The extended weekend in the MLS continues on Saturday evening when the majority of the matches take place as most of the teams in the league play for a third time in eight days as we head towards the conclusion of the opening half of the regular season.
Regular readers will know the drill by now in that every match will be live to be watched on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV but those who don’t have that facility will be able to see them on the live streaming service the bookmakers provide.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (00.30 unless stated)
D.C. United v Toronto FC
Inter Miami CF v St. Louis City SC
New York Red Bulls v Orlando City SC
Philadelphia Union v CF Montréal
Chicago Fire v Los Angeles Galaxy (01.30)
Minnesota United FC v Sporting Kansas City (01.30)
Nashville SC v New England Revolution (01.30)
Real Salt Lake v Austin FC (02.30)
Los Angeles Football Club v FC Dallas (03.30)
Portland Timbers v Houston Dynamo (03.30)
Vancouver Whitecaps v Colorado Rapids (03.30)
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Big Matches
Inter Miami might have suffered defeat in midweek but they are still the leaders in the race for the Supporters’ Shield and with their nearest challengers FC Cincinnati not in action Lionel Messi and co have the chance to skip further clear in that battle when they play host to St Louis City SC. Real Salt Lake also slipped up in midweek but they still sit on top of the Western Conference table and they welcome Austin FC to Rio Tinto Stadium looking to maintain their advantage at the top of their division.
Best of the Rest
New York Red Bulls are proving to be one of the better teams in the competition and they welcome Orlando City to Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening while Los Angeles FC are slowly beginning to find their stride and will look to maintain their momentum when they host FC Dallas while Minnesota United will look to bounce back from their loss to LAFC in midweek when they host a slumping Sporting Kansas City side. LA Galaxy are rising through the Western Conference again and they go to the Chicago Fire while the Portland Timbers will look for a fourth win in five outings when they host the Houston Dynamo.
Betting
I’ll go with a couple of bets over the course of Saturday evening with the first of them coming in the form of over 3.25 goals in the match between Inter Miami and St Louis City SC. This is Lionel Messi’s last game in MLS until the end of the Copa America so I’m sure he’ll want to go out on a high in front of a big crowd at Chase Stadium and he might have the perfect opposition to shine against because on their travels St Louis City aren’t picking up many results and are shipping goals. You would think the whole of the Miami team will be motivated for this one after a horrendous showing in midweek where Atlanta made them look the old side that they are in the key areas of the park. There is enough pace in this St Louis outfit to do similar. St Louis are 0-4-2 on their travels this term but those six matches are averaging four goals per game while Miami home games are a shade under four per game. St Louis have let in 14 goals in their six away games but they’ve scored 10. This looks ripe for a large number of goals.
Real Salt Lake have been my team for the Western Conference since before a ball was kicked in the competition this season and a 12 match unbeaten run is proving that I have got that right. I expect them to reach 13 without defeat with a win over an Austin side who don’t travel too great. They are 1-3-3 away from Q2 Stadium with the win coming in the derby against Houston Dynamo which they won 1-0, one of just three goals they have scored in those seven road games. In contrast, Real Salt Lake are 5-1-1 at Rio Tinto this season and have scored more than two goals per game at home. They have the leading scorer in MLS in their ranks in Chicho Arango and look like a side who are getting better the more they play with each other. Austin have a doubt over star man Sebastian Driussi which would be a blow if he can’t suit up but ideal for RSL who I expect to cover a 1.25 Asian line.
Tips
Back Inter Miami vs St Louis City SC – Over 3.25 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.88 with Bet365
Back Real Salt Lake (-1.25AH) to beat Austin FC for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with William Hill
Back them here:
