MLS Weekend Picks and Predictions
We finished 6-3 with all my predictions for this 19th MLS weekend.
We will have 7 MLS games this Wednesday July 18, plus friendly in Seattle between Sounders and Chelsea FC. All predictions should be here Tuesday evening, or the latest game day in morning hours the latest.
Thank you for all your emails and tweets, I do appreciate your feedback and my apology for this weekend delay on my predictions.
Last 18th week of my MLS Predictions finished 8-8.
My record in 2012 MLS season 99-67 (accuracy 59.63 % ).
Predictions are usually published here 16-24 hours before the game time.
(Home team listed first; all times Eastern)
Sunday, July 15
New York Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2-2
All Square: The teams split their meetings over the last two seasons, both winning on the road in 2010, then each holding serve with home victories last year.
Welcome Return: Steve Zakuani made his first appearance since last April 22, coming on as a late substitute Saturday against Colorado – the club against which he suffered a broken leg. He was greeted by the CenturyLink Field faithful chanting his name and raising signs with “11” (his number) and “Z”.
Home Field Advantage: The Red Bulls are one of only two teams in MLS to be undefeated at home this season, having won five games and drawn two. Their last home loss came against Real Salt Lake on September 21, 2011.
Defense Wins Championships: Although the Red Bulls’ roster includes the No. 2 and No. 4 (tied) Budweiser Golden Boot leaders in Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry, respectively, their defenders have scored four of the club’s last five goals.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION OVER 2.5 goals
Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United 4-0
Rubber Match: The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Maicon Santos scored twice as United won 3-2, April 28 at RFK Stadium, while a Brad Davis was the winner as the Dynamo won 1-0 in the opening of BBVA Compass Stadium on May 12.
Coming Together: The Dynamo have recorded back-to-back shutouts after their scoreless draw on Saturday at Sporting KC, their first consecutive clean sheets since the opening two games of the season.
Freshman Feats: D.C. United are the only team in MLS that can boast a current head coach (Ben Olsen) and a current player (Andy Najar) as past MLS Rookie of the Year winners.
New Beginnings: Dynamo forward Brian Ching’s penalty kick goal, in the club’s 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on June 30, was the league vet’s first career MLS PK goal, as well as his first strike at BBVA Compass Stadium.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION OVER 2.5 goals
Saturday, July 14
Philadelphia Union vs. Montreal Impact 2-1
Chance Taken: After being held scoreless while playing only 93 minutes all season as of June 15, Philadelphia’s Jack McInerney has scored three goals in his last four games in 302 minutes of play.
Offensive Outburst: Since John Hackworth took over as coach, the Union have scored 10 goals in five MLS games. Philadelphia scored just eight goals in their first 11 games this season.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION OVER 2.5 goals
Columbus Crew vs. Sporting Kansas City 0-2
Even Stevens: The teams have split their two meetings each of the last two seasons. Sporting won, 2-1, in the first meeting at Livestrong Sporting Park last Sept. 28 – ending a three-year Columbus winning streak in K.C.
Individual Acclaim: While Sporting KC recorded their first defensive shutout since June 16 in the scoreless draw with Houston, goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen lowered his goals against average to 0.94, best among goalkeepers with 10 league starts or more.
Meram Making Moves: After failing to score in 17 games during his rookie season, Columbus’ Justin Meram has scored three goals in only eight games this year, second-most on the team.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION 1 Crew WIN
New England Revolution vs. Toronto FC 0-1
Bright Start: The Revolution’s newest signing, Designated Player Jerry Bengtson, celebrated his MLS debut with a goal in New England’s 2-0 win Sunday against the New York Red Bulls.
Long Time No See: The teams are meeting for the second time in three weeks. A last-gasp goal from the Revolution’s Diego Fagundez left the teams in a 2-2 draw at BMO Field on June 23.
Revved Up: With eight goals halfway through New England’s 2012 season, Revs striker Saer Sene has already matched the club’s single-season scoring highs from the last four years.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION OVER 2.5 goals
Chicago Fire vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-0
Climbing the Leaderboard: Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon has now played the third-most minutes in league history, surpassing 29,000 against Colorado on July 4. He is second in career saves and third in shutouts, as well as fourth in wins.
Home Sweet Home: The visit to Toyota Park completed a five-game road swing for the Whitecaps, who last played at BC Place on June 20. Vancouver went 1-1-1 on their first three games after last weekend’s scoreless draw at Chivas USA, ahead of the midweek visit to Toronto FC.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION UNDER 2.5 goals
Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas 1-2
Long Layoff: David Ferreira returned to the FCD starting lineup for the first time in 15 months in the draw with San Jose. It was his first league appearance since April 23, 2011, when he suffered a broken ankle against Vancouver.
Shot Stopper: Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens leads the league with 69 saves in only 18 games, having recorded 77 in 34 games last year.
Heart Still in it: Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman recently became the first player in league history to appear in 400 games. The 38-year-old started his career with the LA Galaxy in 1997.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION UNDER 2.5 goals
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake 5-0
Rivalry Brewing: Saturday’s game will be the third meeting of the clubs this season. The Earthquakes have won the first two, a dramatic 3-1 win on April 21 in Santa Clara with the tie-breaking goals coming in stoppage time, and a 2-1 win June 23 at Salt Lake, thanks to another late goal.
Moving On Up: Real Salt Lake’s Álvaro Saborío recorded his first MLS hat trick on July 7 against Portland, and is now third on the goal-scoring charts.
Spreading the Wealth: San Jose’s Marvin Chavez has eight assists in 16 games this season for what is the highest-scoring team in MLS. In his previous three seasons combined, he had provided six assists in 54 matches.
Claret Correlations: Real Salt Lake are 25-4-5 when Álvaro Saborío scores, with Saborío netting 44 out of the total 81 strikes during that period.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION OVER 2.5 goals
Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy 3-5
Birthday Brace: Robbie Keane celebrated his birthday with both goals in the Galaxy’s 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire on Sunday. It was his second two-goal game this season, also scoring twice in LA’s March 18 win vs. D.C. United.
Sharing is Caring: Landon Donovan set up Keane’s first goal vs. Chicago, his 99th career assist in MLS. His next will make the sixth player to join the century club for assists; Steve Ralston is the all-time leader with 135.
Road Woes: The Timbers have now gone 517 minutes without scoring a goal on the road after their 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake. Their last away goal came in the April 14 loss at LA.
CHRIS’ PREDICTION 2 Galaxy to WIN
For LIVE time MLS updates follow me on TWITTER at @ChrisReiko
CHRIS’s PICKS in 2012 season 99-67 (accuracy 59.64 % ) in picking winner or OVER / UNDER results.
If you have some info, tips or news that you think can influence any of MLS games results CONTACT US
CHRIS’s PICKS in 2011 season 159-142 (accuracy 52.82 %)
CHRIS’s PICKS in 2010 season 97-82 in entire 2010 MLS season (accuracy 54.19 %) in picking winner or OVER / UNDER results.
MLS Eastern Conference end of 2012
Pos Team GP Pts W D L Goals HOME AWAY LAST 5 O / U 2.5 LAST 5
1 Sporting Kansas City 34 63 18 9 7 42-27 10-4-3 8-5-4 WDDWD 14-20 OUUUU
2 D.C. United 34 58 17 7 10 53-43 12-4-1 5-3-9 DWWDW 16-18 UOUUU
3 New York Red Bulls 34 57 16 9 9 57-46 11-4-2 5-5-7 WDWDL 18-16 OUUOU
4 Chicago Fire 34 57 17 6 11 46-41 11-3-3 6-3-8 DLWLL 17-17 UUUOU
5 Houston Dynamo 34 53 14 11 9 48-41 11-6-0 3-5-9 LWDWL 16-18 UOUUO
6 Columbus CREW 34 52 15 7 12 44-44 11-3-3 4-4-9 WLDWL 18-16 OOUOO
7 Montreal Impact 34 42 12 6 16 45-51 10-3-4 2-3-12 LDDDL 20-14 UUUUO
8 Philadelphia Union 34 36 10 6 18 37-45 7-2-8 3-4-10 LWLWW 18-16 OOOUO
9 NE Revolution 34 35 9 8 17 39-44 7-6-4 2-2-13 WWLLL 16-18 UUUUO
10 Toronto FC 34 22 5 8 21 36-62 3-5-9 2-3-12 LDLLL 19-15 OUUOO
MLS Western Conference end of 2012
Pos Team GP Pts W D L Goals HOME AWAY LAST 5 O / U 2.5 LAST 5
1 San Jose Earthquakes 34 66 19 9 6 72-43 10-6-1 9-3-5 DDWDW 25-9 UOOOO
2 Real Salt Lake 34 57 17 6 11 46-35 11-2-4 6-4-7 DDWWW 18-16 UUOOO
3 Seattle Sounders FC 34 56 15 11 8 51-33 11-2-4 4-9-4 LWDWD 16-18 UOUOU
4 Los Angeles Galaxy 34 54 16 6 12 59-47 11-1-6 5-5-6 WDLDW 19-15 UOOUO
5 Vancouver WhiteCaps 34 43 11 10 13 35-41 8-6-3 3-4-10 DLWDD 17-17 UUOUO
6 FC Dallas 34 39 9 12 13 42-47 6-8-3 3-4-10 DLDDW 14-20 OOUOU
7 Colorado Rapids 34 37 11 4 19 44-50 9-3-6 2-1-13 WWLDD 18-16 UOOUO
8 Portland Timbers FC 34 34 8 10 16 34-56 7-6-4 1-4-12 DWLDL 18-16 UUOUO
9 Chivas USA 34 30 7 9 18 24-59 3-3-11 4-6-7 DLDLL 13-21 OUUOO
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