Previews and Predictions: MLS Week 16

After three MLS sides crashed out of the US Open Cup at the first hurdle this week, attention returns to league matters with a packed schedule in Week 16.

Perez' Dallas are struggling for form in the West

Here are our MLS predictions...

Colorado Rapids v FC Dallas – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

Dallas have won three of the last five meetings between the two sides but have only taken one point from their two previous fixtures with Colorado this season.

In the first meeting this year, the Rapids kick-started their campaign by scoring their first goals of the season during a dominant 4-0 victory in Dallas.

We are backing Dallas to better this time round, and end their 283-minute goal drought, but their winless run will stretch to six games.

Verdict: 1-1

Seattle Sounders v San Jose Earthquakes – Century Link Field

Seattle’s cup defeat in midweek not only ended their hopes of a treble but also sees them depleted this weekend with three players seeing red against Portland Timbers.

Clint Dempsey could be looking at a lengthy ban for tearing up the referee’s notebook and Obafemi Martins was stretchered off as his injury woes continued.

San Jose have already won in Seattle in 2015 and we are backing them to make it back-to-back road victories over the Sounders for the first time since 2012.

Verdict: 1-2

New York Red Bulls v Vancouver Whitecaps – Red Bull Arena

Both teams have struggled for consistency since topping their respective conferences in the early stages of the season.

Octavio Rivero has failed to maintain his explosive entry into MLS as Vancouver have lost three of their last six while Bradley Wright-Phillips is finding goals harder to come by without Thierry Henry.

New York have just one win in their last eight and we can’t see that changing but they should have enough at home to take a point from the Whitecaps.

Verdict: 1-1

Giovinco is proving too hot to handle

Toronto FC v New York City – BMO Field

Toronto have won three in a row, are unbeaten in four games and have Sebastian Giovinco...there can only be one winner here.

The Italian has scored seven and assisted five goals in his last nine games for Toronto – he has almost single-handedly lifted them to fourth in the Western Conference.

New York City and David Villa have improved to win their last two in a row but a trip to BMO Field should prove too much for them at this stage of their MLS development.

Verdict: 2-0

Montreal Impact v Orlando City

Montreal can move into the play-off spots this week with victory at home to Orlando City and despite losing to New York City last weekend they are playing well.

Ignacio Piatti, who scored in their 2-2 draw with Orlando earlier this year, has led the way and they should have enough to see off the expansion side at home.

Orlando come in to the game after claiming back-to-back MLS wins for the first time and they will be delighted to sit fourth but their five-game unbeaten run should end in Montreal.

Verdict: 1-0

LA Galaxy v Philadelphia Union – StubHub Center

Since winning the MLS Cup, Galaxy have stumbled from one mishap to another in 2015 but they are still in the play-off places in the Western Conference.

Philadelphia have lost five of their seven all-time meetings with MLS’ sleeping giants and they meet Bruce Arena’s team at a bad time after their 6-1 US Open Cup victory in midweek.

Expect that win to have reinvigorated a team that have to come good sooner or later, and Union could be the unlucky recipients of LA’s first big win of the season.

Verdict: 3-0

Adi scored twice in Portland's record third straight MLS victory

Portland Timbers v Houston Dynamo – Providence Park

Dynamo were resounding victors when the sides met in Texas earlier this year but Portland are currently in the midst of their best run in MLS history.

Victory over New England saw them record three straight league wins for the first time and they have reserved their best performances for home games in 2015.

Just two points separate the sides, and we expect a tough game, but the Timbers will edge it and make it four from four.

Verdict: 2-1

DC United v New England Revolution – RFK Stadium

When first meets second you would expect a high quality affair but both these sides have struggled in recent weeks – between them they have just three wins in 12 matches.

DC have lost their last two while the Revolution ended a six-game winless streak last time out and are seriously struggling without Jermaine Jones.

New England boast the best attack in the Eastern Conference but United have the best defence, conceding less than a goal per game on average, and will take all three points.

Verdict: 2-0

Real Salt Lake v Sporting Kansas City – Rio Tinto Stadium

There have only been two goals scored in the last three meetings between these two teams, and none in the previous two games.

However, Kansas are unbeaten in seven games, a run which has seen them surge to third place in the Western Conference, and are brimming with confidence.

Meanwhile RSL are languishing in ninth; their big problem is goals – they have scored just 13 in 15 games – and an in-form Sporting KC team will surely score.

Verdict: 1-3

Images courtesy of R.Yeatts, Jamie Sabau and Jeff Gross, with thanks.