MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER nut Will Dyer (@W2Dyer) is back with more best bets from across the pond.
DC United v San Jose Earthquakes | Sunday 00.00 | Sky Sports 1
For some reason the bookies haven’t taken as much of a shine to goals in this one as they have in countless other MLS games recently. Both Teams To Score is available at 4/5 (BetVictor) and the stats say it should be much, much shorter.
Ten of DC United’s last 11 home MLS games have seen both sides on the scoresheet whilst eight of San Jose’s last 13 away have also obliged. Earthquakes shocked the country with a 5-0 away win to, not just end, but shatter Kansas City’s unbeaten home record on Thursday night; they should find it very easy to score against DC with the way the Maryland side have been giving up possession lately.
Earthquakes have the incredibly consistent goalscorer Chris Wondolowski in their ranks whilst DC traded of Luis Silva to Real Salt Lake in exchange for the prolific veteran Alvaro Saborio.
I’m very happy to take this price with Major League Soccer entering the final third of the season. Earthquakes must go hell for leather to climb the Western Conference in search of a play-off spot whilst DC are cruising at the top of the East and haven’t failed to score at RFK Memorial since last October.
Montreal Impact v Philadelphia Union | Sunday 01.00
Back to one of my favourite sides to back this season. Montreal have gone in at some nice prices this term and Philadelphia as expected, have been poor on the road. I quite like goal difference stats and in 11 home games this season Montreal have +8 and Philly have -13 in 12 away games. Both those stats point to a home win.
Philadelphia have lost all four of their visits to the Stade Saputo and I think they’ll have one eye on their US Open Cup final on the 30 September already. With plenty of the teams above Union having games in hand and The U already four points off a play-off spot, I think they’ll be thinking realistically focusing all of their thoughts on the Cup.
Ignacio Piatti will be missed for Impact but equally Philly will struggle away from home without their main defensive midfield cover, Vincent Noguiera and Maurice Edu, so I fancy the home win.
Real Salt Lake v Seattle Sounders | Sunday 03.00
I mentioned on Twitter to someone to keep an eye out for Seattle in the next few weeks. Obafemi Martins returned last weekend and unsurprisingly so did Seattle’s swagger. A 4-0 win over Orlando City; Seattle stopped OC even registering a shot on target and Martins missed a penalty and would otherwise have had a hat-trick by the end of the game.
Clint Dempsey is still listed as questionable but I think he’s quite likely to return here. Seattle are only borderline in the play-offs at the minute and they have a few injury problems so his presence is much required.
Real have lost three on the bounce and with Joao Plata out with a hamstring injury and the aforementioned Alvaro Saborio upping sticks to DC United, they look dangerously low on firepower.
As a result I was surprised to see Seattle priced at over 2/1; sure they’ve had a tough couple months but the quality is still there and I fancy them to put a winning streak together now.
LA Galaxy vs New York City | Sunday 20.00 | Sky Sports 1
Well, this fixture just screams ‘hammering’ to me. I’ve probably been a bit harsh on NYC lately but LA have been rattling in the goals and the visitor’s ramshackle defence could be in deep ‘do-do’ here.
I fancy LA to keep up their fantastic home form. The Galaxy have scored 22 goals in their last five MLS games at the StubHub, notching three or more in each. NYC do have some class in their team but it’s just not as evenly spread as LA’s.
The Californians have also turned their away form around with back-to-back wins including at Dallas where they’ve struggled in the past. They are in a good place right now and though I’d dearly love someone else to win it, the MLS Cup is well within their reach.
LA rifled five past Guatemalan side Comunicaciones in the CONCACAF Champions League in midweek and even if that was always a likely result it’s just good for our bet to see them scoring bags of goals as usual.
So what is our bet? LA to score 4 or more goals; NYC haven’t kept a clean sheet in nine games and their 39 leaked is more than any side in the West and the fifth worst overall.
Best Bets
DC United vs San Jose Earthquakes – Both Teams To Score (4/5 BetVictor)
Montreal Impact v Philadelphia Union – Montreal Impact to win (19/20 Skybet)
Real Salt Lake v Seattle Sounders – Seattle Sounders to win (12/5 Betway)
LA Galaxy v New York City – LA Galaxy to score 4+ goals (7/2 William Hill)
