ytd 6-2 +21.19
Houston vs Chivas USA
- Chivas USA have failed to score in either match they used a 4-5-1 but scored twice in a 4-4-2 so what alignment will they use for first true road match of year? 4-5-1..."Vasquez told the assembled coaches he favored five midfielders after using the formation against Houston in a March 20 preseason match in Santa Barbara, which the Dynamo won 3-1." 3 of what would have been the starting 5 MF's (attacking MF Romero, holding MF Saragosa, and LMF Jazic) are unavailable as is starting FW Galindo. Houston's top 2 strikers (Ching/Landin) and first backup (Weaver) are out so they will move a MF up into attack along side Oduro which is just an awful pairing. They were held without a shot on goal at home vs LA and that was with Landin playing (until red card) and Ashe at right mid, who is doubtful with ankle injury. What I see are two teams that had questionable offenses before the season and now have many of their top attacking talents out for the match. Chivas USA will go with 5 in MF to clog up the match obviously looking for 0-0 or 1-1 type game. H2H has seen one team shutout in 7 of last 9 games and there is not an established goal scorer who will be on the field Saturday afternoon. I expect a much improved Houston team but CUSA are not easy to break down and I expect 1-0 if not 0-0. In 3 matches Houston has scored just 1 goal from open play and CUSA just 2 goals total, one an own goal.
Houston under 2.5 3.5u -140
Colorado vs Toronto
- both teams played midweek matches but Toronto, no doubt, will be the team affected by it. Colorado played on Tuesday, Toronto on Thursday, and both won but Colorado started a lot of reserves and did not travel for the game since they stayed in KC since weekend MLS match. Several of their top players did not play in midweek and were sent home after last Saturday's match while Toronto of course used full regular squad for their first win of the season over expansion Philly. Truth is Toronto were not very good even with the 2-1 win but luckily were playing an expansion team who were down to 10 men after 35' and got a penalty at 81' to pull
out 3 points. Now they have to travel across 2 time zones with a quick turnaround to play in Colorado's altitude where they have scored just once in 3 matches. On the road they are winless in 11 games since beating San Jose last July and they have just 1 MLS road win in 13 months (1-5-9, 8 times shutout). Colorado a decent home team, not great, but saw 8 of their 10 2009 wins come at home (8-5-2) while allowing a league-best 10 goals at home in 15 matches. If Philly, who barely have MLS-quality attacking options, can trouble Toronto's defense I predict Colorado, who have one of MLS' top attacks, should put a few in the net. Go one game back and you will see New England put 4 in TFC's net including a hat trick by unkown rookie, Schilawski. Colorado's attacking pair are USMNT striker Casey and Jamaica MNT striker Cummings, so should be a field day for them. I've also talked a lot about the weak Eastern Conference and you'll see me opposing Eastern teams quite a bit when visiting Western Conference squads. So far in 2010 they are 1-2-3 with one of those draws coming in Colorado, when Chicago drew them 2-2. Colorado is the better team, rested, and catch a struggling squad who can't get road wins coming in off a short week and playing in altitude.
Rapids 5u -125
Houston vs Chivas USA
- Chivas USA have failed to score in either match they used a 4-5-1 but scored twice in a 4-4-2 so what alignment will they use for first true road match of year? 4-5-1..."Vasquez told the assembled coaches he favored five midfielders after using the formation against Houston in a March 20 preseason match in Santa Barbara, which the Dynamo won 3-1." 3 of what would have been the starting 5 MF's (attacking MF Romero, holding MF Saragosa, and LMF Jazic) are unavailable as is starting FW Galindo. Houston's top 2 strikers (Ching/Landin) and first backup (Weaver) are out so they will move a MF up into attack along side Oduro which is just an awful pairing. They were held without a shot on goal at home vs LA and that was with Landin playing (until red card) and Ashe at right mid, who is doubtful with ankle injury. What I see are two teams that had questionable offenses before the season and now have many of their top attacking talents out for the match. Chivas USA will go with 5 in MF to clog up the match obviously looking for 0-0 or 1-1 type game. H2H has seen one team shutout in 7 of last 9 games and there is not an established goal scorer who will be on the field Saturday afternoon. I expect a much improved Houston team but CUSA are not easy to break down and I expect 1-0 if not 0-0. In 3 matches Houston has scored just 1 goal from open play and CUSA just 2 goals total, one an own goal.
Houston under 2.5 3.5u -140
Colorado vs Toronto
- both teams played midweek matches but Toronto, no doubt, will be the team affected by it. Colorado played on Tuesday, Toronto on Thursday, and both won but Colorado started a lot of reserves and did not travel for the game since they stayed in KC since weekend MLS match. Several of their top players did not play in midweek and were sent home after last Saturday's match while Toronto of course used full regular squad for their first win of the season over expansion Philly. Truth is Toronto were not very good even with the 2-1 win but luckily were playing an expansion team who were down to 10 men after 35' and got a penalty at 81' to pull
out 3 points. Now they have to travel across 2 time zones with a quick turnaround to play in Colorado's altitude where they have scored just once in 3 matches. On the road they are winless in 11 games since beating San Jose last July and they have just 1 MLS road win in 13 months (1-5-9, 8 times shutout). Colorado a decent home team, not great, but saw 8 of their 10 2009 wins come at home (8-5-2) while allowing a league-best 10 goals at home in 15 matches. If Philly, who barely have MLS-quality attacking options, can trouble Toronto's defense I predict Colorado, who have one of MLS' top attacks, should put a few in the net. Go one game back and you will see New England put 4 in TFC's net including a hat trick by unkown rookie, Schilawski. Colorado's attacking pair are USMNT striker Casey and Jamaica MNT striker Cummings, so should be a field day for them. I've also talked a lot about the weak Eastern Conference and you'll see me opposing Eastern teams quite a bit when visiting Western Conference squads. So far in 2010 they are 1-2-3 with one of those draws coming in Colorado, when Chicago drew them 2-2. Colorado is the better team, rested, and catch a struggling squad who can't get road wins coming in off a short week and playing in altitude.
Rapids 5u -125
