The MLS Cup Playoffs get underway on Wednesday night when the two spots remaining in the main draw are secured when the Wild Card matches take place across both conferences on a potentially dramatic night of football.
We have two matches which feature eighth against nine in each Conference with the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV offering full coverage of both matches. Bookmaker live streams will also show the games if you don’t have the Season Pass.
Chicago Fire vs Orlando City SC (01.30)
As always we begin in the Eastern Conference where the Chicago Fire will play a playoff match for the first time since 2017 when they play host to the team who made the Eastern Conference final as recently as last season in the shape of Orlando City SC.
Orlando City could be forgiven for thinking they would be having nothing to do with this match having spent most of the season looking up at the top four in the Eastern Conference but a wretched end to the regular campaign not only left them in this wild card clash but having to go on the road for it. There is no doubting the quality within the Orlando ranks with the likes of Martin Ojeda, Marco Pasalic and Luis Muriel capable of turning matches in an instant but that trio might well need to fire for the Lions to set up a best of three clash with the Supporters’ Shield winners Philadelphia Union. The Fire are much improved in the first year under Gregg Berhalter and will fancy their chances going into this match. They head into the contest off the back of a run of five matches unbeaten where they have scored multiple goals in each outing and should be full of confidence. On the flip side, Orlando have one win in their last seven and haven’t won in their last four so they are going to need a quick reset if they are going to remain in the hunt for a first MLS Cup title. I think Chicago will win this but I am expecting to see goals and I do respect the threat that Orlando carry and the fact that they are now outsiders might allow that attacking talent come to the fore. With that in mind, were Chicago to win this match they might need to extend that streak of scoring in multiple matches to six and at 4/5, over 1.5 goals is a fair price when you consider that Chicago scored three in Orlando in the regular season and were still able to register an xG of 3.16 in the other game despite having their keeper sent off after 36 minutes. Over 1.5 Chicago goals will do me in this one.
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Portland Timbers vs Real Salt Lake (03.30)
The Western Conference wildcard match comes from Providence Park where for the second year in succession the Portland Timbers will look to play their way into the main bracket. They play host to a Real Salt Lake side who might just fancy their chances of success in Oregon.
The Timbers were in this position last year where even though they finished below their rivals Vancouver Whitecaps, they hosted the wildcard game and duly lost it 5-0. They will be hoping that there is no repeat of that scenario here but with the lack of momentum that the Timbers take into the game after being battered 4-0 on this ground by San Diego at the weekend, a result which means that the Timbers ended the regular season with just one win in their last 10 matches. Real Salt Lake go into this match with the confidence of knowing that they have already won on this ground this season and having lost just one of their last four matches will be thinking they can get the job done again. They go into the match off the back of a 2-2 draw with St Louis City on Decision Day which might have felt like a defeat after they led 2-0 but they knew their playoff spot was under control with results elsewhere so maybe we can forgive them for easing up. They won’t be doing that here. The travelling is an issue for Real Salt Lake but with their season on the line I expect them to find a performance and against a side who look bang out of confidence and who must have that battering in this round a year ago haunting them, I think the visitors with the quarter goal start on the Asian lines is the way to play this one.
Tips
Back Chicago Fire – Over 1.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
Back Real Salt Lake (+0.25AH) to beat Portland Timbers for a 3/10 stake at 1.90 with Bet365
