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 afternoon with the Eastern Conference Championship first leg between Houston and Sporting KC (2:30 pm ET; NBC, Univ. Deportes, RDS2 in Canada).
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> |
At some point, all the travel and scheduling congestion will get to Houston. That point is now. Still, they'll do enough to stay in it. |
<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>1-1</strong></p> |
<p>The ultimate Dynamo score line. And Sporting will be more than happy to get out of BBVA with that kind of result.</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"><strong>DRAW</strong><br><strong>1-1</strong></p> |
<p>This heavyweight MLS slugfest will go back and forth with each team getting in a turn to deliver a few blows. Nothing will come easy in either leg and expect goals to come on scrappy finishes, set pieces or penalties. But nothing will be resolved until we get to Sporting Park.</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 think Peter Vermes has finally learned the lesson: Claudio Bieler should not be on the bench. SKC will take advantage of Houston’s fatigue for playing three games in seven days and Bieler once again will score the winning goal. |
<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/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>I think this is Sporting's breakthrough. The Dynamo looked exhausted, and were bossed physically at times vs. New York. Perfect recipe for the visitors here.</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> |
Neither team will be particularly disappointed with this result. Back to Kansas City we go. |
<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"><strong>DRAW</strong><br><strong>0-0</strong></p> |
I see these two teams battling it out tooth and nail over the course of the two game series, but the first battle is a stalemate with neither team able to land a killer blow. |
<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"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br><strong>2-1</strong></p> |
<p>Houston will get it done at home in what has become one of the most heated matchups in MLS, but Sporting should find a way to snag a goal and keep themselves firmly in the series heading back home.</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"><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></p> |
<p>I fully expect Bieler to play/start this series, even though I expect Houston to go through to Cup. As he told us on <em><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/es/tiro-libre" target="_blank">Tiro Libre Radio</a></em> this week, he and his teammates know he needs to be there. That said, if he doesn't start, can I come one hour before kickoff to change my prediction?</p> |
