The round of 16 in the MLS is Back tournament concludes on Tuesday evening when the first two matches take place down in Orlando. When the final whistle goes in the second match of the night we will know the full quarter final line up.
We’ve seen the big names generally come to the fore in the knockout stages of the competition so far and with two of the biggest teams in MLS on show on Tuesday evening, there is no reason to think that we will see a drop off in the quality.
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The 26 MLS teams have now become 24 with FC Dallas and Nashville being withdrawn from the tournament after positive Covid tests.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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Columbus Crew vs Minnesota United (01.00 – Sky Football)
The first match of the two on the night looks the pick of them on paper as the seemingly unstoppable Columbus Crew come up against a Minnesota United side who have the tools to cause them problems even if they can’t eventually stop them.
The Crew have four wins and a draw from their five matches either in the regular season or this tournament and look like a side who are going to go all the way this term. Minnesota United are looking to build on a play-off campaign last year and are unbeaten themselves this season, so something is going to have to give in this one you would think.
I’ve been keen on Columbus Crew all year and I’m not deserting them now. They haven’t conceded a goal in the tournament to date and have a plethora of attacking options, all of whom are of decent quality. Minnesota United are without Luis Amarilla and that is a blow and it might be in this match that they feel how big a loss Ike Opara is. I’ll take the Crew at odds against.
Portland Timbers vs FC Cincinnati (03.30 – Free Sports)
The second match of the night sees the former champions Portland Timbers taking on the relative new boys of FC Cincinnati for a place in the quarter final of the competition where New York City FC will be waiting for the winners.
I’m not sure what to make of FC Cincinnati. There is part of me that things all they have done is beaten two ordinary opponents but at the same time they are starting to look much more cohesive under Jaap Stam. Portland Timbers have offered a much better campaign so far and I would expect them to come out on top in this match. The Timbers came through the ‘Group of Death’ unbeaten and look a class above Cincinnati regardless of the improvement that the Ohio lot have shown.
Tips
Back Columbus Crew to beat Minnesota United for a 3/10 stake at 2.05 with William Hill
Back them here:
Back Portland Timbers to beat FC Cincinnati for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Betfair
Back them here:
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