Having started to slip behind the Western Conference leaders, the Seattle Sounders go into this MLS game at Lumen Field needing a win (3.30am BST Sunday; 10.30pm ET Saturday). Can they get the desired result against Orlando City? Or will they fall further behind? The visitors go to Washington needing victory too after going two games without one.
It has all gone a bit wrong for the Seattle Sounders in recent weeks, and it seems that consistency has very much gone out of the window for Brian Schmetzer’s men, who have failed to win any of their last four Major League Soccer fixtures. They first lost on the road to San Jose, before steadying themselves with ties against both the Portland Timbers and Charlotte FC. They were once again on the wrong end of the scoreline last time out, as they left an away game against LAFC emptyhanded, losing by a goal to nil. Schmetzer will be hoping that this return home sparks his side back into life.
The visitors come into this game off the back of two games without a win, which isn’t great, though in truth, things have improved for Orlando City of late. When they lost three out of four back in May, they looked out of sorts, but they have since lost just one out of eight Major League Soccer games. They have won three of their last six, winning away against both the New York Red Bulls and Inter Miami, so perhaps Oscar Pareja’s men will travel to Lumen Field feeling confident.
Goals drying up for hosts
There really does seem to be something going around in Major League Soccer right now. Lots of teams are struggling to score goals, and that can certainly be said for the Seattle Sounders, who are usually one of the best attacking teams in this league.
Last time out, they failed to score away against LAFC, which is no big deal. Many teams struggle against the current MLS Cup holders, so there is no shame in that. They scored three goals against Charlotte before that. Again, no problem. However, that was the first time in three games that Schmetzer’s team had found the net, which means that they have now scored in just one of their last four MLS games and that is a problem.
Even on their own patch, where they really have been imperious in years gone by, the Sounders have scored a paltry total of just three goals in their last six, failing to score in each of their last two at home. It is worrying times for Sounders fans, that’s for sure.
Not the same for Orlando
The visitors, in stark contrast, have scored their fair share of goals in recent weeks. Orlando rather pleasingly notched a couple against the Philadelphia Union last time out, which means that they have now scored nine in their last five. They have also managed to make it eight Major League Soccer games where they have scored, notching two or more in five of those eight. That is certainly an improvement on what the Sounders have come up with in the final third in recent times.
Even away from home, Pineda’s men have put the ball in the back of the net with regularity, scoring in each of their last four away games, grabbing a pleasing total of nine goals during that spell.
Sounders on top
When it comes to Lumen Field renewals of this fixture, the Sounders rarely miss. Since Orlando City debuted in Major League Soccer in 2015, they have visited this venue on three occasions, winning none, drawing one and losing two.
However, Orlando did pick up a first win over the Sounders towards the back end of last season, by three goals to two in front of a home crowd, thanks to a 91st minute penalty from Kyle Smith, who rather disappointingly has scored just one goal since.
Take a chance on the away team in the betting
If this game was happening at another time, the Sounders would be hard to go against, but as it is, they look very opposable here, especially at the current odds. They are badly out of form in the final third, and that’s not something that you can say about this Orlando City team. So it is easy to feel that a bet of ‘Orlando City Draw No Bet’ offers a smidgen of value at 19/10 (virtually 2/1) at best odds with the UK bookies.
First and foremost, the visitors really do seem to have something that the Sounders don’t at this moment in time and that can make all the difference here. They have a cohesive attack, one that is carrying a threat game in, game out. They have a host of players chipping in with goals, most of whom are in hot form right now. Four of their players have scored four or more goals this season, which by the current league standards, is very good. Duncan Mcguire has been in strong form, while in Martin Ojeda, who has four goals and four assists, they are never going to be short of someone to make something happen.
Of course, the Sounders have Jordan Morris, but he is injured and that is a huge blow, as is the fact that Cristian Roldan is sidelined as well. That pair are key to the Sounders being at their best and it is the absence of those two that goes some way to explaining their recent dip in offensive form.
With their extra final-third quality right now, the visitors can get a positive result and those looking to bet this game can get in on the action by taking ‘Orlando City Draw No Bet’ at appealing odds.
- Orlando City Draw No Bet @ 19/10 with BetVictor.
Bradley Gibbs is an experienced football writer. He is an expert analyst on Premier League, and all global football leagues & tournaments, for Just Bookies. Bradley has been published by many respected outlets, including USA Betting and the Racing & Football Outlook. He has also written betting strategy guides.