Half of the MLS Cup Playoffs first round ties have gone to a third and deciding game and the opening one of the four to be played will be decided on Friday night when Los Angeles FC host Vancouver Whitecaps for a spot in the Western Conference semi-finals.
The Seattle Sounders await the winner of this deciding match and after two really good games to open up this series it would be a real surprise if this isn’t a competitive contest when you consider that the season is on the line for both of them. Apple TV has full coverage of the game but you can stream it on the bookmaker website, although with a 4am kick off UK time you need to be a night owl to watch it live.
Los Angeles FC
The number one seeds in the Western Conference, Los Angeles FC, would have been expected to control this tie from the outset when you consider that their opponents had to come through the wildcard round to make it into this best of three showdown. It looked like that is exactly how it would play out when the Californians won the opening game of the series but they were pulled down to earth with a bump with a really emphatic 3-0 defeat in the second match.
LAFC always knew that they had home advantage in the decider should it come to that but they wouldn’t have wanted it to do so. They were smart enough to get a couple of key players off when the game was out of their reach last weekend and will hope that can also work to their advantage here. LAFC are very good going forward but they have been more open than they would have wanted in this series which will make them vulnerable if that isn’t fixed.
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Vancouver Whitecaps
You have to give Vancouver Whitecaps a lot of credit at the minute. They have twice played matches in this postseason where their season has been on the line and they have come out on top in both games to the tune of 5-0 and 3-0 scores. You take any win in that situation but to dominate in the fashion that they did will give them confidence. They are up against it here because Los Angeles is a tough place to go but although their season is on the line here, if ever there was a free hit to cause a major upset this is it.
The form of Ryan Gauld in this postseason has been very welcome for the Canadians and if he can have a night out here he would give his side the chance to come out on top. If there is one thing we know about the Whitecaps it is that they will show no fear and will take the game to Los Angeles here and if they have a night where they are clinical in front of goal then they could cause a huge upset to keep their season alive. It goes without saying that they might need to ride their luck at the back though.
Betting
I expect these game three matches to be won rather than lost and as such I think the teams will have a right good go to get the job done. Unlike later in the playoffs, there is two weeks until the next game so these teams can give this everything they have got and still be fine for the Conference semi-final should they make it through. These two teams need no invitation to score goals and as such I’m still surprised we are getting a goal line of three.
Los Angeles FC are more than capable of covering this on their own on a going day but Vancouver have shown in both matches so far that they are prepared to take the game to their more fancied opponents so we should be in for quite some contest. We have had three goals in both matches in this series but in both games the away side has had an xG over 1. If that trend continues then with the jeopardy on this one I expect the goals to flow much more.
Tips
Back Over 3 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.95 with Bet365
