MLS Week 17 Predictions

Wednesday, July 6th
New York Red Bulls - Toronto FC: Leading into this match New York has not recorded a win in eleven regular season matches, struggling due to a roster depleted by injuries and the Gold Cup and spotty and inconsistent goal keeping. Most would think this to be the match to break that winless streak, especially with the imminent return of Luke Rodgers, but Toronto is beginning to heat up after regular season and NCC cup final victories over fellow Canadian rivals the Vancouver Whitecaps. They have also proven that they can fight back against the league's best in an entertaining 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy that saw two goals in stoppage time from both teams. This is a difficult one to call, so I'll settle with a tie.

Sporting Kansas City - Colorado Rapids: After a dreadfully long road trip to start the season Kansas City has really started to gets results and begin climbing their way up the table, going undefeated in their last ten and recording four wins out of their last five matches. Colorado on the other hand hasn't exactly been performing up to expectations so far this season having gone six matches at home with finding a win. The return of the pairing of Omar Cummings and Conner Casey, however, should go a long ways towards bringing them back into winning ways. Regardless, Kansas City is arguably the hottest team in Major League Soccer at the moment and I really don't see Colorado getting in the way of that.

Vancouver Whitecaps - Columbus Crew: The Whitecaps are by the worst team so far this season, having only managed two wins in the first half of the season and having the lowest points total at fourteen points. At this point the Whitecaps' situation is looking pretty hopeless unless head coach Tommy Soehn can orchestrate a major turn around which is doubtful seeing how literally nothing changed when he became head coach in favor of Teitur Thordarson. Their opponent meanwhile is proving to be a strong contender for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Columbus should easily be able to top the Whitecaps.