Week 11 of the 2015 Major League Soccer season is upon us, and though the quantity of games featuring two teams from the league’s upper echelon, the quality of the three such games are more than enough to make amends.
Predictions record through Week 10: 18-22
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Seattle Sounders (Saturday, 7 pm ET, MLS Live)
The attacking talent that will take the field at BC Place is truly staggering — Pedro Morales, Octavio Rivero, Kekuta Manneh and Darren Mattocks on one side; Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Marco Pappa and Lamar Neagle on the other — and a sign that MLS 2.0 2.5 2.8 whatever-version-we’re-on-now is very much underway.
Both teams are lethal on the counter attack; both teams love to play the game at a fast pace; both teams love the attack so much that they leave themselves open to the counter, too. Add those three things up and what do you have? Goals. If there’s not three or more Saturday night, I’ll give you your two hours back.
Prediction: Whitecaps 1-2 Sounders
FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls (Friday, 9 pm ET, MLS Live)
Last week reminded us what can happen when Mauro Diaz is given the space and time. Dax McCarty will have his hands full tracking the Argentine playmaker who thrives in that space between the midfield and defensive lines. If Diaz finds that space, he’ll pick you apart all night long.
Few give the Red Bulls a chance to get a result in Frisco. If they can continue their success with the high press, thus denying Diaz and Fabian Castillo the ball in dangerous areas, they’ve got a chance. That said, it’s a lot easier said than done the way the South American duo is flying at the moment.
Prediction: FCD 2-1 Red Bulls
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New England Revolution vs. Toronto FC (Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, MLS Live)
You better believe TFC will show up for this one, a week after laying an egg in their home opener and losing to the mediocre Dynamo. It’s one their most maddening qualities: playing up — and down — to the competition. They’ll be up for this one, but that only means so much against the Revs’ well-rounded attack and increasingly-stingy defense.
The Revs haven’t lost in eight games, their longest run since 2004-2005. They won all three meetings between the two teams a season ago. They’ve not lost to TFC at home since 2010. Catch my drift? Momentum (and history) is squarely on the Revs’ side.
Prediction: Revs 2-1 TFC