Previews and Predictions: MLS Week 18

After a busy week of US Open Cup last 16 action, MLS enters the weekend with several franchises missing a host of key players because of Gold Cup duty.

With this sure to affect the outcome of some fixtures, here are our predictions.

Houston Dynamo vs Chicago Fire – BBVA Compass Stadium

Joevin Jones is hoping to end Chicago's losing streak

Dynamo lost a second Texas Derby of the season last weekend, but did progress to the US Open Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Colorado Rapids.

Fire also went through in the cup with victory over Charlotte Independence but they’ve lost four MLS games in a row, equalling their longest league losing streak since 1998. 

There’s more bad news for Chicago fans as their side have never won at BBVA Compass Stadium and haven’t won in Houston since 2007 – we don’t see that changing.

Verdict: 3-0

Seattle Sounders vs D.C. United – CenturyLink Field

The slide which has seen Sounders slip from the top of Western Conference continued after painfully suffering their third consecutive defeat with a 4-1 loss to arch-rivals Portland Timbers.

D.C. crashed out of the cup to 10-man Philadelphia Union but are three unbeaten in MLS and 11 points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference.

United haven’t beaten Seattle in the league since 2011 and Sounders, despite missing Obafemi Martins through injury and Clint Dempsey through Gold Cup action, could stop the slump.

Verdict: 1-1

Finlay is one of Crew's danger men

Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls – MAPFRE Stadium (Live on Sky Sports 1 – Sunday 12:30am)

After being knocked out of the cup by Orlando, Crew will be hoping to improve on a run of just one win in their last eight MLS matches.

Red Bulls secured two New York derby wins in a week, beating NASL side New York Cosmos in the cup after last weekend’s victory over New York City.

NYRB won at MAPFRE in March and have taken points on five of their last six visits to Columbus but will

need to stop the danger-pair of Kei Kamara and Ethan Finlay.

Verdict: 2-2

Montreal Impact vs New York City FC – Stade Saputo

Impact drew for the first time since March at Philadelphia Union last Saturday but will have to make do this weekend without suspended captain Patrice Bernier.

Meanwhile, NYC’s winning run was ended after three games in the derby defeat to Red Bulls, leaving them still struggling and sitting second bottom of the Eastern Conference.

David Villa scored one of his six goals this season in City’s 3-1 home victory over Impact three weeks ago, but even his improved form will not be enough.

Verdict: 1-0

FC Dallas vs New England Revolution – Toyota Stadium

Despite ending their six-game winless slide in the Texas Derby last Friday, Dallas must recover from being thrashed 6-2 by Sporting Kansas City in the US Open Cup.

Revolution lost 2-1 for the third consecutive game last weekend to leave them with just one victory in their last ten league matches since May 2.

Dallas have not lost at home to New England since 2008 and despite missing important players such as Blas Perez they will still pick up a point.

Ousted is June's player of the month

Verdict: 2-2

Colorado Rapids vs Vancouver Whitecaps – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

MLS’ bottom side Rapids are winless in six league matches, with just one win in their last 12, and were knocked out of the cup by Houston Dynamo.

New Western Conference leaders Whitecaps have won three away games in a row and goalkeeper David Ousted was named MLS player of the month for June. 

The teams’ first meeting saw one of Rapids’ two victories in 2015 but with Vancouver in form and Rapids missing top scorer Gabriel Torres, we can’t foresee a repeat.

Verdict: 0-2

Real Salt Lake vs Orlando City – Rio Tinto Stadium

RSL have won once in the last six and have a raft of players away on international duty, including goalkeeper Nick Rimando, captain Kyle Beckerman and joint-top scorer Alvaro Saborio.

Orlando have won 2-0 twice this week with victories over Colorado and Columbus in the cup, but they will be missing prolific 20-year-old Canadian striker Cyle Larin.

Kaka scored in both Orlando wins, taking him to eight on his debut season, but Real, although depleted, are unbeaten at home in six – this could be interesting.

Verdict: 1-1

LA Galaxy vs Toronto FC – StubHub Center

Galaxy come into this game after two California Clasicos, they lost 3-1 at arch-rivals San Jose Earthquakes in the league, before exacting cup revenge thanks to a 1-0 win.

Toronto count invaluable captain Michael Bradley and striker Jozy Altidore amongst their international absentees, but they do still have the in-form Sebastian Giovinco as a potential match winner.

Galaxy have not lost to the Canadians in the league since 2008 and have suffered just once at StubHub this season so this one is a home banker.

Verdict: 4-1

Captain Wondolowski will be a big miss for Earthquakes

Portland Timbers vs San Jose Earthquakes – Providence Park (Live on Sky Sports 1 – Monday 4am)

Timbers have five wins in their last six MLS games after a tremendous 4-1 win against arch-rivals Seattle, although they did crash out of the cup at Real Salt Lake.

Matias Perez Garcia has a goal and three assists in his last two MLS matches after setting up two in Earthquakes’ win over their rivals LA Galaxy last weekend.

The Gold Cup absence of Chris Wondolowski, whose nine goals is the second-most in MLS, will be a devastating loss for San Jose and could be costly.

Verdict: 3-0

Images courtesy of Jonathan Daniel, Jamie Sabau, Derek Leung 2 and Ronald Martinez, with thanks.