The weekend action in the MLS 2021 season concludes with a bumper night of matches on Sunday evening as the upper reaches of the Western Conference and the race for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference take centre stage.
Three of the seven matches are live on the TV for us in the UK to enjoy and as has been the case throughout the season any matches which aren’t available on TV can be viewed with the bookmaker streaming services.
Sunday’s fixtures are as follows: (UK kick off and TV in brackets)
New York City FC v Nashville SC (17.00)
Philadelphia Union v Columbus Crew (21.00)
Sporting Kansas City v Houston Dynamo FC (21.00)
Toronto FC v Chicago Fire FC (21.00)
Portland Timbers v Inter Miami CF (22.30 – Sky Football)
LA Galaxy v Los Angeles Football Club (01.00 – Sky Football)
Seattle Sounders FC v Colorado Rapids (03.00 – Free Sports)
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Big Matches
For once the TV matches all come at the end of the evening. That is because the higher echelons of the Western Conference are in focus. The action begins at Providence Park where Portland Timbers take on Inter Miami in a match both will want to win to give their playoff hopes the boost. When they are done we have the latest ‘El Trafico’ as LA Galaxy take on Los Angeles FC in a match which rarely lacks for goals and excitement. The final match of the night as far as the TV action is concerned sees first against third in the Western Conference where Seattle Sounders take on the Colorado Rapids.
Best of the Rest
Four matches take place before the TV action kicks off. In the early kick off two of the better sides in the Eastern Conference meet when New York City FC host Nashville SC before three matches kick off at the same time. One of those sees two trophy winners last season meeting when the Supporters’ Shield winners Philadelphia Union take on the MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew. Another sees Sporting Kansas City looking to move top of the Western Conference for a couple of hours when they host Houston Dynamo while two stragglers in the East collide when Toronto FC host Chicago Fire.
Betting
Two bets jump out at me here. The first of those is on Toronto FC to beat Chicago Fire. I thought Toronto FC played well in midweek and they look to have found a nice spell of form. I’ve mentioned in the past how Chicago Fire just can’t seem to get anything going on their travels. They have just four points out of 36 on the road and scored just six times in 12 matches. Toronto FC haven’t been brilliant this season by any stretch of the imagination but they have won their last two at home and only lost two at BMO Field since they went back there and one of those was to the runaway leaders New England Revolution. Given that there’s some draw cover on offer too I like Toronto FC here.
The other bet I like is for the Portland Timbers to get the better of an Inter Miami side who have gone back into their shell once again. Keeping 11 men on the pitch was a problem for them earlier in the season and it looks to have returned and is costing them again. They need everyone fit to be competent defensively because Leandro Gonzalez Pirez makes so many bad decisions to be effective in a makeshift defence. They are getting defenders back for this one but it might not serve then too well. Portland have really found their mojo in recent weeks and have now won six of their last seven matches which includes a 6-1 rout of Real Salt Lake in their last home game. They are a team who often play their best football at this stage of the season and I expect them to win this one.
Tips
Back Toronto FC (-0.25AH) to beat Chicago Fire for a 3/10 stake at 1.88 with BetVictor
Back them here:
Back Portland Timbers to beat Inter Miami for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfair
Back them here:
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