The knockout round of the MLS playoffs concludes with the two remaining matches on Thursday night into the early hours of Friday morning in the UK and it promises to be a very exciting evening of football in America’s top league.
We know half of the Conference semi-final line up and on Thursday we will complete the fixtures for the next round of the postseason. On the face of it we should be treated to two wonderful games.
Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew
Once again the night begins in the Eastern Conference as fourth placed Atlanta United play their first ever postseason match when they host the fifth placed Columbus Crew at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of what will most likely be a big crowd.
These two both head into the playoffs in excellent form. In their last 10 matches Atlanta have lost just once, which was when their stars were on international duty, while the Crew have not lost at all in that period so in form and confident sides should deliver a barnstormer here.
We saw two surprisingly open matches on Wednesday night and when the seedings were determined for the playoffs this one looked the most open of the lot. I fancy over three is a good bet between two sides who managed 123 goals between them in the regular season.
Houston Dynamo vs Sporting Kansas City
The final knockout match of the week comes from Texas as the fourth placed Houston Dynamo host the fifth placed Sporting Kansas City for the right to take on the number one seeds in the Western Conference in Portland Timbers.
Both these sides have a rich history in the playoffs and both will be looking to extend their seasons here. The Dynamo not only arrive here in decent form off the back of a good 3-0 win over Chicago at the weekend but only the Colorado Rapids left BBVA Compass Stadium with all three points this season.
Sporting Kansas City’s form has really dipped since Dom Dwyer chose Florida over staying with the club. They are without a win in five and that includes two matches against Houston including a 2-1 defeat on this ground just 11 days before this fixture. If that wasn’t bad enough for SKC, they will be without keeper Tim Melia here too as he is injured.
Everything points towards the Houston Dynamo for me here. They score a lot more goals, they are a fantastic side on their home pitch and they beat Sporting Kansas City here less than two weeks ago. I expect that result to be repeated in this one.
Tips
Back Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew – Over 3 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with 888sport
Back it here:
HALF LOSS – Back Houston Dynamo (-0.25AH) to beat Sporting Kansas City for a 4/10 stake at 1.87 with BetVictor
Back them here:
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