The latest weekend of action in the MLS 2024 season concludes at Subaru Park on Sunday evening when a space in the Eastern Conference playoff spots is up for grabs when the Philadelphia Union host DC United in a big match.
Whoever wins will move into the top nine of the table with just four matches left while the losers will need a very strong finish to the season to extend their campaign. Apple TV has all the action as do the bookmaker lives streams.
Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union have really struggled this season but there is no doubt that the Leagues Cup came at a good time for them. They were able to build up some form and momentum in that competition and they have brought it into the MLS with them. It says everything about how poor the first part of the season was that their form has been relatively good recently but they still find themselves outside the top nine in the Eastern Conference.
They go into this match off the back of an emphatic 5-1 win at New York City last time out though and that is the difference. They are beginning to score goals to the volume we expect from the Union under Jim Curtin and it would still be a surprise if they are not one of the best nine teams in the East when the regular season comes to a close. A win here would certainly help them with their quest and given that they have won two of their last three at home they will be confident of getting it.
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DC United
DC United have threatened to get into the top nine in the Eastern Conference but then when they have had the chance to do it they have generally flattered to deceive. They have that chance once again here and it will be interesting to see how they cope with that. The good thing for DC is that since the Leagues Cup break they have found some form. They clearly used their time off after exiting that tournament wisely and a win here will have them favourites to extend their campaign.
DC are now 4-1-1 in their last six in MLS and that includes having won their last three on the road. That is creditable anyway but when you add the context that they have had so many injuries in their defence it is even more to their credit. The big thing is that Christian Benteke has been scoring goals and he remains a threat to any side he faces. DC have the champions Columbus Crew next week so this feels like a big game for them.
Betting
I’m expecting goals in this match. This is a match that both teams will know they can’t afford to lose if they want to keep their top nine hopes in their own hands and so the first goal might well force the team who concede it to come out and take more risks to get back into the game than they might have done earlier in the season when a point from behind would have been a creditable result. The goal line for this one is 3.25 and that feels coverable.
The reverse meeting between these two ended 2-2 and their second meeting last season was 3-1 to the Union so they are no strangers to low scoring games. Philadelphia have a couple of 5-1 wins in their last six matches while seven of the last 10 DC games have had four or more goals in them. Both of these teams have hit the 100 mark in terms of goals in their games this season. Union have scored 53 and conceded 47 in 29 games while DC have scored 44 and shipped 57 in their 29 games. Just on those averages we should get this line covered so add in the season state and I like the over.
Tips
Back Over 3.25 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.98 with Bet365
