There is one match in the MLS on Thursday night as a couple of sides look to catch up with the rest in the regular season. Those two are New York City FC and the Houston Dynamo and they do battle at Yankee Stadium.
New York City are in a good position in terms of making the postseason, and they could yet come through and win the Eastern Conference if they make use of all their games in hand. Houston aren’t too far away from the top seven in the Western Conference but need to get winning soon.
New York City FC
New York City FC have as many as four matches in hand of certain sides around them and if they win them all they are going to be in a very strong position. The one thing that brings though is a hectic schedule to conclude the regular season so there is a chance that they could pick and choose the matches that they target. You would think this is a match that they will believe they can win and make sure they are up for it accordingly.
New York City FC are particularly strong on their home ground. They have played 10 matches at Yankee Stadium and only lost one of them, which was to the Portland Timbers and there isn’t too much shame in that. Everyone in the Bronx will know this is the business end of the season and I would be very surprised if the home side are not bang up for this challenge.
Houston Dynamo
It has been a tale of woe for the Houston Dynamo in recent times with just two wins and eight defeats from their last 10 matches and in truth in some of those defeats they have been beaten much worse than the scoreline has suggested. It is going to take a monumental turnaround for them to be anywhere near the postseason at the end of the campaign. While they have dipped into the transfer market, you sense little is going to change here.
Houston leave themselves far too exposed for my liking. To be fair to them they create an insane number of chances but the simple fact is that they don’t convert anywhere near enough of them and then that puts the pressure on their defence and they find they can’t cope. That is how they end up shipping 36 goals in just 23 matches, a pretty ordinary defensive record it has to be said.
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Team News
New York City FC are without a couple of big players for them in Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Ben Sweat but they have enough to cope with their absences. Maxi Moralez will once again look to pull the strings for City.
Houston Dynamo will be without the suspended Alberth Elis and have a number of players one yellow away from a suspension who could be rested for this match. They include Romell Quioto and Maynor Figueroa.
Betting
It is hard to see beyond a home win here and a comfortable one at that. New York City aren’t stupid. They know they go to Atlanta United at the weekend and they have to face the facts that they are not guaranteed to win there so this one really is a game they need to win, and should win. Houston Dynamo are poor on their travels but to be honest they have been bang ordinary everywhere in recent times.
I’m a little surprised that NYCFC are only being asked to give up a goal start here as I fancy they could run riot in this one if they want to. They play their home conditions very well and look much the more settled and solid of the two sides. Any win guarantees us our money back but I’ve got to think the sky blues win this by at least a couple.
Tips
PUSH – Back New York City FC (-1AH) to beat Houston Dynamo for a 4/10 stake at 1.82 with BetVictor
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