MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER expert Will Dyer (@W2Dyer) returns with four fancies from the weekend coupon from across the pond.
Columbus Crew v Toronto FC | Sunday 00.30
Toronto played Sunderland in a friendly on Wednesday night, losing 2-1 to a quick-fire double from former player Jermaine Defoe. They have looked good in front of goal lately and I definitely expect them to register on the scoresheet at MAPFRE where Crew haven’t kept a clean sheet in eight league games.
Columbus are strong at home but they look a weak favourite at odds-on to me. However, they have scored in 21 consecutive home league games dating back to July last year and with their Canadian opponents leaking eight goals in their last two away games, it seems unlikely that a side with the league’s top scorer will fail to score at home.
Both Teams To Score is a short price but these two teams have been well amongst the goals this season; the last eight MLS games in a row in Ohio have seen BTTS bank and it’s worth multiple fodder at 13/20 (BetVictor). It’s a much safer bet than the 7/10 about Over 2.5 Goals.
FC Dallas v Portland Timbers | Sunday 02.00
I like Portland but I don’t really see why there’s money coming for them here. They’ve lost their last three away games in all competitions, leaking 10 goals without reply.
Dallas are incredibly strong at Toyota Stadium; they’ve won five of their last six home MLS games and their win over Eastern Conference leaders DC United last weekend thrust them to the top of the West. All that and with a game or two in hand over most of the chasing pack, nice.
Timbers don’t travel well. Their record against Western Conference sides this season on the road reads W1-D1-L4 and that sole victory came against bottom feeders Colorado Rapids. Odds-against on the home win is a lot chunkier than I was expecting. Dallas 11/10 with Bet365.
New York City FC v Orlando City | Sunday 19.30 | Sky Sports 5
The first of a Sunday night TV double is Round 2 between Major League Soccer’s new boys NYCFC and OC and there are some nice goals stats behind this one. All of NYC’s last six home MLS games saw BTTS bank and four of Orlando’s last five away games also obliged.
With Kaka back, I think Orlando will find their mojo again this weekend. Especially after watching Sebastian Giovinco tear that awful New York City defence apart two weeks ago. Both sides scored in their meeting back in March and it’s safe to say that defending is neither’s forte.
The hype surrounding the two superstars, David Villa and Kaka, was almost unbearable before the season began but both have well and truly lived up to their billings and I expect they’ll each be keen to try and outdo one another in this prime-time game.
Only two sides have left Yankee Stadium with a clean sheet this season and both of them were Western Conference powerhouses. Similarly, Orlando City haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their five visits to their fellow Conference rivals so it’s BTTS for me at 3/4 with BetVictor.
DC United v Philadelphia Union | Sunday 22.00 | Sky Sports 5
Do my eyes deceive me? I have been having problems and had to go to Specsavers in the week but I think I’ve read that correctly… DC United are odds-against to beat Philadelphia at Memorial. Yes that’s right ladies and gents, DC who hold a W7-D3-L1 record at home this season and are facing Philadelphia (W1-D2-L7 away) are 23/20 to win with BetVictor.
Only Revs have conceded more than The U on their travels this season. Twenty-four leaked in 10 away games is truly abysmal and DC have already beaten them in this exact fixture back in May. They also beat Philly 3-1 at home in September of last season.
DC have only played three games in July to Philly’s five so they should be fresh. They still hold a five-point gap over second-place Columbus Crew and this tie represents a great opportunity to maintain/build on that. It’s also about time that Fabian Espindola starts to rack up some goals – I think he’ll be desperate to impress here and should find a lot of joy against what I think is the weakest defence around.
Best Bets
Columbus Crew v Toronto FC – Both Teams To Score (13/20 BetVictor)
FC Dallas v Portland Timbers – FC Dallas to win (11/10 Bet365)
New York City FC v Orlando City – Both Teams To Score (3/4 BetVictor)
DC United v Philadelphia Union – DC United to win (23/20 BetVictor)
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