with the team rather than figure out where I’m going to live, where the guys are and everything like that.”

Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty told the club website training has gone well and the team understands what needs to be done to earn all three points:

“We played a certain way against them on the road that really was effective for us. And another part of it was probably because Ferreira was out,” said McCarty.

“He’s coming off a bad injury. I think he’s probably going to be fit and ready for the opener. He changes the dynamic a little bit and we’re really working hard in training to make sure that our team shape is good, our defending is good and when we get our chances we put them away.”

Prediction

FC Dallas 1, New York Red Bulls 1

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