MLS betting tip: New England Revolution- FC Cincinnati
Mar 24, 2019
MLS betting tip: New England Revolution- FC Cincinnati
After making just two changes total from their first three starts, FC Cincinnati, the newest franchise in MLS, will be forced into a major reshuffle all across their starting line up today. The euphoria from that 3-0 win over Portland Timbers might not have totally evaporated, but it has lessened with the calls ups of four senior players to their respective national teams this week. Last week I wrote .............
I opposed FCC for their tough trip to Atlanta last weekend ..........
They host the latest new MLS team in FC Cincinnati who have had a baptism of fire, Seattle and Atlanta on the road, they lost the first 4-1 and, after conceding early, Sounders were 3-1 up at the break and could largely ease off. FCC came into MLS with the core of their USL squad, there is a pretty big gap in quality between the two leagues, particularly at the upper end and I don't see where the real offensive potential is. They have a group heavy with central defenders and defensive midfielders and they will often have 10 men behind the ball and look to make the most of set pieces or to steal a goal on the break. But as for a creative spark I am not sure and, even if they find one, they are relying on Fanendo Ali to fire the bullets, he looks a pale shadow of the man who scored so freely for Portland Timbers, in recent years and needs to refind his touch from what seem sure to be very limited opportunities.
Defending MLS Cup champions Atlanta were a poor imitation of their 2018 selves and might need time to regroup, but FCC battled well, never gave up at 1-0 down , took a point and it might have been all three, It is hard to know exactly what to make of them, the squad quality looks a little substandard on paper, but for some teams, the sum is greater than the individual parts and there was much to like about that showing. My feeling is that will struggle down the line, but maybe for now, I have underestimated how far enthusiasm and hard work can take them through the opening games. I doubt they will have more motivation for many MLS starts than they will for today, on their home debut in the big leagues. They have fanatical home support, from some very passionate fans, today is close to a sell out and Timbers will be hit by a wall of noise. The visitors are notoriously slow starters and not great on the road, they have travelled almost coast to coast to get here across three time zones and do so shorthanded. They have conceded 7 goals in two games to date and that is a continuation of some pre-season issues when they looked awful at the back. Last season, despite making the MLS Cup final, they were winless in their first five games , conceding 12 and this feels all a little bit like history repeating. Now the bad news for them ! Timbers will be without Diego Chara and they have not won without the defensive/central midfielder in the team since 2015. That's 20 starts and in that sequence they have taken just 2 points from a possible 36 on the road. Home win.
FCC won 3-0 in front of a noisy 32,000 + crowd, who turned up ready to party, despite bad weather. They led after just 15 minutes and it was noteworthy that two goals came after Fanendo Ali left the game at half time. The preview highlighted how much better FCC are than most, including me, gave them credit for ahead of their opener and that they will be tough to beat as host. Also, that Timbers have once again fallen out of the blocks and are just lost without Diego Chara.
But now FCC will be without Kendall Waston and Allan Cruz (Costa Rica), plus Alvas Powell and Darren Mattocks (Jamaica), that means two of the back 4 and two key offensive players, Mattocks came off the bench last week to replace Fanendo Ali ( see above) who is injured this week. Mattocks assisted for the third goal, Cruz and Waston scored the first two. Now they will be looking to a handful of untried players to step up at a higher level, all at the same time and, on the road against a team, who, despite a poor start, are strong on home soil, even by MLS terms, with a 57.64% win rate over the last five seasons. FCC will already be pleased with their start and their need today is not as great, for Revs, this is huge, they have just one point on board so far and have to make the most of this golden opportunity.
2 units New England Revolution -1 ball 2.12 asian line/Sportmarket.
Good Luck.
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