The 2017 Major League Soccer season has reached the crucial playoff stage and there is all to play for as the top six teams from each conference enter this round of the competition. From here the MLS season is played on a pure knockout format and the first knockout round is contested between the teams in relation to their seeding. The first knockout round match will take place between Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls, at Toyota Park, Bridgeview. The winner of this match will progress to meet New York City FC in the conference semi-finals.
MLS – Toyota Park, Illinois – Thursday 26th October 2017 – 01:30 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 11/4 at Ladbrokes |
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Chicago Fire
New York Red BullsChicago Fire Form
Chicago Fire come into this match on the back of some inconsistent form. They have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their previous 5 matches and this is a pattern which is repeated through much of September and October. However, prior to the 1-0 win over Montreal Impact on the 3rd September, Chicago Fire lost 6 of their 7 MLS games and they did well to recover from what was a very poor run of results to claim a place in the knockout round of the playoffs. Chicago Fire will be delighted they are playing this match on home turf, as they have lost only 2 matches at home this season. They have scored a goal in each of their last 32 home MLS games but have kept 1 clean sheet in their last 7.
New York Red Bulls Form
New York Red Bulls finished 6th in the Eastern Conference but managed to turn around their form towards the end of the regular season. Having enjoyed a spell of 6 wins in 8 MLS games, New York Red Bulls went 8 games without a win between the 19th August and 7th October. Thankfully they recovered at the end of the season to pick up 2 wins and a draw, which was enough to claim the final spot in the playoffs. Away from home in the MLS, New York Red Bulls have won only 1 of their last 7 games, which was towards the end of the campaign at bottom team DC United. They have scored in 9 of their last 10 away games but have conceded in each of the last 7.
Team News
Chicago Fire have several players on the treatment table including John Goossens, Jorge Bava, Daniel Johnson, Christian Dean and Michael de Leeuw. There are also doubts over Bastian Schweinsteiger. New York Red Bulls will travel without Gideon Baah, Mike Grella, Aurelien Collin and Connor Lade who are all injured.
Top Betting Tips
Looking at the form of the two teams, there should be plenty of goal mouth action in this game and do not be surprised to see both teams find the back of the net. Both teams to score is 4/7 with Ladbrokes. Given their strong home record this season, Chicago Fire must come into this match as the favourites to progress. New York Red Bulls have found life tough on the road in recent months and you can get 3/1 with William Hill for Chicago Fire to win and both teams to score.
Nemanja Nikolic of Chicago Fire was the top goal scorer in the regular season and you can get 7/2 with Ladbrokes for the Hungarian striker to open the scoring.