MLS Tips | 7th-9th March 2015

HUGE Major League Soccer fan Will Dyer (@W2Dyer) will be sharing his best bets every week. Can he kick-off the season with a winner or three?

Philadelphia Union v Colorado Rapids | Saturday 21.00

Philadelphia should do quite well at home this season. Last time out they lost just three of their 17 games at PPL Park and though they did draw more than they won, I think they are well placed to improve on that home win ratio this year.

In 2014 Union were quite reliant on Sebastian Le Toux’s goals but this time around they have an exciting youngster from Venezuela looking to relieve some of that burden. Fernando Aristeguieta is on-loan from Nantes. The 6”2 forward scored in a pre-season friendly against Columbus Crew and has shown plenty of promise in two years in Ligue 1.

He should be just the type of player that Philadelphia were screaming out for last season. Everyone loved Algeria in the World Cup last summer and Union now have their goalkeeper Rais M’bohli between the sticks. He should prove very hard to get past.

As for Colorado, well they really struggle on the road. Based in the Rockies at Commerce City, over 1500m above sea level, they are well adapted to playing at altitude but without that advantage and with a long trip East the stats aren’t on their side this weekend.

They ended the 2014 season with nine straight defeats away from home and I’m not expecting a huge improvement from them this year. Rapids also conceded the most goals in MLS last year, 62. A few changes at the back might change that this year but I just have to oppose them on the road.

I’m not going to mess around with fiddly markets here. The odds seem generous on the home win with so much uncertainty at the beginning of the season but I’m confident. Philadelphia at evens with Bet365 please.

Orlando City v New York City FC | Sunday 21.00 | Sky Sports 3

I cannot wait for this game. 60,000 tickets have been sold for a sell-out clash between the two new franchises at the Citrus Bowl, Orlando’s home until the new stadium in 2016.

A warm up for this huge match was played last month in the Carolina Challenge Cup. The game finished 1-1 but what I want to focus on is that Kaka scored the first goal of the game.

The Brazilian has been playing regular first class football with Sao Paulo for the last year and should be better prepared than NYCFC’s marquee signing David Villa, who played just a handful of games at Melbourne City. Those two will be the star players on the pitch but I think Kaka will be more influential for his side.

Orlando have been around since 2010 and Adrian Heath has managed them throughout their transition to MLS. For that reason I am expecting them to finish above NYCFC this season and with home advantage in a party atmosphere I think they will come out on top.

The odds on the home win are a little short for my liking and as I think Kaka will be key to their chances. I would rather back him to score anytime (9/5 Ladbrokes) in what could be a bit of a goal fest.

Florida are having a bit of a heatwave despite all the freezing temperatures elsewhere in the States. This game is on Sky Sports on Sunday night and if you’re new to MLS, why not cheer on Orlando City and the AC-Milan legend! One of my friends is going to the game, jeaaalous.

Seattle Sounders v New England Revolution | Monday 01.30

These two both made it to the latter stages of the MLS play-offs last year with Revolution once again falling short in the MLS Cup final.

Sounders have one of the best attacking sides in America with Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins up front and the fiery atmosphere at CenturyLink Field it all but guarantees goals in Washington State.

New England are equally good going forward and with Lee Nguyen now linking up with Juan Agudelo again, I'm expecting them to be the top scoring team in MLS in 2015.

It's the opening weekend so it should be a great spectacle. Revolution were one of the most consistent scorers on the road towards the end of the 2014 regular season in a league in which the home sides are normally dominant. I expect that to translate to this year and ensure that both sides score in this fixture.

This game is in the early hours of Monday morning but should be well worth watching if you’re the nocturnal type. I’ll be on Both Teams To Score at 17/20 with BetVictor.

Best Bets

Philadelphia Union v Colorado Rapids – Philadelphia Union to win (1/1 Bet365)

Orlando City v New York City FC – Kaka to score at anytime (9/5 Ladbrokes)

Seattle Sounders v New England Revolution – Both Teams To Score (17/20 BetVictor)