The franchises in Major League Soccer have all played between four and six matches, and there’s no surprise that LAFC is playing dominant soccer again, unbeaten in six matches. Seattle and the LA Galaxy are right behind them in the Western Conference table. Columbus is atop the Eastern Conference standings along with DC United just two points behind them. Philadelphia has started well out of the gate — and expansion team Cincinnati is in fifth place in the East. The defending MLS Cup champion Atlanta United is in dead last in the East, with just four points out of four matches. We have your primo sports betting picks from the pitch for you to consider.
Top MLS Betting Odds, Picks for the Weekend
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Saturday, April 13
Toronto FC at Seattle (4:00pm ET)
Seattle held off a game Real Salt Lake team last Saturday, winning 1-0. The Sounders were out shot 13-11 (4-3 on target) but had an 83% pass accuracy percentage, which contributed to their slight edge in possession for the match. Nicolas Lodeiro put Seattle ahead in the 18th minute, and that was the only offense in the entire match. Real Salt Lake generated little pressure down in the Sounders’ end, forcing just one corner against 11 for the Sounders.
Toronto FC took a 2-2 draw at home against Chicago last Saturday. Jozy Altidore started the scoring for Toronto FC in the 31st minute, but C.J. Sapong drew Chicago level in extra time at the end of the first half. Then Chicago took a lead when Nemanja Nikolic scored in the 62nd minute, but Toronto FC salvaged the draw with a goal from Jonathan Osorio in the 76th minute. Toronto FC dominated in shots (16-7, 8-3 on target) and held the ball for almost three-fourths of the game. Even so, Chicago was able to exploit holes in the Toronto defense when they needed to. Can Toronto FC defend better on the road?
Final Score Prediction: Seattle 3, Toronto FC 2
Cincinnati at LAFC (10:30pm ET)
LAFC comes in with considerable momentum after delivering a 4-0 rout of DC United last Saturday, a game in which DC United got frustrated enough to take a red card in the home loss. Carlos Vela opened the scoring for LAFC in the 15th minute, and then Diego Rossi added a hat trick, scoring in the 27th, 32nd and 76th minutes. The red card for DC United went to England star Wayne Rooney. LAFC controlled shots (20-13, 8-4 on target) despite possessing the ball for a little more than half of the match.
Cincinnati hosted Sporting KC last Sunday and came out with a 1-1 draw. Cincinnati took the early lead when Darren Mattocks converted a penalty in the 19th minute. However, Sporting KC poured on the pressure, and Gianluca Busio finally broke through in the 62nd minute with the equalizer. Sporting KC dominated in shots (18-10, 4-4 on target) and possessed the ball for 57 percent of the match. Cincinnati looked well against a traditionally stout Western Conference team, but things could end up much different when they visit the West leader.
Final Score Prediction: LAFC 3, Cincinnati 1
Philadelphia at LA Galaxy (10:30pm ET)
Philadelphia hosted FC Dallas last Saturday and beat the visitors, 2-1. FC Dallas took an early lead when Reto Ziegler scored in the tenth minute, but then Philadelphia’s pressure finally paid off as Cory Burke equalized in the 85th minute and Alejandro Bedoya brought home the winner in extra time in the second half. Philadelphia buried FC Dallas in shooting (18-3, 8-1 on target) and possessed for 57 percent of the game, so it was only a matter of time before Philadelphia would break through.
The Galaxy played in Vancouver last Friday and came away with a 2-0 win. Daniel Steres opened the scoring for the visitors in the 63rd minute, and then Zlatan Ibrahimovic added the insurance tally eight minutes later. Things were fairly even in shots and possession, but the Galaxy dominated in terms of pressure. Are they ready for a hot Philadelphia team?
Final Score Prediction: LA Galaxy 3, Philadelphia 2
