MLS betting tips and picks, Matchday 12: Expect goals in LA Galaxy vs San Jose
- George Dempsey
- 11 May 2023
With the Premier League and EFL seasons drawing to a conclusion, you’re about to remember that Major League Soccer exists. Here are some betting tips for Matchday 12.
Are you ready for the MLS? 'The' doesn't need to be there, but that's just the first of many Americanisms.
You've all seen the picture of Alexi Lalas draped in the Old Glory, sporting a long, ginger beard, wearing a mismatched kit that looks like it came from a goodwill store
(English: charity shop) and looking like a skid-row Jesus Christ.
If Diana Ross' penalty at the 1994 World Cup didn't convert you, then just hang around and give it a go. It'll grow on you like E. coli on room-temperature beef.
Suggested bets
MLS Matchday 12 preview
Matchday 11 saw Phil Neville's
Inter Miami side beat Atlanta United 2-1. Their back-to-back wins were preceded by a six-match losing run, something they do now and then.
Ex-Newcastle United fullback DeAndre Yedlin recorded his first assist of the season in that victory, with Harvey Neville, Phil Neville's son, making his eighth appearance of the season.
His MLS contract has absolutely nothing to do with the fact his Dad is the manager. None at all. Did we mention Romeo Beckham is also contracted to Inter Miami? The team David Beckham owns? Again, just a coincidence.
If you've been an avid fan of MLS since before this article, then you'll know their opponents, Bruce Arena's New England Revolution side, are very good at soccer (English: football).
The Revs top the Eastern Conference (Google it) standings with seven wins in 11 matches. They've only lost once on their travels this season and could pick up a W at DRV PNK Stadium.
Elsewhere, Wayne Rooney's DC United side face a tough test against Nashville SC. DC are typically up and down, but their stock has gone up this season.
The additions of Lewis O'Brien and Mateusz Klich to the midfield have given them some much-needed grit and Klichhousery (
Klichhousery. Definition: When Mateusz Klich mugs off the opponent. Used in a sentence: Derby County haven't been the same since the Klichhousery of July 2020).
DC have recorded back-to-back wins at Audi Field and whilst they'd love to make home a fortress, not even the goal-scoring antics of Christian Benteke will lift them over Nashville this weekend.
Talking of Benteke, it's worth watching his goal from their most recent win against Charlotte. Benteke found himself with space near the PK spot, hit it right in the wheelhouse with a bicycle and it bounced into the frame.
English: Christian Benteke found space in the box, struck the ball sweetly and scored an overhead kick.
Finally, the game of the week could come from California.
LA Galaxy have endured a rough start to the season, but they have picked up wins over Austin and Seattle in their last five matches. They'll play host to
San Jose Earthquakes.
Riqui Puig has been sprinkling La Masia magic all over the place, playing the most sublimely creative passes to… absolutely no one. Until now. Javier Hernandez's return to fitness has helped the structure of the team.
You don't get many La Masia graduates in MLS, so we're just going to point out that Oriol Rosell also plays for LA. If two of the finest ever players (probably) to play for Barcelona B chose MLS, then you know it's good.
San Jose possesses two of the top scorers in MLS so far this season, Christian Espinoza (8) and Jeremey Ebobisse (5). Ten of their combined 13 goals have come in the last five matches, with the Earthquakes knocking off
(English: beating) LAFC last time out.
Despite their goalscoring form, they're a train wreck on their travels. They've won two of their last 26 away MLS matches. One of those was a 3-2 win over LA Galaxy, the other was a 4-3 win over Real Salt Lake.
Those 26 matches have featured 95 goals. That's an average of 3.65 goals per game and whilst that sounds fairly high, it's nothing new. San Jose forget to defend away from home, so we're expecting goals at Dignity Health Sports Park.
