MLSsoccer.com's editors have been expertly picking matches all year (Armchair Analyst Matthew Doyle led the pack) and we're not about to stop during the MLS Cup Playoffs, which continue on Saturday night with the Eastern Conference Semifinal first leg between New England and Sporting Kansas City (8 pm ET, NBCSN, RDS2 in Canada). Editors were nine for nine in picking Houston on Thursday night, but can they keep it up?
Disagree with the picks? Make your voice heard in the comment section below!
<strong>Editor</strong> |
<strong>Score</strong> |
<strong>Comments</strong> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/GregLalas_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Greg Lalas</strong><br><em>Editor-In-Chief</em></p> |
<br><p class="rtecenter"><strong>DRAW</strong><br><strong>1-1</strong></p> |
I like the Revs' skill and energy, but I like Sporting's skill, energy, and experience. |
<br><p><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/freedman_2.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Jonah Freedman</strong><br><em>Managing Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>DRAW</strong><br><strong>2-2</strong></p> |
<p>Strap in, because I expect this to be the best, most wide-open match of the weekend. Sporting are better on the road than at home and will be looking to force an away goal, but the Revs' kids aren't about to pack it in. Must-see TV.</p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Borg_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Simon Borg</strong><br><em>Senior Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 44px;"><br><strong>0-2</strong></p> |
<p>Sporting are pragmatic and ruthless on the road and the Revs' champagne soccer is bottled up. More importantly for SKC, they go into a second leg at home with a lead to manage.</p> |
<em><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/valencia_1.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong></em><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Kristel Valencia</strong><br><em>Editor FutbolMLS.com</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 44px;"><br><strong>1-2</strong> |
I know the Revs have a lot of young talent, but it won't be enough (yet) to overcome SKC's experience in decisive games. |
<p class="rtecenter"><em><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Doyle_2.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong></em><br><strong>Matt Doyle</strong><br><em>Armchair Analyst</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newengland_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato,sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>1-0</strong></p> |
<p>I think the Revs have enough to give themselves a puncher's chance in this series. A Kelyn Rowe bomb will give them a lead to take to KC.</p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/AndrewWiebe_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Andrew Wiebe</strong><br><em>Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>DRAW</strong><br><strong>0-0</strong></p> |
Make it six straight that New England go scoreless against Sporting KC. This time Sporting join them, sending the series west with everything still to play for. |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/JasonSaghini_1.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Jason Saghini</strong><br><em>Director of Video</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newengland_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato,sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>1-0</strong></p> |
I expect things to tighten up in this round of the playoffs and I wouldn't be surprised to see the same 0-0 scoreline these teams played to in their last meeting in NE. But, behind the Revs' strong run of form to finish the season (4-0-2), I'll predict an Agudelo goal in a close win. |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Rosano_2.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Nick Rosano</strong><br><em>Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>DRAW</strong><br><strong>1-1</strong></p> |
<p>The first playoff game in four years at Gillette Stadium will have fans and players alike amped up, but Sporting will claw one back and prevent the goal-happy Revs from gaining any sort of advantage in the series.</p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/DiegoPinzon_0.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><br><strong>Diego Pinzon</strong><br><em>FutbolMLS.com Assoc. Editor</em></p> |
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>DRAW</strong><br><strong>1-1</strong></p> |
<p>Peter Vermes' 4-3-3 will be put to the test against a young New England squad hungry to go through. But the experience of the best defense in MLS right now will prove to be the successful side in this one.</p> |
