Orlando City vs Toronto FC
Major League Soccer
Date: Thursday, 6th July 2017
Kick off at 00:30 UK/ 01:30 CET
Venue: Orlando City Stadium.
Orlando are on course for the play-offs in their third season in MLS, but they have a test against Toronto. They’re at home to the side who are two places above them in the Eastern Conference, with the Canadians on course to secure a top two finish at least. However, Toronto have fallen apart on the road of late; can they bounce back here?
Orlando have won 60% of their home games, suffering just one defeat. They average 2.1 points per game at their own ground, which puts them in the frame for a strong finish. That should make them favourites against a Toronto side who have failed to win any of their last five away.
The hosts have claimed 72% of their points here, while they’ve scored 71% of their goals at home this term. They’ve averaged 1.5 goals per game at their own ground, failing to score just once. That run should continue, especially as the away side are on an awful run right now. They’ve conceded in their last six trips, and we can see Orlando adding to that.
However, Toronto have scored in 83% of their MLS games this term, while they’re impressive in front of goal on the road. The Canadians have scored in nine of their last 10 trips, while they’ve failed to score in just two of their last 22 games on the road in all competitions.
We are backing both teams to score at 4/6 with bet365 here, which has occurred in four of their last six encounters. That run continued in a 2-1 win for Toronto in May, and we think this one will end without a clean sheet too. We see that result being reversed here, given that Orlando have scored at least twice in 60% of their home games.
Orlando City
The Lions were off to a strong kick off to the new MLS campaign, but they ran on to a tough series of matches which caused the run of five consecutive outings without a single win.
This has been interrupted on Saturday evening when Jason Kreis’ men claimed a super important 0-1 win over Real Salt Tale at Rio Tinto Stadium thanks to a goal from Will Johnson.
Toronto
The defeat to Dallas ended Toronto’s positive run and dropped them down to the second position on the East.
Greg Vanney will be hoping to build on some of the previous performances his team showed and bounce back right away to stay in touch with the Fire at the top of the standings.
Orlando City vs Toronto: Head to head
The Reds have entirely dominated this match-up historically winning five of eight H2H meetings with Orlando City. The Lions have no more than a single win at the same time.
The Eastern Conference rivals met each other in early May this year when Sebastian Giovinco led Toronto to a 2-1 win by completing a brace at BMO Field.
Orlando City vs Toronto: Prediction
The Lions are winless in last three home fixtures and they conceded three goals to Miami and Montreal Impact each in last two of their outings at Orlando City Stadium.
This will be the music to the ears of Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco as we see them exploiting the holes in the home team’s defensive line to the max on Wednesday evening.
