We have a triple header of Eastern Conference action in the MLS is Back tournament on Thursday on a day where a lot could be decided in Groups C and E on what should be another exciting day out in Orlando.
Some big teams failed to pick up three points in the first round of games and three of them are in action on Thursday. As ever all the matches are live on TV in the UK and on the betting streams as well so there is no need to miss any of the action.
The Format
The 26 MLS teams have now become 24 with FC Dallas and Nashville being withdrawn from the tournament after positive Covid tests. The remaining teams have been placed into six groups of four. Each team plays the other three in their group once in the group stage. The results of these matches not only count in this tournament but also towards the regular season when it resumes. At the end of the group stage the top two from each group and the four best third placed finishers go into a 16-team knockout stage. The entire tournament takes place in Orlando with the final scheduled for August 11. There is a Champions League place for the winners which should ensure it is competitive.
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Atlanta United vs FC Cincinnati (14.00 – Sky Football)
The opening match of the day is quite an important one as two sides who lost their opening match meet when Atlanta United host FC Cincinnati in a game where whoever loses could need snookers if they are going to make the knockout stages.
Atlanta were edged out by the New York Red Bulls in their first game back while FC Cincinnati were wiped out by a very strong Columbus Crew team. It goes without saying that both teams will want to show a lot more here than they did in their first matches and it will be interesting to see how this one plays out. These two met earlier in the season and Atlanta came out on top 2-1. They are huge favourites to win here too but they don’t look the same side without Josef Martinez. I can’t really be getting on Atlanta at present but I certainly don’t want to be on Cincinnati. This is an easy swerve.
Montreal Impact vs Toronto FC (01.00 – Free Sports)
The first Canadian clash of the season forms the middle match of the three on Thursday when the Montreal Impact host Toronto FC in a battle of two more teams who failed to win their first match and can ill afford to lose this one.
Montreal Impact looked toothless in their first game against the New England Revolution. Their link play just wasn’t there at all and they looked to have absolutely zero goal threat about them. Thierry Henry will have had to do a lot of work to discover that ahead of this one else his side are in trouble. Toronto FC looked to be cruising through their opening match when they led 10-man DC United 2-0 but they took their foot off the gas and paid the price with DC coming back to draw 2-2 late on. You’ve got to think based on what we saw in those opening games that Toronto will win this one but the prices are about right.
Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls (03.30 – Free Sports)
The pick of the matches on this busy Thursday of MLS is Back action is the last one to kick off as two sides who won their opening fixtures meet in a game in which the winner will be guaranteed a place in the knockout stages, as Columbus Crew go up against the New York Red Bulls.
There were many judges ahead of the tournament, ourselves included, that thought that the Columbus Crew were the team to beat in this event. Nobody will have changed their mind after their comprehensive dismissal of FC Cincinnati in their opener. New York Red Bulls will have quietly fancied their chances though and laid down their potential title credentials when they took care former MLS Cup champions Atlanta United to kick off their tournament.
Given that both have a win to their name I’m expecting quite an open match here. Both teams have some good attacking players, and in the case of the Red Bulls are much better going forward than they are defending. We’ve already seen the class of the likes of Kaku, Daniel Royer, Lucas Zelarayan and Artur among others. I fancy we’ll get some goals in this one and with the attacking talent that is on show over 2.5 goals looks decent enough to me.
Tips
Back Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls – Over 2.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with BetVictor
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