The international break is done, which means a full slate of MLS games is back on tap this weekend. The games begin on Friday, when exciting expansion team Atlanta United gets its first taste of the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders. Get everything you need to know about that game, not to mention complete picks and predictions for all 10 games on the schedule, when you read on below.
*view all Major League Soccer lines and odds here.
Friday, March 31
Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (7:30 PM ET)
After starting the season with a couple of draws, Toronto FC finally picked up their first win of the season with a 2-0 win over Vancouver. Jozy Altidore got on the scoresheet for the second time in two games for TFC, who are one of just four teams left in the league without a defeat. Altidore will have Sebastian Giovinco back alongside him to help in the attack after the former league MVP missed their win over the Whitecaps due to injury.
However, Sporting are also one of those four teams still without defeat after they also recorded a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes. Sporting have an outstanding record against Toronto, winning five out of their last six meetings.
Writer’s Prediction: The two teams have been draw experts early in the season, and this match also looks like it’s headed toward another stalemate (+250).
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Atlanta United FC (10:00 PM ET)
Last time we saw the Seattle Sounders, they were handing out a 3-1 spanking of New York Red Bulls at CenturyLink Field. Captain Clint Dempsey got the ball rolling with an early goal off a PK, his second goal of the season. Deuce will be in even more confident mood heading into this week as he’s fresh off his outstanding hat-trick against Honduras on his return to international duty during the break.
On the flipside, Atlanta United FC got the awful news that star striker Josef Martinez – the league’s leading scorer with five goals in his first three games – will be out for 4-6 weeks after picking up a quad injury on international duty. The expansion side have had an impressive start to the season, but Martinez’s loss will be tough to overcome, especially on the road against the defending champs. The Sounders are still undefeated (6-0-2) in eight home games under head coach Brian Schmetzer.
Writer’s Prediction: The Sounders (-167) hand upstart Atlanta United a humbling 3-0 defeat.
Saturday, April 1
New York City FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes (2:00 PM ET)
NYCFC have yet to find a groove this season. They’re 1-1-1 in their first three games, and could only muster a 1-1 draw against a struggling Montreal Impact team at home. However, it just feels like a matter of time before this very talented team finally clicks into gear, and they will be a good bet to get rolling at home. They’re unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 games at home dating back to last year.
The San Jose Earthquakes started off strong with back-to-back home wins, but were brought back down to earth with a 2-1 loss away to Sporting KC. Their defense has been a bit suspect – they’ve conceded two goals in back-to-back games – and they will have their hands full against reigning MVP David Villa.
Writer’s Prediction: NYCFC (-136) gets another good home win, 2-0.
Chicago Fire vs. Montreal Impact (3:00 PM ET)
German superstar Bastian Schweinsteiger still might not be ready to make his debut for Chicago this weekend, but the Fire still have an impressive midfield duo in Dax McCarthy and Juninho to face Montreal. The Fire will be eager to bounce back from their 4-0 defeat away to Atlanta United, and they should be able to do so at home. Chicago is unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 home games.
Their chances of getting all three points should be helped by the fact that the Montreal Impact are still winless and haven’t looked very threatening in front of goal without Didier Drogba.
Writer’s Prediction: The Fire fall just a bit short as the Impact hold them to a 1-1 draw (+255).
Columbus Crew vs. Orlando City (4:00 PM ET)
The Columbus Crew find themselves atop the East in the early going, although they and the second-place New York Red Bulls are the only two teams in the conference with four games. The Crew have scored back-to-back wins over DC United (4-0) and more impressively, the West-leading Portland Timbers (3-2).
However, Orlando City are the only team left with a 100 percent record with two wins out of two – and that’s been without Kaka. Star striker Cyle Larin has scored all three of the team’s goals to date, and will definitely trouble a Columbus defense that’s already coughed up six goals in three games. (They’re clean sheet against a poor DC United attack doesn’t count.)
Writer’s Prediction: Orlando City (+385) maintains their 100 percent record with a 2-1 away win.
DC United vs. Philadelphia Union (7:00 PM ET)
DC United are quickly reaching desperation mode. They’re the lone team remaining in the league yet to score a single goal, and have picked up just a single point in three games. The good news for them is that they will get to face a similarly struggling Philadelphia Union side that hasn’t won in 11 games dating back to last season.
Home-field advantage could prove to be decisive for DC in a matchup which figures to be very closely-contested.
Writer’s Prediction: DC United (-106) finally scores its first goal – and win – of the season in a 1-0 home victory.
Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake (8:00 PM ET)
The misery continues for Minnesota United. The expansion side conceded five goals for the third time in four games as they fell 5-2 to the New England Revolution. Their defense has been absolutely atrocious, but it might have a shot at containing a Real Salt Lake side that’s found the net just once in four games thus far.
However, Salt Lake will be eager to impress new boss Mike Petke, and they won’t have a much better opportunity to do so than against the worst team in the league.
Writer’s Prediction: Real Salt Lake (+124) heaps more problems on Minnesota with a 3-1 away win.
Houston Dynamo vs. New York Red Bulls (8:30 PM ET)
The Houston Dynamo have certainly lived up to their name this season. They were involved in another high-scoring shootout in a 4-2 loss to the Portland Timbers, which snapped their two-game win streak to start the season. Their three games have already seen 13 goals (7 for, 6 against), and they will have no apprehensions of going toe-to-toe against even a high-powered Red Bulls attack.
That New York offense has yet to click into gear this season. After winning their first two games of the season, the Red Bulls have gone winless in their next two (one loss, one draw) with just one goal scored. However, they will have a lot of room to operate against an aggressive Dynamo team, which should re-open the floodgates for that offense.
Writer’s Prediction: The Dynamo and Red Bulls engage in an entertaining 2-2 draw. Take the total to go over 2.5 goals.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (10:00 PM ET)
The Whitecaps have won just once in six games in all competitions this season, and have lost their last three in all competitions. They will be without Break Shea against the Galaxy after his red card against Toronto FC, although goalie David Ousted returns from his suspension.
The Caps will need Ousted to be at his best as he faces an Galaxy team that’ll finally have a couple of key attacking forces in Gyasi Zardes and Giovani dos Santos back in the side, as well as defenders Jelle van Damme and Ashley Cole.
Writer’s Prediction: The Galaxy’s (+200) reinforcements help them to a 2-1 road win in Vancouver.
Sunday, April 2
Portland Timbers vs. New England Revolution (9:00 PM ET)
The Portland Timbers’ 100 percent record came to an end at the hands of the Columbus Crew last time out. However, they upped their goals tally to 12 in four games this season, the most in the league. The Timbers missed midfielder Darlington Nagbe in the loss to the Crew due to his call-up to the USMNT, but he’ll be back in the lineup to support striker Fanendo Adi, who now has four goals in four games this season after getting another goal against Columbus.
The New England Revolution got a much-needed 5-2 win over Minnesota last time out, but picking up any points in the fortress that is Portland will be a tough ask. The Timbers have won their last seven home games datin back to last season.
Writer’s Prediction: The Timbers (+168) top the Revs, 3-1.
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