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MLS June preview

MLS June preview

The USMNT eased to a 3-0 victory over Morocco and held a talented Uruguay team to a 0-0 draw during the international break. That bodes well for their chances at this year’s World Cup, but it is now time to revert our attention to domestic matters.

We are currently 14 games into the MLS season, and reigning MLS Cup champions New York City FC lead Philadelphia Union by a single point at the top of the Eastern Conference table. In the west, LAFC are pulling clear of the chasing pack, but FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake are in fine form too. There are some interesting games to look out for in June:

Charlotte FC vs. New York Red Bulls

Saturday, June 11, at Bank of America Stadium

New York Red Bulls have the best away record in the MLS this season, which bodes well for a trip to North Carolina. However, Charlotte has been strong at Bank of America Stadium, where the expansion franchise has picked up five wins from seven games so far.

This could be a tight, cagey affair between two organized teams. Charlotte has conceded just five goals in seven home games, while the Red Bulls have only allowed six games in seven away matches. Caesars Sportsbook is offering +100 on under 2.5 goals in this match, which looks appealing.

Nashville SC vs. San Jose Earthquakes

Saturday, June 11, at GEODIS Park

San Jose Earthquakes are by far the most entertaining team in the league so far this season. They have already conceded 32 times, which leaves them with the worst defensive record in the MLS, but they have also banged in 27 goals. Star striker Jeremy Ebobisse has led the charge, with nine goals, but that woeful defensive record has left San Jose languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference table.

Nashville keep things a lot tighter at the back. They have scored 18 goals and conceded 16 times in 14 matches so far, and they are currently sitting in the playoff places. Most of their games have come on the road, but they are unbeaten in four home matches, with two wins and two draws.

The atmosphere inside GEODIS Park is electric, and the home fans should roar their team to victory in this game. Caesars has -135 on a Nashville win. Another great option is both teams to score at -125, or both teams to score parlayed with over 2.5 goals at +120.

Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution

Sunday, June 12, at Children’s Mercy Park

Both teams to score has paid off in 10 out of New England’s 13 games so far. They are just as dynamic offensively as they were last season, when they won the Supporters’ Shield in record-breaking fashion, but the defense has fallen apart. The Revs have allowed 15 goals in just six away games, which is the main reason why they currently sit below the playoff line.

Sporting KC are rock bottom of the Western Conference standings. However, that is largely down to their dreadful away record. At Children’s Mercy Park, they have three wins, two draws and two defeats from seven games, which is not so bad. This will be the first meeting between the teams since a wild 4-4 draw back in 2019 – a game that the Revolution finished with nine men – and we could see another score draw on Sunday.

Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati

Saturday, June 18, at Subaru Park

No team has lost fewer games than Philadelphia Union this season. Jim Curtin’s men have suffered just one defeat from 14 matches so far, and they look nailed-on for another deep postseason run.

That is largely down to their rock-solid defense and their ability to grind out low-scoring wins and draws. They have three wins and four draws from seven home games, with a mere three goals conceded.

It leaves them well placed to beat FC Cincinnati, who are strong on the road, but prone to suffering narrow defeats this season. If the odds on a straight moneyline win for Philly do not look particularly attractive, you might consider going for Philadelphia to win and under 3.5 goals in a same game parlay.

Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles FC

Saturday, June 18, at Lumen Field

Two Western Conference heavyweights will lock horns in mid-June. The Sounders are the most successful MLS team in recent years, but LAFC have already established themselves as the dominant force in 2022. They are four points clear of Dallas and RSL at the top of the Western Conference standings, with the best offensive record in the league.

Things are not looking so good for Seattle. The Sounders are marooned in 11th place, with six defeats from 12 games so far. They were preseason favorites for MLS Cup glory, but they have now drifted out to +1800 with BetMGM.

This will be an interesting test of both teams’ credentials. Seattle can still beat anyone on their day, as they boast a wealth of talented individuals, but LAFC have been extremely dynamic thus far. Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals may be the best approach.

New York City FC vs. Colorado Rapids

Sunday, June 19, at Children’s Yankee Stadium

NYCFC have found their groove in recent weeks. After a shaky start to the season, they now have seven wins and a draw from their last eight games. In that time, they have banged in 20 goals and conceded just four times. No team is in better form right now, and they should blow Colorado away in mid-June.

The Rapids have lost half of their away games so far, and they look like cannon fodder for the reigning MLS Cup champions. This could be the sort of game where giving the home team a -1 Asian handicap or a -1.25 Asian handicap appeals.

Austin FC vs. FC Dallas

Saturday, June 25, at Q2 Stadium

Two of the best teams in the west will tangle in Texas on June 25. Austin and Dallas sit fourth and second respectively in the standings, and they both look like playoff teams. Austin have been the more entertaining team, with 28 goals scored and 18 conceded already, but Dallas have also been firing in plenty of goals lately.

This game will pit two talented strikers against one another, with Austin’s Sebastian Driussi coming up against Dallas’ Jesus Ferreira. They are two of the top scorers in the league so far this season, and it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top in this game.

Betting Trends

  • NYCFC have the best home record in the league so far this season, with six wins, one draw and just one defeat from eight games.
  • New York Red Bulls have the best away record, having won five of their seven road trips so far.
  • Three teams – San Jose Earthquakes, Charlotte FC and Colorado Rapids – share the worst away record, with one point apiece on the road. FC Cincinnati and Chicago Fire have the worst home records.
  • CF Montreal are the best team in the first 45 minutes. They have been leading at half-time in nine of their 14 games thus far. San Jose have the worst record in the first-half, having led just once at the break.
  • LAFC come into their own in the second half. They would have 12 wins and two draws in 14 games only the second 45 minutes counted. Seattle Sounders are the worst team after the break.
  • Games featuring the San Jose Earthquakes have seen 4.07 goals on average so far this season, the highest mark in the league. They have conceded more goals than any other team, but they also have the third best attacking record in the Western Conference.
  • Games featuring Philadelphia Union have seen just 2.07 goals on average, which is the lowest in the league. Only 7% of their games have gone over 2.5 goals.
  • Both teams have scored in 12 out of CF Montreal’s 14 games this season, which is the highest in the league.
  • NYCFC lead the way with eight clean sheets. Toronto FC are the only team without a single clean sheet.
  • Four teams – Montreal, LAFC, New England and Philadelphia – have scored in all but one of their games so far.

Futures Betting Update

LAFC remain the narrow favorites to win the MLS Cup with most sportsbooks, best priced at +500 with PlaySugarHouse and DraftKings. However, DraftKings now makes NYCFC the +450 favorites to lift the trophy for the second year in a row. BetMGM is offering +650 on NYCFC.

DraftKings makes Jesus Ferreira the +500 favorite to finish the season as the top scorer, ahead of Sebastian Driussi (+800), Javier Hernandez (+1000), Carlos Vela (+1000), Jeremy Ebobisse (+1000), Jesus Jimenez (+1000) and last year’s winner, Valentin Castellanos (+1200). Fereira of FC Dallas and Ebobisse of San Jose are currently in the lead, one clear of Driussi, but Hernadez – the former Manchester United striker – could be an interesting long-shot if he stays fit.

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