Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Toronto FC Betting Preview
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- Category: Soccer
- Created: Friday, 21 August 2020 14:31
On Friday Toronto FC will host Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BMO Field for the second time in four days in Phase 1 of MLS’s return to the regular season. Since teams aren’t allowed by governments to cross the Canada/US border, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal Impact will play three games against each other with a berth in the 2020 Canadian Championship final on the line. Friday’s game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+
These teams met on Tuesday night with Pablo Piatti scoring in both halves in his BMO Field debut and Nick DeLeon adding the final goal in Toronto’s 3-0 win. In their previous 10 MLS matches each team won four games and they had a pair of draws. In the Canadian Championship Toronto has six wins while Vancouver has one and they have five draws.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Outlook: Bounce Back
Vancouver wasn’t expected to do anything in the tournament in Orlando especially when forwards Fredy Montero, Tosaint Ricketts, Lucas Cavallini, midfielder Janio Bikel and defenders Andy Rose and Georges Mukumbilwa stayed home. Then goalie Maxime Crepeau broke his thumb and backup Bryan Meredith left after a death in the family. But 21-year old keeper Thoams Hasal led the Whitecaps to a win over Chicago 2-0 before a penalty kicks loss to Sporting KC in the Round of 16.
Cavallini and Rose started Tuesday while Ricketts came off the bench but the other players are still out. Hasal remained in goal ahead of Meredith but allowed three goals and made five saves against Toronto and we could see a goalie switch before Friday.
The Whitecaps returned to action in eighth place in the West and dropped three points Tuesday night. Cristian Dajome leads the team with two goals while Manuel Milinkovic has two assists. Hasal has one win and one clean sheet while allowing four goals in three games.
Toronto FC Outlook: Repeat Performance
Toronto had a great game all the way around on Tuesday with three goals and a clean sheet. That was exactly what Greg Vanney’s squad needed after playing below expectations in the Orlando MLS is Back Tournament. While Toronto did advance out of the group stage they were thumped by NYCFC 3-1 in the knockout stage and forward Jozy Altidore did not start or score in their four games.
With five points from the group stage in Orlando, Toronto entered the restart in second place in the Eastern Conference. They have won 16 straight regular season games dating back to August 3, 2019 and the last time they lost at BMO Field was July 20, 2019. That streak is tied for the fifth longest in MLS history.
Ayo Akinola, out with a hamstring injury, leads the team with five goals on the season while both Piatti and Richie Laryea have two. Alejandro Pozuelo leads Toronto with five assists while goalie Quentin Westberg has two clean sheets and two wins between the pipes. Altidore has yet to score this season but clearly has the pedigree to get things going and contribute to the Reds.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Toronto FC Betting Lines By Scoresandstats
Vancouver Whitecaps FC to win: +750
Toronto FC to win: -335
Draw: +425
Over/Under: 3 goals (O +110, U -140)
Toronto’s offense is starting to round into form after a couple slow games in Orlando as they add Piatti to the Altidore-Laryea threat. Meanwhile Vancouver is short handed and has a questionable goalie situation and trouble scoring. Despite their Cinderella status in Orlando it is tough to see the Whitecaps ending Toronto’s regular-season and home winning streaks.
Head to our favorite pay per head bookie at PayPerHead247 and take the over 3 goals (+110).
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