OUR Stateside expert Will Dyer (@w2Dyer) is back with four more MLS bets for the weekend.
FC Dallas v Colorado Rapids | Saturday 00:00
I had Colorado down as bottom feeders in my Western Conference predictions and they're doing their best to prove me right. Four games in to this MLS season and the Rapids are still yet to score a goal.
But Colorado have actually only lost one of those four games as the first three were all bore draws, but I think they face an uphill task at the impressive FC Dallas this weekend.
Colorado have struggled at the Toyota Stadium throughout their history. They’ve lost 18 of their last 27 visits since 2002. Not a happy hunting ground. A whopping 12 of those 18 victories saw Dallas score three or more goals and that’s a fair reflection of Colorado’s long-time away struggles.
Last time out at home the Texans stopped the Seattle Sounders even having a shot on target all game despite having 10 men for over 70 minutes; that fills me with confidence. I’ve a sneaky suspicion they’ll dominate proceedings on Friday night.
At home Colorado are pretty good but without their mile-high altitude advantage they are vulnerable; they conceded three or more in eight of their 17 away games last season and with that defence breached twice by New England last weekend it’s back to the drawing board for Pablo Mastraeoni.
Dallas have started the season well and Blas Perez has been in scintillating form for both club and country. He was only a substitute last weekend but has scored three goals from three starts in MLS and bagged a brace for Panama against a much adored Costa Rica defence during the international break.
He’s set to start and I think that could see the hosts romp home so I’ll have some of that 3/1 on Dallas to score three or more goals.
New England Revolution v Columbus Crew | Saturday 20:00
I think New England will win this but they’ve had a mixed start to the season and Columbus have scored in their last three MLS games so I can’t see it being straight forward.
Revolution have a wealth of talent in midfield and one of the key cogs in that well-oiled machine could return to the fray this weekend as Jermaine Jones has been training and looks to have recovered from a hernia.
Revs have won their last two games scoring twice in both wins. They played Columbus twice at the Gillette Stadium in 2014 and won both games but the key to my selections for this game is that those wins were 2-1 and 3-1 respectively. Revolution have won seven of their last nine home MLS games and six of those wins were by 2-1 or 3-1 scorelines.
I fancy the Revs to push on now and hit the top of the Eastern Conference but they've been better going forward than they have at the back and with Columbus' Kei Kamara already having three goals to his name this season I think Crew will find a way through.
Juan Agudelo has looked lively up front and Lee Nguyen provides an obscene amount of goals from midfield so I expect the hosts to outscore Crew this weekend. I’ve discussed the merits of backing 2-1 and 3-1 scorelines rather than Win & BTTS in one of my WLB Analysis articles and that’s what I’m opting for here.
Portland Timbers v Orlando City | Sunday 22:00 | Sky Sports 5
Portland Timbers have long been one of my favourite sides to watch in Major League Soccer. They host new boys Orlando City in Oregon this weekend and Sky Sports have made it their Sunday night live game. If you’re not too busy watching the Masters finale then give this game a go.
Timbers have a raft of exciting players full of pace and skill. The talented Darion Asprilla made Soccer AM’s showboat VT two weeks ago for some outrageous manoeuvres against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The in-form Fanendo Adi should also give the Lions defence a real shake-up.
Kaka’s new franchise haven’t threatened too much so far this season scoring just four goals in five games. They have been quite solid at the back but are yet to face a really strong attack on the road.
I think they might get blown away by Timbers and I can’t see them scoring more than one goal so there’s a good chance Portland win this by two. Portland scored three past a very good FC Dallas last time out at home and also got two against LA Galaxy in their home game prior to that.
Orlando City’s main problem is the lack of a proven goal-scoring striker which makes Portland strong favourites here but instead of odds-on quotes on the home win I’ll opt for Portland -1 on the Asian Handicap line. If Portland win by two my bet will pay out, if they win by one I’ll get my stake back.
Best Bets
FC Dallas v Colorado Rapids – FC Dallas to score Over 2.5 Goals (11/4 888 Sport)
New England Revolution v Columbus Crew – New England to win 2-1 (17/2 888 Sport)
New England Revolution v Columbus Crew – New England to win 3-1 (16/1 William Hill)
Portland Timbers v Orlando City – Portland Timbers -1 Asian Handicap (7/5 888 Sport)
1-A Piece Refund
Place a Correct Score bet on the Portland v Orlando game with Betfred and if it ends 1-1 they'll refund your stake.
