After last weekend’s scintillating set of fixtures (exception: Orlando City vs. Atlanta) we are now set to determine the divisional champions in a winner-take-all match.
Eastern Conference
Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls
The East served up two surprising candidates for this game. Neither Orlando City or NY Red Bulls have ever lifted the MLS Cup, and the latter last competed in a finals way back in 2008. Orlando just celebrated a trophy win by the NWSL Pride; clinching a soccer double would be a mighty achievement and is a big motivation. But while they’ve earned victory, it’s been in a somewhat lackluster, though effective, manner. Red Bulls, though, come into Saturday with momentum on their side. They surgically dispatched defending champs Columbus Crew in two games, then had an emotionally uplifting takedown of cross-city rivals NYCFC.
My advice to Orlando: channel your Cobra Kai. Strike first, strike hard, no mercy! Facundo Torres needs to continue his fine postseason form and find the net. They’ve been stubborn opposition all four games so far, and they need to maintain that defensive intensity.
Red Bulls, on the other hand, need to fully embrace the chaos. Their no-holds-barred, 110% high-press style has worked for them all postseason… no reason to abandon it now. Felipe Carballo hit the golazo of the playoffs last week; let’s see if he has another in his boot.
My prediction: 1-1 draw after regulation, then Red Bulls will eke out a victory either via extra-time magic, or during the PKs (where Carlos Coronel gives them the edge).
Western Conference
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders
We have quite the opposite picture before us in the West, where both teams share seven MLS Cup wins between them. None of these victories, however, have been recent (Galaxy won in 2014; Seattle in 2019) and few pundits expected either to have survived into this match.
I’m going to talk about Seattle first, as they have the more difficult task before them. Their key to victory is simple: STOP Galaxy from scoring. Sure, putting in a few of their own will be necessary, but if the past three games have taught us anything, it’s that you need to need to prevent the bleeding, rather than try to staunch it.
There’s very little to say here except: 15-3.
That’s the goals for vs. goals against in the past three games. With four players (Gabriel Pec, Dejan Joveljić, Ricard Puig and Joseph Paintsil) on 13+ goals and 10+ assists, AND the highest shots on target percentage in the league, they are dangerous from anywhere.
My prediction: 4-1 in favor of Galaxy. Look, they are simply too hot at this moment, and most certainly will not fail in front of their home crowd.
What do you think? Leave comments below.
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