Previews and Predictions: MLS Week 10

The polls may have got the 2015 General Election race a little wrong but how will we fare with our MLS predictions this weekend?

Orlando City vs New England Revolution – Citrus Bowl

Orlando are still winless at home this season and have failed to score in front of their own fans since the opening day of the season.

Revolution have extended their unbeaten run to seven games by inflicting a first defeat of 2015 on New York Red Bulls last Saturday.

Charlie Davies has been in the goals for Revolution

Revs have now won three in a row, with Charlie Davies scoring in all three games, and the top Eastern side should emerge victorious again here. 

Verdict: 0-2

Colorado Rapids vs San Jose Earthquakes – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

Gabriel Torres’ fourth goal in five games secured a third consecutive draw for Rapids against LA Galaxy, but the side remain bottom of the Western Conference.

This game will conclude a punishing three-game road trip for Earthquakes after drawing at Real Salt Lake last Friday and winning in Houston in midweek.

Recent history in this fixture is on San Jose’s side – Rapids haven’t beaten them in 10 meetings and Earthquakes have taken points on their last five trips to Colorado.

Verdict: 1-1

Chicago Fire vs Real Salt Lake – Toyota Park

Fire lost for the first time since March 22 at Sporting Kansas City on Sunday and will have to make do without DP David Accam following his dismissal.

David Accam is suspended for Chicago

Real are without a win in five, after a 0-0 draw with LA Galaxy earlier this week, and have scored just once in that period.

Chicago have not beaten RSL at home since 2009 and are one of only two MLS teams yet to draw this season – one of those records to end here.

Verdict: 1-0

Montreal Impact vs Portland Timbers – Stade Saputo

Impact are the only side without a win in MLS this season, but they have played at least three games fewer than any other side.

Portland have been disappointing so far this year with only two wins from nine matches and without a goal in their last two.

Impact haven’t played in MLS since April 11 but after their Champions League run ended in heartbreak they can now focus purely on league form.

Verdict: 2-1

D.C. United vs Sporting Kansas City – RFK Stadium

United are unbeaten in six matches and that run sees them sharing top spot in the Eastern Conference with New England Revolution.

Sporting secured their first win in a month against Chicago Fire last weekend, but failed to score in any of the three meetings with DC last year.

Both sides have been hard to beat so far in 2015 with just three defeats in 17 games between them, but we fancy United’s unbeaten home record to continue.

Verdict: 3-1

Vancouver Whitecaps vs Philadelphia Union – BC Place

Whitecaps, whose midweek Canadian Championship semi-final first leg at Edmonton was abandoned due to snow, have only won once in their last five MLS fixtures.

The 1-0 defeat to Toronto was Union’s third in a row, leaving Philly with just one win from 10 games and second-bottom of the league.

Rivero's goals have dried up for Whitecaps

The away side have not lost to Vancouver since 2011 and with Octavio Rivero’s goals drying up for the Canadians, that run could be preserved. 

Verdict: 0-0

Columbus Crew vs Seattle Sounders – Mapfre Stadium

Star duo Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey continue to inspire Sounders, winning a third successive game with a 3-1 victory at New York City.

Martins’ double took him to a league-high six goals this season and he or Dempsey have been involved in 12 of Seattle’s 13 goals in 2015.

Crew’s loss at D.C. United was their first in five games, but they will struggle to cope with the Sounders firepower as we back MLS’ second highest scorers.

Verdict: 1-3

FC Dallas vs LA Galaxy – Toyota Stadium

Joint top of the Western Conference, Dallas are unbeaten in three, with Fabian Castillo boasting three goals and three assists in their last three outings.

Galaxy are now unbeaten at home in 25 games in all competitions but have not won any of their five away matches in 2015.

LA are however unbeaten in five and will be confident of exposing the Western Conference’s second-worst defence to snatch a point in a score draw.

Verdict: 2-2

Toronto FC vs Houston Dynamo – BMO Field (Live on Sky Sports 5 – Sunday 10pm)

Giovinco has found the scoring touch

Toronto finally reopen their BMO Field home after facing seven away games to begin 2015 – picking up an impressive nine points from the gruelling run.

Although a much-changed Toronto side lost in the Canadian Championship in midweek, Sebastian

Giovinco’s fourth goal in three games secured back-to-back MLS wins last weekend.

Houston have only won once since the opening day and Toronto will be desperate to win on their long-awaited return to home comforts.

Verdict: 2-0

New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC – Red Bull Arena (Live on Sky Sports 5 – Monday 12am)

A new rivalry will be born as Red Bulls host their new metropolitan neighbours for the first time, on the back of losing their seven-match unbeaten run.

NYC are winless in the same number of games following the 3-1 defeat to Seattle Sounders at the Yankee Stadium on Sunday, their third loss in a row.

Red Bulls have over twice as many points as City having played a game fewer and are hot favourites to come out on top here.  

Verdict: 3-0
Images courtesy of Jim Rogash, Jonathan Daniel, Rich Lam and Sylvain Lecocq, with thanks