San Diego will look to maintain their position at the top of the Western Conference table in the early hours of Thursday morning as they welcome struggling Toronto FC to the Snapdragon Stadium in a cross-conference clash.
June proved to be a terrific month for San Diego, as they followed up their 2-0 win at home to Austin FC by winning three successive away games at Minnesota United (1-4), Vancouver Whitecaps (3-5) and FC Dallas (2-3).
However, they lost their opening match in July, as they’ve lost 3-4 at home to the Houston Dynamo despite leading 3-2 in the 85th minute, but that appeared to be a blip, as they won 1-2 at Soldier Field against the Chicago Fire, a result that not only landed Sunday’s Football Bet of the Day, but also a couple of winners for our man Darren Plant.
Toronto failed to record back-to-back home wins for the first time last season in the early hours of Sunday morning, as they conceded a stoppage-time penalty to draw 1-1 against fellow strugglers Atlanta United.
The Reds also saw their three-match unbeaten run away from home come to an end in their previous road trip, as they were beaten 3-1 at New York City FC on an evening where all three of my selections landed.
How the bookies view it: San Diego clear favourites
Unsurprisingly, Western Conference leaders San Diego are heavy favourites here, with BoyleSports pricing them at 3/10 to claim all three points.
The same firm has a shock Toronto win at 13/2, whilst a draw is also unlikely, with that 4/1.
Head to head: Maiden meeting
With San Diego FC being a new expansion team in the MLS this season, it’s hardly surprising that this is their first-ever meeting with Toronto FC, especially given that both play in different conferences.
Players to watch: Dreyer to deliver again?
San Diego’s main man this season, Anders Dreyer, has been in terrific form this season, with the Danish number 10 providing a whopping 15 assists and 11 goals, including a brace at Chicago Fire last week and is 11/10 at PaddyPower to get on the scoresheet here.
Despite only starting three times in MLS this season, Milan Iloski has fired in 10 goals for SDFC this season, including the opener in their last home match against The Dynamo, and is 5/4 at Bet365 to score once again here.
Predicted line-ups:
San Diego will once again be without defender Andres Reyes, but Paddy McNair is back available after having played the first half at Soldier Field last time out.
Toronto will be without long-term injuree Nicksoen Gomis, whilst Jonathan Osorio is also a doubt.
San Diego FC: Sisniega, Verhoeven, McVey, Pilcher, Bombino, Valakari, de la Torre, Tverskov, Dreyer, Lozano, Iloski
Toronto FC: Johnson, Thompson, Rosted, Petretta, Laryea, Coello, Dominguez, Longstaff, Spicer, Corbeanu, Brynhildsen
Anything else catch the eye?
Mikey Varas’s visitors are the highest scorers across the entire MLS, firing in 46 goals across their opening 22 matches, with 22 (48%) of them coming on home soil.
SDFC have scored 2+ goals in 15 (71%) of their MLS contests this season, including in 10 of their last 12 and 13 of their past 17, but a repeat pays just 3/10 at BoyleSports.
Instead, backing them to score 3+ goals pays 1/1 with the same firm, a selection that has landed in four of the Western Conference leaders' past five matches, whilst the visiting reds shipped three goals at Yankee Stadium in their most recent away day.
San Diego FC vs Toronto FC Betting Tips & Predictions
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