BACK with the best Stateside weekend bets, it's Will Dyer (@w2Dyer).
New York Red Bulls v Vancouver Whitecaps | Sunday 00:00
Just a short one this weekend as I’m in a rush to get to Bristol for a few parties!
Red Bulls are in pretty bad shape at the minute; losing their last three MLS games and just one win in eight. They're back at the Red Bull Arena though and I expect them to aim for a clean sheet as a priority in this game as they look to put an end to this rough patch.
Vancouver won at the StubHub Center last weekend, all credit to them for that but the LA side they beat are currently a shadow of the Galaxy we’ve come to expect.
Seven of Vancouver’s eight away MLS games this season have seen Under 2.5 Goals whilst five of Red Bull’s six home MLS clashes have also gone under on the goals line.
This should be pretty tight again with Octavio Rivero and Bradley Wright-Phillips the only truly worrying goal threats, both of whom have eased up in recent weeks. Under 2.5 Goals in an underwhelming late afternoon in New Jersey for me.
LA Galaxy v Philadelphia Union | Sunday 03:30
LA have got to start winning games right now if they want to defend their MLS Cup title. It’s just two wins in 10 fixtures now for the Californians but with a home tie against the worst away defence in Major League Soccer I fully expect them to return to winning ways.
They played better than I anticipated in Columbus last weekend and also in Massachusetts the week before and with Robbie Keane scoring a hat-trick in the US Open Cup on Thursday’s Fourth round tie with PSA Elite. I think he’ll register again on Saturday night. Despite that win being over a weak opponent I think it will serve as a good confidence boost for the Irishman and his teammates.
Philly have conceded 17 goals in just eight away games and Robbie Keane has been LA’s top scorer in each of their last last seasons. Instead of a best price 6/10 on the home win I’ll chance my luck with Keane to score in what I expect will be a pretty comfortable win for Bruce Arena’s boys.
DC United v New England Revolution | Sunday 22:00 | Sky Sports 1
The early pace setters in the Eastern Conference face off at RFK Memorial this weekend live on Sky Sports. It’s a fixture I’m very much looking forward to as a Revs fan but also as an admirer of DC.
United let us down again last weekend in Orlando, they went behind as usual but did get their chances to score.
Revolution won in fine fashion at home against the Fire with a scorching volley from Diego Fagundez and a quick fire second from Charlie Davies to kill the game. However, main-man Jermaine Jones is now out for up to eight weeks with a hernia.
Neither side have filled me with confidence at the back in recent weeks; BTTS has been a winner in seven of DC’s last eight at home which is not like them at all. They keep starting the game very slowly.
BTTS has also been a winner in three of Revolution’s last four away games and the Revs has scored exactly two goals in four of their last five road games. They have probably the widest range of forward options in the league and I expect them to have an answer to anything that DC try during the game.
With MLS being unpredictable lately I’m going for goals rather than the match odds, I can see this being a score draw though.
Best Bets
New York Red Bulls v Vancouver Whitecaps – Under 2.5 Goals (20/23 BetVictor)
LA Galaxy v Philadelphia Union – Robbie Keane to score anytime (6/5 Coral)
DC United v New England Revolution – Both Teams To Score (7/9 888 Sport)
