It is the penultimate day of group action in the MLS is Back tournament on Wednesday as the final matches in Groups D and E are played out on what could well prove to be yet another important day out in Orlando.
The picture is pretty clear in Group E where the action begins on Wednesday, but three sides are battling it out for the top two spots in Group D so there is going to be a lot of intrigue in the matches in that section.
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The 26 MLS teams have now become 24 with FC Dallas and Nashville being withdrawn from the tournament after positive Covid tests.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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Real Salt Lake vs Sporting Kansas City (14.00 – Sky Football)
The action begins in Group D where Real Salt Lake will take on Sporting Kansas City in a battle between two Western Conference sides where the winner will definitely progress to the knockout stage of the competition.
The likelihood is that both sides will make it through but you’re not guaranteed a decent draw if you come third in your group so the incentive for both teams to win here is certainly there. I think of the two sides Sporting Kansas City have been the more impressive of the two but there are one or two concerns about them defensively. Whether Real Salt Lake are the ones to take advantage in these morning conditions I’m not so sure so this one is a pretty easy one to sit out.
FC Cincinnati vs New York Red Bulls (01.00 – Free Sports)
The one Eastern Conference battle of Wednesday sees last year’s basement team FC Cincinnati taking on a team who usually thrive in regular season surroundings in New York Red Bulls in what is effectively a knockout for the automatic qualification spots in this tournament.
Both teams have been beaten by the Columbus Crew in this group so far and both have come past Atlanta United and now we’ll find out who will finish second in the group behind the Crew and make it through by right. I think it is fair to say that the Red Bulls have shown more in their two matches than Cincinnati have, and we probably shouldn’t be surprised by that because Cincy are still coming to grips with Jaap Stam as manager. They are also still finding their feet in MLS too. New York Red Bulls have no such issues and given their better options going forward I fancy them to get the win here.
Colorado Rapids vs Minnesota United (03.30 – Free Sports)
The last match of the day is the closer in Group D as the as yet pointless Colorado Rapids go up against a Minnesota United side who know they will be into the next stage of the competition if they find a win here.
The Rapids haven’t been as bad as their zero point haul would suggest but at the same time they have shown a few limitations. Minnesota United have been better but they needed a crazy turnaround against Sporting Kansas City to get their four points and they might just be a little overrated based on that, especially as they are missing some key players from their ranks as well. This doesn’t feel like a match to get involved in really.
Tips
Back New York Red Bulls to beat FC Cincinnati for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with BetVictor
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