MLS expert Luke Beaumont (@_LukeBeaumont) analyses the final round of action on Sunday night from across the pond.
Toronto FC v Atlanta United | Sunday 28th October 2018, 20:30
Atlanta United make their way over to Canada this weekend to take on Toronto FC as they look to secure their first piece of silverware.
The Supporters’ Shield race has gone down to the final weekend and, as it stands, Atlanta lead the New York Red Bulls by one point. They know that a win in Toronto would secure them to trophy. However, if Atlanta fail to win and the Red Bulls pick up three points against Orlando, the Shield would end up in New Jersey.
Toronto are the reigning champions, and they can still have a big say in terms of where the Supporters’ Shield ends up this year. They won’t want to see Atlanta become champions on their own pitch, so this could be the motivating factor to do the Red Bulls a huge favour.
These two sides have only met on three occasions since Atlanta’s MLS introduction in 2016, and all three meetings ended in a 2-2 draw. I fancy Toronto to spoil the party this weekend and give the New York Red Bulls the chance to win their third ever Supporters’ Shield.
Toronto to avoid defeat at home is 17/20 (Bet365) and I think it’s also worth a small bet on a fourth successive 2-2 share of the spoils at 9/1 (William Hill).
New York Red Bulls v Orlando City | Sunday 28th October 2018, 20:30
New York Red Bulls are as short as 1/8 to beat Orlando City, and I’d say that’s justified.
They take on an Orlando side who sit bottom of the Eastern Conference, have conceded the most goals across Major League Soccer and they have lost their last 11 away games on the trot. To use some American dialect, I would describe them as being garbage.
The Red Bulls go into this game knowing anything less than a win isn’t going to be enough. If they can go ahead early against Orlando, it will intensify the pressure on Atlanta who will no doubt be tracking this game whilst they take on Toronto at the same time.
It’s not worth betting solely on the Red Bulls win, given the price that they are, so I am going to look at the Win To Nil market. Orlando are finding goals hard to come by on the road, they have failed to score in their last four attempts away from the Orlando City Stadium.
As well as that, the Red Bulls have kept four successive clean sheets on home turf.
11/10 for New York Red Bulls to win ‘to nil' looks a very good bet.
Best Bets
Toronto FC v Atlanta United – Toronto FC double chance (17/20 Bet365)
Toronto FC v Atlanta United – Toronto FC 2-2 Atlanta United (9/1 William Hill)
New York Red Bulls v Orlando City – New York Red Bulls to win ‘to nil’ (11/10 Ladbrokes)
