The first of the conference semi-finals, first leg. Preview on MLS website:
Quote:
D.C. United's MLS Cup defense begins in earnest this Friday, but at a time when stability and focus are paramount priorities for coach Peter Nowak and his staff, the club finds itself facing difficult questions both on and off the field.
Defensive consistency has been United's most pressing issue all season, and it takes on added importance going into a first-round playoff matchup with the Chicago Fire, who have scored more goals (10) against D.C. than any other team this year. Three of the four meetings between the clubs have been barnburners, as the sides exchanged 4-3 results in late June and combined for another five goals in United's 3-2 victory at Soldier Field in August.
"They've broken us down this whole year," said goalkeeper Nick Rimando. "So I guess we're going to try not to have a high-scoring game for our part, but we're going to try to find the goal as much as we can. They're a very attacking team, and they have some good forwards."
Incidentally, D.C. has never beaten Chicago in the postseason, as the Fire have accounted for half of the losses on United's otherwise outstanding 23-6 overall playoff record.
On top of those concerns, United has been less than overpowering in their last two matches, a 2-1 loss to the MetroStars and a 2-2 draw with Columbus, both at home and both against teams that D.C. has dominated in the past.
"I don't think we're worried," said midfielder Brian Carroll after Saturday's result. "I think we would prefer to have more momentum going into the playoffs, but the last two results are certainly going to be something in our minds for practice this upcoming week. We have to work harder and get sharper in order to get some results against Chicago."
Now, the team's preparation has been further complicated by some attention-grabbing remarks from United's most visible player, Freddy Adu.
After Tuesday's training session, the teenage phenom vented his considerable frustrations about his lack of playing time this season, and even broached the possibility of moving elsewhere in search of better opportunities.
His sentiments sparked a minor media frenzy, and having such discontent splashed across the headlines on the eve of the playoffs could be a cause for headaches among United's front office and coaching staff.
However, veteran midfielder Ben Olsen maintains that the commotion has little effect on his teammates, though Adu's timing leaves much to be desired.
"To our players, it's not a big issue," said Olsen on Wednesday. "Freddy spouted off and got some stuff off his chest. It was probably the wrong time, but as an athlete people sometimes need to get stuff off their chest. He shouldn't have used the media to do that, though, and he shouldn't have done it at this time, right before playoffs. We're trying to, as a team, compete for the MLS Cup. The individual issues aren't that important right now."
Olsen's even-handed response suggests that the team may prefer to deal with the matter internally, as the squad has had to develop its own approach to handling Adu's unique situation over the past two seasons.
"It's been a tough situation from the start, and it's uncharted territory, so everything people are dealing with here with Freddy is new stuff," he said. "We as a team are letting it be what it was -- him spouting off to the media a little bit and getting some stuff off his chest, and we'll go on with business as usual. It was a little bit of a focus today, just because the media was around, but it's done now and our minds are on Chicago."
Seems like trouble in the DC ranks... poor form, leaky defence, Adu throwing tantrums. Chicago has a decent H2H record against DC too. Hmm... Chicago @ 2.20 (from 10bet) is tempting.
Let's have some views from our 2 MLS experts, K & K (not you Komp )
Ohh man, those 2 teams always put up a great fight - many goals. Look at the results above! Basically, they go for an under2.5 game once in every 4 "fights" Not, only huge rivals but some history in between those two: DC's coach Novak used to be Chicago's super-star captain but took DC's position. Also the Bulgarian super-start Stoichkov came to USA by signing with Chicago but then moved to DC and finished his carrier over there... plus some other little things that make this game real sweet to watch. Of course, one can hear the over2.5 bet screaming from a mile away but this being a semi-final plus the remarks from DC's goalkepeer Nick Rimando. "So I guess we're going to try not to have a high-scoring game for our part, but we're going to try to find the goal as much as we can. They're a very attacking team, and they have some good forwards." is a bit worrying.
Obviously, with those stats and that info one would need some crazyness to bet on DC so it's either:
Over2.5
or
Chicago
Well, we should find how are things in my favourite MLS side - Fire - and then decide... So far I hear/see a good atmosphere, a lot of optimism and probably many people will attend the game in order to help the team. Tickets are cheap($25) plus the media likes playoffs so the trend of attendance going up towards the playoffs should continue. Usually, there are in between 10,000 to 14,000 people on Soldier field but for this game they may be as many as 20,000. We will see... be back later with more.
mhh. I looked to all stats and the mls site. It smells like a clear over mates!
21 goals this seaon! Only one under and that was tight 1-1...
Moreno and Gomez are available for DC tomorrow?Moreno shoot 16 goals and Gomez 11, thats a lot for the MLS.Moreno is the second best goalgetter in the major league at the moment.But I found no Fire Forwards on this list
Chicago is better at home than Washington away.DC end on the second place with 5 points more than Fire.54 points,but the most goals and points they managed at home.Away wasnīt good for washington. The once under was in Wahington... So I hope thats a point for the over .I add this at wettspezi,to get some points. ...
Yeah, looking at the stats an over 2.5 bet does look like a better bet than a simple 1 but....
1. As I said above it's the playoffs so teams will be more cautious now
2. Don;t like DC goalkepeer's statement about "we're going to try not to have a high-scoring game for our part"
Anyway, Kiko is asking about the tendency in here and logically the tendency is try not to lose(not to concede any goals) Just like the NBA games we have many unders in here when the playoffs hit... Here are the stats so far for the regular season:
League stats (based on regular season data only)
League Progress
Total
%
Matches played
192
100 %
Matches remaining
0
0 %
Outcomes
Total
%
Home team wins
92
48 %
Draws
44
23 %
Away team wins
56
29 %
Goals
Total
Per match
Goals scored
551
2.87
Home goals
306
1.59
Away goals
245
1.28
Over/Under 2.5 stats
Total
%
Over 2.5
110
57 %
Under 2.5
82
43 %
So a bit of a over-sh season in compare with the last one when as far as I remember was 50%-50% But take a look at this - last seasons results from the playoffs:
2. Don;t like DC goalkepeer's statement about "we're going to try not to have a high-scoring game for our part"
I read that too,but I asked myself why the goalkeeper make this statement?
A midfielder or the coach have to say this.The goalkeeper can only save the ball after mistakes,..heīs not the playmaker or the man with the tactic
4 meetings and two end 4-3.Moreno is the second best scorer,Gomez is in the Top 10.The better forwards are with the away team, Washington is the better team,chicago play at home.Thatīre all facts for an over. Sure,thats the playoffs.But the shoot goals are one of the important point to come into the next round . More than 2 goals isnīt difficult komb.
btw. you live in the USA. Go to the teams and tell them,that some european gamblers woould see an over .. more than 2 goals ... very easy
Little joke.Thereīs an indicent in the german Football.With some croatians and some german referees.Theyīre accusal cause they manipulated 26 matches in german lower league and german Cup.I donīt know if you heard of them...?.. Fuckin manipulations! I staked on these match,but the booker said,...no money back,we donīt knew that... OF COURSE FUCKER, If I knew that I staked on the other team ...
have a good night komb.Iīm away in my bed. 0:45 am .. I live in your future
Don't a good bit of reading up on this and have decided it is a no bet game to me.
Quite a few injuries for both sides, especially Chicago and i have seen nothing for the game which has caught my eye so im best to leave it alone now i reckon.
Im just going to save my cash for the NE game tomorow which i will definately be on tomorow night so will have a review up for that.
Aha... well I think I am gonna "fire" at an under bet in here but can't decide under2.5 @2.1 or under 2.75 @ 1.86. Will leave the winner alone... was thinkig Chicago on -0.25 but nah... So it's:
Fire - DC under2.5 @2.1(5Dimes and Fonbet) for 2/10
or
Fire - DC under2.75 @1.86(10Bet) for 3/10
Will check the way the prices go(up or down) and deicede then....
But don't worry yours is a nice solid bet for this particular match and mine is more of a playoff strategy. By that I mean I'll probably play all playoff games on under2.5 and sometimes even double up my bet... Just like a do with the most NBA playoff games...
Fire - DC under2.5 @2.1(5Dimes and Fonbet) for 3/10
It's gonna be my betting strategy to back every single playoff game on under2.5 in spite of the odds... and sometimes I'll even double my bet(rookie stuff I know ) but I wanna see where it will get me. Odds should be around 2.0 most of the time and don't expect to hit a streak of 3 over2.5 games in a row now when we have the playoffs mentality in most of the players/coaches...
So just for the playoffs:
Under2.5 bets: won/lost/pending <-> 0/0/1
Staked: 3 points
Profit: 0 points
think fire cant win this match .. AH fire -0.25 from -0.97 to -0.84,normaly when this happen, it end up draw or the other team will win.skip for me, will wait for the running odd after match start.
for tg. 2.75 +0.93
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MLS - 21 Oct: D C Utd - Chicago Fire
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Basically, they go for an under2.5 game once in every 4 "fights" 
. More than 2 goals isnīt difficult komb.
