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 resume with the Eastern Conference Semifinal second leg between Sporting Kansas City and New England (9 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
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: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 40px; height: 44px;"><br><strong>2-1</strong><br><strong>(NE win series in PKs)</strong></p> |
SKC will win the battle, but lose the war. Because when it comes down to penalties in the playoffs, it's hard to bet against Matt Reis. So I won't. |
<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>0-0</strong></p> |
<p>New England know the key to getting out of Sporting Park alive is by keeping it tight and tidy. Desperation times in KC, and another playoff flameout for Vermes & Co.</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>0-0</strong></p> |
<p>Unless they start their most experienced scorer, Claudio Bieler, and park him in the Revs penalty area, Sporting will continue to struggle in the goals department against a Revolution team that has shown they know how to pack it in on the road.</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>3-0</strong> |
I think Vermes has made up his mind and will start Claudio Bieler to solve some of the struggles up front; if SKC score goals in the early minutes, they wont be pushed to desperation and can easily control NE’s counterattack. |
<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>2-1</strong><br><strong>(NE win series in PKs)</strong></p> |
<p>I think the Revs will be under siege the entire time, and SKC will find a couple of breakthroughs. But as Bradley Nowell once said, you can't fight against the youth. Revs roll on PKs.</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"><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>2-0</strong></p> |
New England got their goals at home, but they won't get them on the road. Sporting even the match via set piece, then bundle home a goal late in front of a frenzied crowd to move on to the Conference Championship. |
<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/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>2-1<br>
(NE win series in PKs)</strong></p> |
I've flip-flopped many times on this match but it's deadline time. Call it a feeling, but I think Heaps and crew will scratch out a goal and fend off the SKC onslaught just long enough to get to PKs, where it's anyone's game. |
<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/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>1-0<br>
(SKC win series in PKs)</strong></p> |
<p>Sporting will have the better of play in their home stadium, but their struggles in front of goal will help this one reach extra time, and eventually penalties. Peter Vermes' team have been here before, and I like them to keep their cool in the shootout.</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>0-0</strong></p> |
<p>Something tells me New England are going to close down in the back and push SKC to desperation.</p> |
