In this Major League Soccer (MLS) showdown, we bring you predictions for three exciting matches set to take place this Sunday.
St. Louis City will host Sporting Kansas City, the Houston Dynamo will face Real Salt Lake, and FC Cincinnati will take on the New York Red Bulls. Let’s dive into the details of these thrilling encounters.
St Louis City vs. Sporting Kansas City
In their MLS playoff debut, St Louis City is set to host their state rivals, Sporting Kansas City, in the opening game of a best-of-three series at CityPark.
Despite a 2-0 loss in their final regular season fixture against the Seattle Sounders, St Louis City finished at the top of the Western Conference table with 56 points.
Sporting Kansas City advanced to this stage after a 0-0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes, followed by a 4-2 penalty shootout victory.
- Prediction: St Louis City 2-0 Sporting Kansas City
Despite their impressive regular season, there are still doubts about St Louis City’s ability to maintain their remarkable campaign.
This skepticism may serve as motivation for them to prove their critics wrong.
Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake
The Houston Dynamo will make their first MLS playoff appearance since 2017 when they host Real Salt Lake in the opening match of a best-of-three series at Shell Energy Stadium.
The Orange Crush secured home-field advantage for this series with a 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Decision Day, finishing fourth in the Western Conference.
Real Salt Lake, who won their previous encounter 1-0 against the Colorado Rapids, finished just a point behind in fifth place.
- Prediction: Houston Dynamo 2-0 Real Salt Lake
While Real Salt Lake may have the edge in terms of playoff experience, the Houston Dynamo, under the leadership of Olsen, have displayed a newfound sense of composure in 2023.
Their midfield workhorses are expected to keep them on the front foot throughout this encounter.
FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls
For the second consecutive season, FC Cincinnati and the New York Red Bulls will meet in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
The first game of this best-of-three series will take place at TQL Stadium on Sunday.
The New York Red Bulls earned their spot in the playoffs with a 5-2 victory over Charlotte FC in the Wild Card round, while FC Cincinnati, the Supporters’ Shield winners, played Atlanta United to a 2-2 draw in their final regular season match of 2023.
- Prediction: FC Cincinnati 2-0 New York Red Bulls
Given FC Cincinnati’s offensive prowess, we anticipate that the Red Bulls will not be as aggressive as they were against Charlotte earlier this week.
The Red Bulls’ strength lies in their defensive shape, but FC Cincinnati knows how to win close encounters and is expected to break through this weekend.
Sunday’s MLS matches promise intense action, with teams vying for a chance to advance in the playoffs. Stay tuned to see how these exciting encounters unfold.