The opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs 2024 conclude on Saturday night when we have an Eastern Conference triple header where we will see the final three spots in the Conference semi-finals wrapped up.
These ties have been excellent so far and it would be a major surprise if the deciding rubbers don’t follow suit so it should be well worth watching Apple TV for full coverage or the bookmaker live streams for a decent night of football.
FC Cincinnati vs New York City FC (21.00)
The first tie to be settled will be done at TQL Stadium where the three seeds in the Conference in FC Cincinnati play host to New York City FC with a home date against the New York Red Bulls the prize on offer for the winners.
That means we would get a Hudson River derby should New York City FC win this game but they have been to Cincinnati in this series and been blown apart so they are going to need to do something special here. To their credit, they were equally as dominant in their own home game and at least have the chance to learn the lessons from the first game here. Cincinnati will be hoping that it will be same again from the first game here. I don’t think it will be because New York City aren’t going to use the same baffling tactics again so Cincinnati are going to need to come up with something special here. They do have it in them though to be fair. When the draw was done in this tie I fancied New York City FC to come through and I just can’t believe they can be as bad as they were in the opening game again so with them being a perfectly respectable price on the double chance Asian handicap line I think the visitors with the half goal start is my way in for this opening game of the three.
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Orlando City SC vs Charlotte FC (23.00)
The middle tie to be sorted out is the one between the fourth and fifth seeds in the Eastern Conference when Orlando City SC play host to Charlotte FC to decide a three match series which had a deciding game written all over it before a ball was kicked in the tie.
That is exactly how it has proven with Orlando winning their home match in regulation before Charlotte held their nerve on spot kicks to take the tie back to Florida for a winner takes all clash. Orlando looked very good in the first game of the series and a repeat of that might well be enough to get the job done but Dean Smith is astute enough to come up with a better plan for this match, although once again the absence of Pep Biel won’t be helpful. This has all the makings of a long night though and were penalties to be needed again it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise. This series has been the lowest scoring one in the Eastern Conference and I’m not at all surprised by that. These are two defensively strong sides who don’t really ever take risks either to get in front in a game and certainly not when they are in front. In truth, Charlotte have barely looked like scoring in the opening two matches and Orlando were just clinical when their chances arose in the first game. When you consider what is on the line here it would be a real surprise if this one followed a different pattern so I’m happy to be on under 2.5 goals here.
Inter Miami vs Atlanta United (01.00)
The last of the ties to be settled is the one which is probably the most anticipated one to conclude when Inter Miami look to finally make it through to a clash with either Orlando City or Charlotte FC when they go up against Atlanta United for the third and final time.
This series has been excellent so far. Miami absolutely battered Atlanta in a 2-1 win to open up the three matches but Atlanta held their nerve on home soil in the second game to come out with a win late on and take the tie back to Florida where you would imagine Atlanta will attack the game with little to lose. Their whole postseason approach has largely been that because they were a VAR turnaround away from being at home watching the playoffs so they are significantly playing with the house money here. Make no mistake about it, the pressure is all on Miami in this match but when you have four superstars of the game in your ranks you would be confident you can handle that pressure. Inter Miami might want to be more clinical in this deciding game though because they saw last week if they allow Atlanta to hang around trouble could lie in store for them. I’m really looking forward to this final game and I wouldn’t be surprised if Atlanta get it done but going against Inter Miami at home makes little appeal to me and the goal line is just about high enough to stop me getting involved so I’ll sit back and taking a watching brief to round out the opening stage of the playoffs.
Tips
Back New York City FC (+0.5AH) to beat FC Cincinnati for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Bet365
Back Orlando City SC vs Charlotte FC – Under 2.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with Sky Bet
