Top MLS Betting Picks of the Weekend – June 21st Edition

The Philadelphia Union continue to lead the Eastern Conference in a topsy-turvy year in Major League Soccer, with 31 points and a match in hand over second-place Montreal, who has 27 points a record of eight wins, three draws and seven losses — despite a -7 goal differential. In the Western Conference, LAFC sits atop the table with 37 points, nine points ahead of the crosstown LA Galaxy. As Major League Soccer nears the midpoint, we have a look at three primo MLS betting picks for the weekend ahead.

Top MLS Betting Picks of the Weekend – June 21st Edition

With a salary cap, myriad regulations and varying budgets, building an #MLS roster is a complicated task. @samstejskal & @PaulTenorio take a look at how effectively all 24 teams built their squads, and ranked ’em all: https://t.co/LJ5intDsqN

— The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) June 17, 2019

Saturday, June 22

L.A. Galaxy at FC Cincinnati (7:30pm ET)

FC Cincinnati has only three wins against 11 losses on the season, and their most recent setback came in New York City on June 6, as they fell 5-2 to NYC FC. In that match, NYC FC actually did all of the scoring, as FC Cincinnati picked up own goals in the 37th and 76th minutes. NYC FC opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a goal from Alexander Mitrita, and Heber Araujo dos Santos added a tally in the 17th minute. Ismael Tajouri made it 3-0 in the 29th minute, and Heber Araujo dos Santos completed his brace in the 49th minute. Maximiliano Moralez put the cap on the match by scoring in the 90th minute. NYC FC held possession 61 percent of the time and outshot FC Cincinnati, 20-15 (9-4 on target). Can FC Cincinnati do any better at home against one of the top teams in the West. The Galaxy have not played since June 2, when they lost at home, 2-1, to the New England Revolution. In that match, Cristian Penilla opened the scoring in the 45th minute, and then the Revolution pulled away with a goal from Teal Bunbury in the 60th minute. The Galaxy made things interesting late thanks to a goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 84th minute, but they could never draw level. The Galaxy lost despite outpossessing New England, 63 to 37 percent; the Revolution outshot L.A. 16-14 (7-2 on target). I see the Galaxy taking out some frustration against an expansion side that is clearly still struggling to compete. While FC Cincinnati gets some raucous crowds, they are still showing a need to bring in more top players. MLS Betting Prediction: L.A. Galaxy 4, FC Cincinnati 1

Houston Dynamo at Portland Timbers (11:00pm ET)

Houston last played on June 1, when they drew, 1-1, with Sporting KC. In that match, Houston outshot Sporting KC, 15-5 (5-1 on target), despite possessing for just 46 percent of the game. Houston generated more pressure than Sporting KC, pushing forward to cause six corners. Sporting KC opened the scoring with a goal from Yohan Croizet in the 63rd minute, but Houston drew level just six minutes later with a tally from Alberth Ellis. Portland also played most recently on June 1, falling at home to LAFC, 3-2. Carlos Vela got the visitors on the board in the sixth minute, and then Diego Rossi spread the lead to 2-0 by scoring in the 34th minute. Cristhian Paredes got Portland on the board at the start of the second half, but then Latif Blessing restores the two-goal lead for LAFC in the 54th minute. Brian Fernandez made things a little tense by scoring in the 84th minute, but that made the game 3-2, where it would stay. Portland outshot LAFC 19-16 (7-6 on target) and had a slight edge in possession (54-46). Portland hung with the top team in the conference and now gets to host a Houston Dynamo team that has been inconsistent historically before getting off to a solid start to the 2019 campaign. Can they win in Portland, or will the Timbers get a better result than they did against LAFC? MLS Betting Prediction: Portland 3, Houston 2