The MLS is Back tournament continues with just the one match out in Orlando on Wednesday evening when two Western Conference sides face off in a Group B which hasn’t really fired into action yet given the late chances to it.
Vancouver Whitecaps take on the San Jose Earthquakes in a match that probably doesn’t feel as big now as it might look when the totals are tallied up at the end of whatever regular season we end up getting. In terms of progressing in this tournament, the winner here will be in a very good place.
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The 26 MLS teams have now become 24 with FC Dallas and Nashville being withdrawn from the tournament after positive Covid tests.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.
Where to watch
The whole match is live on Free Sports for those of us who are in the UK. The build up to the match begins at 2.05am with the match beginning soon after. The match is also live on the bookmaker streaming consoles.
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Vancouver Whitecaps
Because of the late exit of FC Dallas, the Vancouver Whitecaps make their tournament debut in this contest. You might think that could be a disadvantage but Chicago Fire were in the same position on Tuesday and they won their first game against a team who had already played in the tournament, so it might not be quite the issue it feels. One thing is for sure, the Whitecaps are going to need to be somewhere near their best if they are to win this one.
To be fair to the Whitecaps, they started their regular season well enough before lockdown. They opened with a defeat to Sporting Kansas City but to be fair to them that doesn’t look a terrible result right now. They rebounded from that to see off LA Galaxy in their second game and it is that sort of form they will be looking to recreate in this match and the ones that follow. One concern though is that they are without some big players.
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes have already blown off the cobwebs in this tournament when they drew 0-0 with the Seattle Sounders over the weekend. In truth they will probably be disappointed that they only picked up a point from that contest because they were the better team for large parts of it, although they had to rely on goalkeeper Daniel Vega a little more than they would have wanted to towards the end of the game.
Matias Almeyda has got his side playing in a pleasing style and if they can find a cutting or clinical edge to their play then they could be big players over the course of whatever MLS season lies ahead of us. The attractive style is nice on the eye but they will want to make sure they use the ball well in these conditions because they can be energy zapping on the legs quite quickly. A win here will see the Earthquakes through to the next round given the results so far.
Team News
Vancouver Whitecaps have not come out of lockdown in good shape personnel wise. They have some key players unavailable including the likes of Lucas Cavallini, Fredy Montero and Tosaint Ricketts. Georges Mukumbilwa and Andy Rose are also missing.
There are no such issues for San Jose Earthquakes although left-back Marcos Lopez is a doubt for them once again. It remains to be seen how much Matias Almeyda rotates his side to deal with the testing conditions in Orlando.
Betting
This had the feel of an even looking match about it when the draw was made but the absences that Vancouver Whitecaps have reported ahead of the event significantly sways the contest in the favour of the San Jose Earthquakes in my eyes. The Earthquakes need to find a clinical edge but they are not usually a side who struggle for goals and if Danny Hoesen has recovered from the issue which saw him miss out late ahead of the opener they will naturally possess a stronger goal threat.
San Jose are a technical side under Matias Almeyda these days so it stands to reason that they would need a run out to get their combinations flowing naturally and their touch to return. They have had that now so I expect to see a better performance from them here and I was happy enough as an observer with their first effort. There isn’t as much of an attacking threat for the Whitecaps without Montero and Cavallini so I’m happy enough to take the 4/5 on an Earthquakes win here.
Tips
WON – Back San Jose Earthquakes to beat Vancouver Whitecaps for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Betfair
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