With the 2017 Major League Soccer season just over the half way point, there is plenty left to play for in the Eastern Conference. With the top two teams going into the Conference semi-finals and the next four progressing to the knockout round, both New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact have something to fight for in the second half of the campaign.
New York Red Bulls will be eying the possibility of a place in the top two and the Conference semi-finals whereas Montreal Impact must make a place in the top six their goal for the season.
New York Red Bulls have won the Eastern Conference 5 times but have never gone on to win the MLS Cup. Montreal Impact have yet to win the Eastern Conference and it looks unlikely that will change this season.
New York Red Bulls Form
New York Red Bulls have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and if they managed to start the season in the same they would be out of sight at the top of the Eastern Conference.
For the last two years they have started the season poorly but last year they came good in the second half of the campaign and the same might happen in 2017. Having tasted defeat in the New York derby in June, New York Red Bulls have embarked on a 5-match unbeaten run and defeated Minnesota United 3-0 away from home last week.
New York Red Bulls have scored 8 goals in their last 2 games, with just 1 coming in reply.
Montreal Impact Form
The Canadian’s also suffered a poor start to the season but have failed to recover in the same way as their hosts.
Their 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Dallas last week mean it is just 2 wins from their last 7 MLS games, with 2 draws and 3 defeats completing that run of fixtures. Away from home in the MLS, Montreal Impact have won only 1 game from the 10 they have played in the Eastern Conference.
Their only away win came at DC United, who currently sit bottom of the Conference, 5 points adrift of the team above them.
Team News
Kemar Lawrence is suspended for New York Red Bulls and both Gideon Baah and Mike Grella are injured. Bradley Wright-Phillips is fit to start the match up-front and will receive support from Sacha Kljestan in midfield.
Montreal Impact have several injury concerns ahead of this game with Matteo Mancosu, Victor Cabrera, Andres Romero and Shamit Shome all set to miss out. However, Patrice Bernier has returned from international duty and will start in centre midfield.
Top Betting Tips
With New York Red Bulls finally hitting some good form and Montreal Impact struggling away from home all season, there can only be one winning from this match. New York Bulls are 4/7 with Ladbrokes to win the game.
Despite only winning 1 away match this season, Montreal Impact have scored in 8 of their last 9 away MLS games. New York Red Bulls have conceded in 6 of their last 7 home MLS games, so New York Red Bulls to win and both teams to score at 2/1 with Ladbrokes makes a good bet.
Montreal Impact’s last 3 away MLS defeats have been by a margin of 2 goals or more and you can get 7/2 with Ladbrokes for New York Red Bulls to win by 2 goals.