The second full set of matches in the MLS 2024 season get underway on Saturday on what will be a bumper day of football in America and Canada as the teams continue to jostle for the early position in their respective Conferences.
As always with the MLS these days, all the matches are available on the MLS Season Pass for Apple TV subscribers while those who don’t have that service can still see all the games by loading up the bookmaker streams.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (01.30 unless stated)
Minnesota United FC v Columbus Crew (19.00)
Real Salt Lake v Los Angeles Football Club (19.00)
Inter Miami CF v Orlando City SC (21.30)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Charlotte FC (00.30)
Chicago Fire FC v FC Cincinnati
FC Dallas v CF Montréal
Houston Dynamo FC v New York Red Bulls
Sporting Kansas City v Philadelphia Union
St. Louis City SC v New York City FC
Colorado Rapids v Nashville SC (02.30)
Portland Timbers v D.C. United (03.30)
San Jose Earthquakes v LA Galaxy (03.30)
Seattle Sounders FC v Austin FC (03.30)
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Big Matches
We have a lengthy card on Saturday evening and the attention is going to be very much on Florida where the Floridian rivals meet as Inter Miami host Orlando City in one of the earlier kick offs. The other rivalry clash on Saturday evening sees the first Cali-Clasico of the new season taking place when the San Jose Earthquakes welcome the LA Galaxy to PayPal Park. The champions Columbus Crew are also on show on Saturday evening. They make the trip to take on Minnesota United in what should be another decent clash.
Best of the Rest
Two of the better sides in the Western Conference meet at Rio Tinto Stadium in another of the earlier kick offs when Real Salt Lake host Los Angeles FC. Vancouver Whitecaps begin their new campaign when they host a Charlotte FC side who won their first game last week while the Supporters’ Shield holders FC Cincinnati make the trip to take on a Chicago Fire side who looked in decent order last week. Speaking of decent order, two teams who won their opening match well last week are the Portland Timbers and DC United and they meet at Providence Park in a juicy game while Seattle Sounders play their first home match of the new campaign against Austin FC.
Betting
I’m still assessing the majority of the runners and riders in the competition but there is one bet which jumps out at me and that is Sporting Kansas City to beat Philadelphia Union. The Union are rarely as convincing on the road as they are on home soil anyway but they head to Kansas City off the back of an extended win in the Champions Cup in midweek where they were taken to extra time and had to play that latter period with only 10 men due to Jack Elliott being sent off.
They rested one or two from the outset of that match but they had to come on and play an hour as the Union were pegged back so there are going to be some heavy legs within the Union ranks. They also haven’t had Andre Blake so far this season and they are a different team with and without him. Sporting Kansas City took an age to get going last season but finished better than pretty much anyone and have already picked up a creditable draw in Houston in their opening game. They had their feet up in midweek and the fresher team on home soil look good to me here.
Tips
Back Sporting Kansas City to beat Philadelphia Union for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with William Hill
Back them here:
