There is one match in the MLS on Wednesday evening as the New York City FC side look to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference. They take on the Western Conference outfit Real Salt Lake at the Yankee Stadium.
Both franchises have made good starts to the campaign so we should be seeing a pair of confident sides in action in this match which will hopefully make for an entertaining watch for those tuning into the streams to see the game.
New York City FC
After a disappointing playoff effort last year, Patrick Vieira’s men have come out of the traps on fire this term with four wins and a draw from their opening five matches. The big thing for them is they have produced this form despite not having the services of David Villa for every game so anyone who labelled them as a one-man team need to rethink that assessment.
The other area where I’ve liked NYCFC this season has been defensively. They have been solid enough at the back without losing any of their attacking prowess. They have conceded just four goals on the season and two of them came away to the free scoring New England Revolution which is no shame.
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake have had an up and down start to the season with a couple of wins and a pair of defeats with a draw mixed in and while that doesn’t look anything special their defeats were to Los Angeles FC on a day when they ran into the new franchise at their rampant best, and to Toronto FC who were the champions last season.
They have won two against sides who were in the postseason last term in New York Red Bulls and against Vancouver Whitecaps at the weekend so when they get it right they are a tough side to play against but they seem to be picking up an awful lot of injuries which is less than ideal. That is certainly not a good thing when making the long journey to the Big Apple.
Team News
David Villa is off the injured list and is likely to take some part in the match for the New York City FC side. Kwame Awuah is definitely out with a knee injury though and Alex Ring is a doubt with the same issue.
Real Salt Lake will be without three men in Tony Beltran, Taylor Peay and Jordan Allen while Demar Phillips, Luke Mulholland, Marcelo Silva and Shawn Barry are all questionable. Aaron Herrera is expected to feature.
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Betting
I think the correct expectation would be that New York City will win this match and I certainly think that will be the case but I’m always reluctant to take big handicaps in midweek especially when NYC have a crackerjack of a match against Atlanta United at the weekend. Had the line been -1 I might have changed my arm but it is slightly bigger which puts me off especially with Nick Rimando in such good form.
I will have a little bet on the match though and it comes in the anytime scorer market where the Libyan midfielder Ismael Tajouri could be underestimated. He has three goals in his last three matches and has assisted another in that time so he is getting into the right areas and if RSL concentrate on Villa it could be the midfielder who benefits. At 5/2 I’ll go with Tajouri to find the net once again.
Tips
WON – Back I.Tajouri Anytime Goalscorer for a 2/10 stake at 3.50 with 888sport
Back him here:
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