MLS expert Luke Beaumont (@_LukeBeaumont) smashed a full house in his last Major League Soccer selection. Here's his thoughts on Saturday night's Stateside action.
Atlanta United v Toronto FC | Saturday 4th August 2018, 21:00 | Sky Sports
Every week in Major League Soccer, there is a game that sticks out as a guaranteed goalfest – and this is the fixture for this weekend. Atlanta United have met Toronto on two occasions, with both games ending as a 2-2 draw.
Both sides play an entertaining brand of football and they’re both very attack-minded. Atlanta, at home, are a team that scores goals for fun and that allows them to give away a needless goal which happens often. In their last five outings at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they have conceded in four and found the net 12 times.
The betting angle I am looking at for this game is Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score as a combination. The two bets are very short on their own, but as a combo, it comes at an eye-catching 8/11 (Bet365).
There has been a pattern forming when Toronto play on the road, and this leads to me thinking that this bet has a lot of value. Interestingly, eight of Toronto’s last nine away games in MLS have seen Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score romp home.
With Toronto arriving in Atlanta needing three points, it is going to lead to an entertaining end-to-end battle. In terms of the result, this game could go either way. But you can be certain it won’t be low scoring.
Minnesota United v Seattle Sounders | Sunday 5th August 2018, 01:00
Seattle Sounders had a depressing start to the season, but they travel to Minnesota this weekend in a good run of form, unbeaten in their last six games. It is a Sounders tradition to start the season poorly and then make a late, desperate attempt to make the play-offs.
It will take some doing to keep their form up as they take on a United side who are currently in red-hot form at home. The Loons have won four home games in succession, scoring an impressive 14 goals in the process. Star man, Darwin Quintero, scored six of those himself – he is 2/1 (Bet365) to score anytime against Seattle, so that has value and may be worth a look.
Seattle have won three away games this season and two of those were against Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes. Not exactly something to shout about.
I think Seattle’s unbeaten run will come to an end in Minnesota, during a close-fought encounter which will see the Loons close the gap on those occupying the play-off places.
FC Dallas v San Jose Earthquakes | Sunday 5th August 2018, 01:00
I sometimes look at how MLS games are priced by the bookmakers and on occasions I am left surprised. FC Dallas are short at 2/5 to beat San Jose, however they could be even shorter.
San Jose Earthquakes are extremely poor, they sit bottom of the Western Conference on 13 points and bottom of the Supporters’ Shield, which is the East and West added together – earning the right to be labelled the worst team in Major League Soccer.
To give you an idea how bad they actually are, the Earthquakes have only won once in their last 20 MLS games.
FC Dallas top the Western Conference and they are unbelievably solid at home. They haven’t been beaten at Toyota Stadium since July 2017. They have scored three times in each of their last two home games against Atlanta United and Chicago Fire who are far superior teams than the San Jose Earthquakes.
This fixture isn’t a matter of will FC Dallas win, it’s a matter of how many will they score? They’re 6/4 (William Hill) to notch Over 2.5 Goals.
Best Bets
Atlanta United v Toronto FC – Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score (8/11 Bet365)
Minnesota United v Seattle Sounders – Minnesota United to score Over 1.5 Goals – (17/20 William Hill)
Minnesota United v Seattle Sounders – Carlos (Darwin) Quintero to score at anytime (2/1 Bet 365)
FC Dallas v San Jose Earthquakes – FC Dallas to score Over 2.5 Goals (6/4 William Hill)
