Orlando to edge out east coast rivals Philadelphia
MLS Final Series Play-Off hopefuls Orlando City and Philadelphia Union square off late on Thursday evening local time at the Exploria Stadium in Florida, with just a single point separating the two sides before kick-off. Though both teams have reasonably good defensive records to fall back on, this encounter should be a very attacking affair, and all the more entertaining for it. Read our preview here:
Nani?!
Colombian-born head coach Óscar Pareja will have to make do without the explosive Daryl Dike for this match, and perhaps several more after it with the CONCACAF Gold Cup entering its knockout phase over the weekend. The 21 year old excelled on loan at EFL Championship with Barnsley, helping the unfancied Tykes into fifth place and a narrow defeat in the play-off semis to Swansea City. Much of the creative and goalscoring burden in his absence will fall squarely on veteran Portuguese wide forward Nani's shoulders. The former contemporary of Cristiano Ronaldo at club and international level is enjoying an Indian summer stateside, racking up seven goals in 869 league minutes during the 2021 campaign to date. He has proven to be exceptionally difficult to mark, cutting inside from the left on his right foot, making runs beyond the ball, and generally turning in performances that have raised the standard of his Lions teammates.
Tasty Jamiro
Availability issues will bite hard for the visitors too, especially with three of their stars still on duty with Jamaica at the Gold Cup. Long-time head coach Jim Curtin led the Pennsylvania outfit to first overall place across both conferences in 2020, only to surprisingly fall at the first hurdle in the MLS Cup to eighth placed New England Revolution. Once again, they are in the hunt for success, with Cape Verdean playmaker Jamiro Monteiro pulling the strings in a narrow 4-2-2-2 formation. Kacper Przybyłko is normally on the end of any chances created, and is currently at the time of writing the leading scorer in the CONCACAF Champions League, immeasurably helping his team to the semi-finals where they are the last non-Mexican club standing.
Purple power
Being without Dike is a big blow for the hosts, and it remains to be seen just how long they can retain his services, much in the same way Canadian striker Cyle Larin used his goalscoring exploits as a springboard for a move to a European league. Alexandre Pato, who has had a very strange career trajectory, could make the bench after another characteristically long injury lay-off, which will be a further boost to their chances. 888sport have odds of 2.65 for over three goals in the 90 minutes.
