Another LAFC thriller
LAFC v Atlanta United
Saturday, 03:00
Live on FreeSports
LAFC were shocked last weekend by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy, but the most important thing from our perspective was that it was yet another high-scoring game involving Bob Bradley’s team, and I can see that trend continuing as they host Atlanta United this weekend.
Atlanta were made to wait until late on for their win against DC United last weekend, but they created plenty of chances before Pity Martinez finally found a way through, and I can see them troubling LAFC, especially if Josef Martinez finishes to the level that he can, rather than the standard he showed last week when comically skying his late penalty.
Atlanta may try to contain Bradley’s team here, but I don’t think that they’re good enough to frustrate them for long, and can see this ending up as a shootout, probably one in which LAFC will prove too strong.
Five of LAFC’s last six MLS games have gone Over 3.5 Goals, and even though that outcome may seem a little skinny at [2.08], I honestly think that it still rates as a good bet, given the vast amount of attacking attitude and talent that both teams possess.
Houston have a problem
Houston Dynamo v Seattle Sounders
Sunday, 01:00
Live on Premier 1
The Seattle Sounders were fuming last weekend after their Cascadia Cup defeat by the Portland Timbers, and I think that Houston may pay the price for that this weekend.
The Sounders have won their last two games in Houston, and have already beaten them once this season, and now that the hugely influential Raul Ruidiaz is back in the team, Seattle are approaching something near their best once more.
Brian Schmetzer’s team were actually pretty unlucky to lose last week, and even though Houston picked up a rare away win last weekend, they still look like a team in poor form. They’ve lost seven of their last ten in all competitions, and even though they’re strong at home, losing just once here this season, their midweek game against Club America will have taken plenty out of them, and Seattle can come here and win.
The Sounders won their last away game, in Columbus, and look well suited to counter attacking. They’ll have plenty of opportunities to do that against a Houston team that are very open at home, and I think that, at the prices, they rate a first-class bet.
No clean sheets in Toronto
Toronto FC v FC Cincinnati
Sunday, 01:00
Cincinnati are as big as [10.5] to win in Toronto this weekend, and while I’m not suggesting that as an actual tip, stranger things have certainly happened in the world of MLS.
Yoann Damet’s team had a brief resurgence against Chicago and Houston before losing their last two, but one thing that has been consistent about them of late is their ability to score goals. They have found the back of the net in seven of their last eight MLS games, and given the weaknesses that TFC can show at home, I think that they will do so again here.
“Yes” in the Both Teams to Score market here is available at around [1.8], and even though that’s not the sexiest price, it’s an awkward betting weekend (a lot of short priced home favourites) and so it’s a question of working hard to find a third bet of the weekend.
Toronto have scored in all but one of their home games so far in this campaign, and have conceded in all but two of them, and with Cincinnati more of an attacking threat than the prices give them credit for, I think we’re actually getting a little bit of value at [1.8], and so that bet completes the set for this MLS weekend.
Source: BetFair MLS
