There is one match in the MLS this midweek which is a cross-Conference clash between two really good sides. New York City FC host Sporting Kansas City at Yankee Stadium with both sides looking to move closer to the summit of their respective tables with a win here.
This match is live on Sky for those of us in the UK and despite the absences for international duty we should still get a hugely significant and meaningful contest.
New York City FC
A win for Patrick Vieira’s men will move them six points clear of Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference table and put them right in the box seat to secure second place overall heading into the play-offs. City head into the match on a four match unbeaten run which they will be hoping to extend in this one.
They will know they have never beaten Sporting Kansas City in the MLS though so that will be a milestone they will be aiming to achieve for the first time. Three wins on the spin were halted last time out when they were held in the Hudson River derby but they are a side in good form heading in here.
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City have only lost one of their last 10 matches, which came away to the leaders Seattle a couple of matches ago, but they have only won three in that run so they are finding stalemates far too easy to come by. They are in a position where draws are no harm to them in terms of making the play-offs.
That said if they can find a win here it would move them back to the top of the table which should act as a decent incentive for them. After bouncing back from that Seattle defeat with a win over FC Dallas last time out the last thing they will want to do is be defeated again so SKC should be tough to break down.
Team News
New York City FC will have to do without David Villa for this match. He was going to be missing anyway having been called up by Spain but he has done an adductor muscle so could be out for a while. Mikey Lopez and Ethan White are out injured while Yangel Herrera is away with Venezuela.
Sporting Kansas City are also missing players who are on international duty not least their defensive duo Matt Besler and Graham Zusi. Benny Feilhaber wasn’t called up surprisingly so he is available.
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Betting
If David Villa was available I may well have thought about backing New York City FC but the fact that he isn’t and indeed that so many international call ups are affecting this match this one is not a game to bet on in my eyes.
Sporting Kansas City have drawn a lot of matches since Dom Dwyer left for Orlando and with conditions expected to be quite filthy in New York on Wednesday I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this is another stalemate. Nothing really jumps out as value here so I’ll wait until the weekend for my next MLS punting fix.
Tips
No Bet
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