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 Championship second leg between Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo (7:30 pm ET | NBCSN, Univision Deportes, TSN2 and 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"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.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: 44px;"><br><strong>2-0</strong></p> |
The time has come for Sporting to finally break their Houston hex. Plus, Claudio Bieler – when he finally gets into the game – is a game-changer that the Dynamo don't have. |
<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> |
<strong><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; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br>
1-0</strong> |
<p>There's a reason orange is a fall color: This has Dynamo written all over it. They'll keep it tight and frustrate SKC for 90 minutes, then get a goal from an unlikely source (Clark? Boswell? Carrasco???) in extra time. Same as it ever was.</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> |
<strong><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; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br>
1-0</strong> |
<p>We know what to expect – Sporting will be on the offensive, but they'll have little space to operate and the crosses will be easy pickings for the Dynamo backline. Despite likely missing key players, the Dynamo will still have enough to nick a goal. Sporting Park heartbreak, Part 3.</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> |
<strong><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; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br>
2-0</strong> |
I insist it's foolish for Vermes to leave his DP on the bench while the team's other are not solving the struggles up front and Sporting must rely on defenders to score. Houston knows how to play with SKC's desperation at home and Boniek will kill the party at Sporting Park. |
<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> |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.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: 44px;"><br>
1-0</strong> |
<p>Third time's the charm for Sporting. This one will be ugly, and it'll go all the way to extratime, where the home team will find the winner off a set piece.</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> |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.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: 44px;"><br>
1-0</strong> |
Pretty soccer? Probably not. An intense, physical nailbiter? You can bet the house on it after both coaches had two weeks to prepare their charges for this winner-take-all affair. |
<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> |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.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: 44px;"><br>
1-0</strong> |
Is the third time the charm for SKC? This game is a toss up and will be decided on a scrappy set-piece goal in OT, and after two tosses of the coin went to Houston, it finally turns in SKC's favor. |
<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> |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.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: 44px;"><br>
1-0</strong> |
<p>We're finally here – this is the year that Sporting will finally solve Houston. This one won't be any prettier than the first leg, but Sporting will be able to sneak a goal this time around and look forward to an MLS Cup in Kansas City.</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> |
<strong><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; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 40px;"><br>
1-0</strong> |
<p>Can't squeeze the orange when Dom leads them in the playoffs.</p> |
