Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today’s Major League Soccer fixtures, including Inter Miami vs. Charlotte FC.
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Fresh off the back of clinching the 2024 US Open Cup title, Los Angeles FC return to action in the MLS when they journey to the TQL Stadium to face FC Cincinnati on Saturday.
Having lost the previous two meetings between the two teams, the Orange and Blue will head into the weekend looking to get one over the visitors and keep within touching distance of Eastern Conference leaders Inter Miami.
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-1 Los Angeles FC
Buoyed by their cup triumph, Los Angeles FC will return to league action with renewed confidence as they look to finish the regular season on a high. However, Cincinnati are in hot pursuit of Inter Miami in the West and given their impressive home form of late, we fancy the Orange and Blue to grab a narrow victory this weekend.
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Reeling from their Campeonato Cup heartbreak, Columbus Crew return to action in the MLS when they journey to Audi Field to take on DC United on Saturday.
Having failed to win the last six meetings between the two teams, the Black-and-Red will head into the weekend looking to get one over the visitors and keep their playoff qualification dream alive.
We say: DC United 1-2 Columbus Crew
Off the back of their Campeones Cup defeat, Columbus Crew will head into the weekend looking to quickly find their feet and move without touching distance of Inter Miami.
While we expect DC United to put up a fight, the Crew have been tough to crack their travels and we fancy them to come away with a narrow victory here.
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Inter Miami will be looking to move one step closer to clinching a first-ever Eastern Conference title when they play host to Charlotte FC at the Chase Stadium on Saturday.
The Crown picked up a huge result in their push for post-season football last time out and will head into the weekend looking to end their run of three consecutive defeats away from home.
We say: Inter Miami 3-1 Charlotte FC
With their sights set on setting a new MLS regular season point record and clinching their first conference title, we expect Inter Miami to go all pot on a Saturday as they look to return to winning ways.
Charlotte have struggled to get going on their travels and we are backing Martino’s men to come away with all three points in front of their home supporters.
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Seeking a third successive MLS home victory, CF Montreal continue their playoff quest when they host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at Saputo Stadium.
Last weekend, Montreal defeated the Chicago Fire 2-0, putting them two points below the Eastern Conference post-season line, while the Goonies were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 2-1 defeat versus St. Louis City.
We say: CF Montreal 3-1 San Jose Earthquakes
These are the two worst defensive units in MLS, so we expect to see the back of the net bulge a few times, and in the end, we believe the urgency of Montreal, who are still in playoff contention, will defeat a Quakes side that have looked disinterested for weeks.
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New England Revolution will be looking to snap a run of five matches without a victory when they lock horns against Nashville SC at the Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
Nashville, meanwhile, make the trip to Foxborough aiming to continue their recent resurgence and a late push for a place in the playoffs.
We say: New England Revolution 1-1 Nashville SC
Despite all of New England Revolution’s struggles, they have been hard to beat in front of their fans. We are backing a share of the spoils in this one, with both teams settling for a point apiece.
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In the final Hudson River Derby of the 2024 MLS regular season, New York City FC travel to Red Bull Arena for a Saturday date with the New York Red Bulls.
These rivals are fighting for a top-four position in the Eastern Conference, with the Red Bulls currently fourth following a 2-2 draw with Atlanta United, while New York City remain three points behind them in seventh after claiming a 1-1 result versus Inter Miami.
We say: New York Red Bulls 1-1 New York City FC
Both sides appear to be playoff-bound, but neither have shown the ability to control a match for 90 minutes, which is why we project they will each keep their winless runs intact.
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In what could be a season-defining matchup for the two teams, Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United go head to head at Subaru Park in the MLS on Saturday.
With just four games to go in the regular season, both sides are currently separated by just three points in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference standings as they look to secure a playoff spot.
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-1 Atlanta United
With just three points between Atlanta United and Philadelphia Union in the coveted ninth-place, we anticipate a thrilling contest at Subaru Park as both sides look to get one over the other.
However, Philadelphia’s home advantage gives them a slight edge and we fancy them to see off the Five Stripes who have failed to win six of their last seven games on their travels.
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Austin FC welcome Real Salt Lake this weekend in a crucial MLS clash as they strive to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, sitting 11th in the standings and seven points behind the playoff positions with just four matches remaining in the regular season.
In contrast, Real Salt Lake enter this fixture in second place, having already secured their spot in the playoffs. However, they remain under pressure to solidify their position with a host of teams right behind them in the standings.
We say: Austin FC 1-3 Real Salt Lake
Despite their recent away struggles, Salt Lake’s attacking prowess, coupled with Austin’s defensive vulnerabilities, suggests they will find success in front of goal.
Given the stakes of the match and Salt Lake’s current form, they are likely to capitalise on Austin’s difficulties and come away with a decisive victory.
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Needing a win to have any hope of maintaining their slim MLS Cup playoff hopes, the Chicago Fire welcome Toronto to Soldier Field on Saturday.
A 2-0 defeat versus CF Montreal last weekend has the Fire sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference, seven points below the post-season line, while the Reds are two points above that line despite losing 2-0 against the Colorado Rapids in their previous league fixture.
We say: Chicago Fire 0-2 Toronto
Losing may no longer be an option for the Reds, and we expect to see a determined team on Saturday, who battle a Chicago side that appear to be psychologically beaten down from another rough campaign.
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Dallas will be looking to record consecutive victories for the first time in over two months in Sunday’s encounter against Orlando City at the Toyota Stadium.
For Orlando, this weekend’s meeting offers them a chance to get back to winning ways off the back of a first defeat in four matches last time out.
We say: Dallas 2-0 Orlando City
Dallas’ record in this fixture suggests another victory for them this weekend, and while we expect Orlando City to put up a decent fight, we can see the home side coming away with maximum points in the end.
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Minnesota United and Colorado Rapids meet in a pivotal Major League Soccer Western Conference showdown this weekend, with the hosts currently ninth, battling to secure a wildcard playoff spot and aware that a win could edge them closer to the guaranteed playoff places as the season draws to a close.
Colorado, sitting in third place with 50 points, come into this match in excellent form with four wins from their last five outings and they will be eager to close the gap on second-placed Real Salt Lake and secure a favourable playoff spot after a two-year absence from the playoffs.
We say: Minnesota United 2-2 Colorado Rapids
Both teams have shown attacking prowess, with Minnesota scoring 50 goals and Colorado netting 58 this season.
However, both sides also have defensive vulnerabilities, with Minnesota conceding 48 and Colorado 50, suggesting an open and competitive match.
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With little to choose between the teams over the course of the campaign so far, St Louis City and Sporting Kansas City will do battle at CITYPARK on Sunday as the MLS regular season draws increasingly closer to its end.
This weekend’s meeting will be the third edition of this fixture since the turn of the year, and both teams will be keen to come away with maximum points this time around having played out stalemates in the earlier two clashes.
We say: St Louis City 2-1 Sporting Kansas City
With two of the division’s poorest defences going head-to-head, we anticipate an open and entertaining affair in this one.
That said, we are also leaning towards a narrow victory for the home side come the end of the 90 minutes.
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A Cascadia Cup clash with huge playoff implications in the MLS Western Conference occurs on Saturday at BC Place Stadium as the Vancouver Whitecaps host the Portland Timbers.
In their previous league fixture, the Caps dropped to seventh in the West with a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy, putting them just two points above the eighth-place Timbers, who pulled out a dramatic 3-3 result with Real Salt Lake.
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Portland Timbers
Being deprived of one of the top chance creators in the league (Evander) is a big blow for the visitors, and although Vancouver may be a little fatigued from their midweek affair, we believe they can find a way past a Timbers unit that leave plenty of space in behind.
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Seattle Sounders will aim to maintain their unbeaten streak in Major League Soccer, extending it to four games, when they welcome Houston Dynamo on Sunday.
Similar to their hosts, the visitors are also seeking to preserve their unbeaten run, having secured three wins and two draws in their last five league fixtures.
We say: Seattle Sounders 2-2 Houston Dynamo
While Seattle Sounders have picked up in recent weeks, Houston Dynamo have been flying for longer, and this is why we think that the visitors have what it takes to secure at least a draw here.
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