Just one game on the Major League Soccer slate on Sunday as Minnesota, currently ninth in the Western Conference, looks to upset Los Angeles FC, which is right on first-place Dallas’ heels in the West. Usually, home teams are favored on the MLS Odds but that’s not the case here. Let’s check wich team is offering the best Soccer Betting value in this one.
LAFC fielded at least five foreign players on Wednesday: Laurent Ciman, Carlos Vela, Marco Urena, Adama Diomande, and Diego Rossi. The confusion may stem from LAFC’s inclusion of two Canadians, Mark-Anthony Kaye, and Dejan Jakovic, who do not take up international roster spots in MLS play but could be counted as “foreign” under USOC rules. Jakovic has a valid U.S. green card. Kaye is not listed as an international player but reportedly does not have a green card and, thus, would count as a foreign player as far as the USOC is concerned.
Wednesday’s game was also the subject of controversy because LAFC’s Adama Diomande said he was subjected to racial abuse during the second half. Diomande did not specify if the slur came from a player or from the crowd. Diomande, a 28-year-old Norway international, has enjoyed a fine start to life in the U.S., scoring nine times in seven MLS games and was named the league’s player of the month for June.
Minnesota vs LAFC Game Preview, MLS Odds & Prediction
Last time against Minnesota…
This time, we’re traveling up north to take on the Loons. Don’t miss it. 📆 Sunday, 7/22 ⏰ 4 PM 📺 @YouTubeTV / @UniMas KFTR 46 📻 @ESPNLosAngeles / @980lameramera pic.twitter.com/bhX4L0Uy80 — #VoteVela (@LAFC) 20 de julio de 2018
- When: Sunday, 7 PM ET
- Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
- Watch: YouTubeTV
- MLS Odds: LAFC +119, Minnesota +210, Draw +230 (Total 3)
Why Bet on Minnesota?
Minnesota, nicknamed the Loons locally, played Wednesday and beat the New England Revolution 2-1. Christian Ramirez’s fifth goal of the season propelled the Loons to the win at TCF Bank Stadium. The Loons improved to 8-11-1 for ninth place in the Western Conference, while New England fell to 7-6-7, fifth in the East. Ramirez had been on a four-game scoring drought, his second-longest such run of the season after it took him six games into the year to score his first. And though the striker scored a team-high 14 goals in 2017, his position on the team had been under scrutiny, especially with new designated player Angelo Rodriguez set to arrive in the coming days. Maybe by Sunday. Rodriguez will play for a club outside of Colombia for the first time, after also appearing for Atletico Nacional, Independiente Medellin, and Envigado. He scored six goals in the 2018 Apertura season as Deportes Tolima won the title. “He is a big-time player,” Minnesota coach Adrian Heath. “We have just added a difference-maker to our roster. He’s a player who is physical, skilled and knows how to score.” The other Minnesota goal Wednesday came from Darwin Quintero. On a standout individual effort in the 46th minute, Quintero picked the ball up at the top of the box, weaved through New England’s back line and, while nearly parallel to the end line, caressed a low shot into the opposite corner. With his team-leading eighth goal, the Colombian Designated Player now boasts five goals and a pair of assists in the Loons’ last four matches. Despite a fairly sloppy game for United — outshot 17-13, eight to one on corners and gave New England nearly 57 percent possession — the Loons have a chance vs. the LAFC to close out a three-games-in-nine-days homestand with all nine points.Why Bet on LAFC?
LAFC tied Portland 0-0 on Sunday in its last MLS match. LAFC had an 11-2 advantage on corners. Coach Bob Bradley admitted they only really created one good chance from those 11. On Wednesday, LAFC beat that same Portland team to advance to the US Open Cup semifinals – or at least probably won that match. That’s because the Timbers are protesting that LAFC used too many foreign players. The rule in question is section 203 of the official US Open Cup rulebook which states: “A team may list up to 18 players on its game day roster. Professional teams may have no more than 5 foreign players listed. Amateur teams are not restricted as to the number of foreign players they may list. Foreign players shall be those players who are not protected individuals as defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b (e.g. U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees, and refugees).”
LAFC fielded at least five foreign players on Wednesday: Laurent Ciman, Carlos Vela, Marco Urena, Adama Diomande, and Diego Rossi. The confusion may stem from LAFC’s inclusion of two Canadians, Mark-Anthony Kaye, and Dejan Jakovic, who do not take up international roster spots in MLS play but could be counted as “foreign” under USOC rules. Jakovic has a valid U.S. green card. Kaye is not listed as an international player but reportedly does not have a green card and, thus, would count as a foreign player as far as the USOC is concerned.
Wednesday’s game was also the subject of controversy because LAFC’s Adama Diomande said he was subjected to racial abuse during the second half. Diomande did not specify if the slur came from a player or from the crowd. Diomande, a 28-year-old Norway international, has enjoyed a fine start to life in the U.S., scoring nine times in seven MLS games and was named the league’s player of the month for June.
