5/19/07 – MLS Predictions Predictions
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5 minutes before the first match of the week, not one word written yet for this week’s matches. Well, here goes nothing:
Houston Dynamo at Toronto FC – Toronto surprised everyone on Saturday by beating Chicago pretty easily, getting their first goal and first points of the year. With three matches at home in 8 days, (DC United coming up on Sunday), players could start to show some fatigue shortly. Houston has started playing much better as of late, with DeRo finally showing why he has been a past MVP. Look for DeRo to run wild in the midfield. Houston 2, Toronto 1
FC Dallas at Chicago Fire – Chicago look horrible at Toronto on Saturday, but then again, so did Houston last night. Dallas has been playing well on the road, and we might even see Ruiz back in the starting line up this week. Chicago is tough at home, Dallas is tough on the road. Who knows? Dallas has RSL waiting for them at home on Sunday, while this is Chicago’s only match this week. For some reason, while I am writing this, something is just screaming “TIE” to me. Could be the 12 hours I have already put in at work today or the off chance I am really psychic. Dallas 2, Chicago 2
DC United at Toronto FC – Two home wins have done wonders for struggling Toronto. DC should be well rested, but with Toronto having played on Wednesday, it will be interesting to see if they can keep up their home form. DC has just started playing well, but they are playing much more like the DC of the second half of 2006 than the DC of the first half of 2006. Under normal circumstances, I would pick Toronto to win this, but with a game three days ago, it is going to be tough. DC United 2, Toronto FC 2
Columbus Crew at New York Red Bull – NYRB looked silly last week against Colorado, the just couldn’t get anything going. I felt they were playing out of their heads the first few weeks, and it seems they have come back down to earth lately. With Reyna out, they are an ordinary team, he really makes them go. Columbus is getting better, but they play so defensively on the road, getting one point is their goal, rather than going out and winning. This game will depend on how many of NYRB’s injured players take the pitch, and how long they can go. If they are at close to full strength, they should win, if not, look for a tie. Columbus 0, NYRB 2
NE Revolution at Houston Dynamo – Houston played (well, I am using “played” loosely) on Wednesday in Toronto, and had to travel home now to face a Revolution side that appears to be the top team in the East. Twellman is just dominating teams, he is so good at just hanging around, and if he gets a chance near goal, you can count it, he just doesn’t miss. Houston looked horrible in midfield on Wednesday, they just couldn’t control the match at all. NE has one of the best midfields in the league, and look for them to dominate, and Twellman should have plenty of chances on goal. NE Revolution 3, Houston 1
Kansas City Wizards at Colorado – If this match were in KC, I would pick Colorado in a heart beat. They play well on the road, fairly uninspired at home. In Colorado’s last three home matches, they have two ties and a loss, not what you would call home field dominance. KC has played well, but 6 of their 12 points came against Toronto early on when Toronto couldn’t do anything right. KC hasn’t had a tie all year, 4 wins, 2 losses. Look for another tie at home, as Colorado plays defensive and hopes to counter attach. KC Wizards 1, Colorado Rapids 1
LA Galaxy at Chivas USA – Round two of the Super Clasico. The Galaxy dominate the first match up (they were the home team), which started a slide for Chivas that has resulted in two loses and a tie in their last three matches, though all three were on the road. They return home to host LA, and they should have plenty of motivation this week, and will look to repay LA for the loss of three weeks ago. Fortunately for both teams, the West is wide open right now, and a win or two will put either of these team up at the top of the conference. I still am not sold on LA, while they could be good by the end of the year, I think they will just hope to be in position to make the playoffs. LA Galaxy 1, Chivas 3
Real Salt Lake at FC Dallas – Dallas is coming off a big road win on Thursday in Chicago, and will have to travel home to face RSL. RSL has been playing better of late, with two draws agains NYRB and Colorado, both of wich they had a chance of winning. Dallas is playing well on the road, not so well at home. Look for a fresh RSL to continue to play well, and get itself back into the playoff race with a win on the road. Real Salt Lake 3, Dallas FC 1
Filed under: MLSP Predictions
Not a guest blogger, but here are my predictions…. A bit late, but I would have taken Toronto over Houston mostly based on TFC’s tight defensive performance against Chicgao on the weekend…hindsight, I know, I know.
FC Dallas 2, Chicago 1 — Rolfe’s ankle and a midfield that suddenly can’t seem to provide service may spell trouble when combined with a defence that seemed surprisingly porous against Toronto. Give this one to the visitors
Toronto 2, D.C. United 1 — Toronto will be tired but is playing well at home along the backline. A rested DC will start strong but have trouble finding the net.
New York 1, Columbus 0 — A motivated Angel makes an immediate impact.
New England 2, Houston 2 — DeRo and the Houston midfield acquit themselves well, but New England is playing very well. Announcer hopes to avoid tongue sprain with Taylor Twellman scoring one if not two.
Kansas City 3, Colorado 1 — Will a home crowd help the Rapids keep a lead? Can they close out a team playing well-oiled, complete soccer? No.
Los Angeles 1, Chivas USA 2 — The Galaxy could use Xavier a lot earlier than June. And, I know we’re supposed to be unbiased here, but my god, Landon Donovan is an irritating little man.
Real Salt Lake 1, FC Dallas 2 — Road-tested Dallas comes home to play a well-executed game against a Kreis team that will, frankly, be out-coached.
And now that I’ve put up my opinions, I take back my disparaging remarks about Ryan Hunt made earlier this week. Time for me to suffer your slings and arrows.
No worries… the way my picks are going, i deserve all the stick …. Hell, you already nailed FCD-Chicago.