It’s the second leg of the MLS Cup Conference Finals, and both home teams are in need of a huge performance from their offenses if they are to keep their seasons alive. FC Dallas find themselves staring at a 3-1 hole after a loss away from home at Portland in the first leg. Meanwhile, the New York Red Bulls were shutout in the first leg, conceding two goals to Columbus Crew SC.
Which two teams emerge to meet in the all-important MLS Cup Final? Read on as we take a look at everything you need to know heading into these matchups.
Much later this evening, football takes center stage as NFL giants the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos face off for Sunday Night Football. Check out our complete preview for the Pats vs. Broncos as well as tomorrow’s Monday night showdown the Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns.
[sc:Soccer ]2015 MLS Cup Conference Finals Preview – Second Leg
FC Dallas vs. Portland Timbers (5:00 PM ET)
Line: Portland Timbers +250 at FC Dallas -121, tie +260; total 2.5 – view all MLS lines
[sc:Soccer240banner ]FC Dallas are in quite a bind after a 3-1 loss to the Portland Timbers away from home. But they can advance to the MLS Cup Final should they win 2-0 on the basis of away goals. FC Dallas had the best home record in the league in the regular season, going 13-2-2. Meanwhile, the Timbers were less-than-stellar on the road, going just 7-8-2.
FC Dallas will need their midfielders Victor Uloa and Kellyn Acosta big-time in this game. The two should be able to feed Mauro Diaz and Fabian Castillo on the attack. The two lead the team with nine and eight goals. They’ll also need to aid in the defense to keep Portland from netting an all-important away goal. But Portland’s Nat Borchers, Dairon Asprilla and Liam Ridgewell will be buzzing to fire back after each scoring in the first leg.
Writer’s Prediction
FC Dallas (-121) win 2-1, but the Timbers advance to the MLS Cup Final on the strength of away goals.
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew SC (7:30 PM ET)
Line: Columbus Crew SC +345 at New York Red Bulls -170, tie +290; total 3.0 – view all MLS lines
Columbus Crew SC put the New York Red Bulls in a sticky situation, taking a 2-0 lead in aggregate goals. The Red Bulls will need to win 2-0 or by a three-goal margin to advance to the MLS Cup Final. But doing so even at home will be difficult. Columbus did their best to limit New York’s star striker Bradley Wright-Phillips in the first leg. Wright-Phillips led the team with 17 goals in the regular season; no one else had more than 10.
It’s also of no help that the Red Bulls will be without the defensive duo of Chris Duvall and Damien Perrinelle, who are both nursing injuries. Having injuries to the backline may leave Columbus striker Kei Kamara unattended to. Kamara is the best striker in the MLS Cup Playoffs thus far, with a postseason-high three goals.
Writer’s Prediction
Columbus and New York battle for a 1-1 tie (+290), sending Columbus Crew SC to the MLS Cup Final.
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