LAFC vs. Minnesota United Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 7/28/21
LAFC vs Minnesota United
The Los Angeles football club (LAFC) was held to a 2-2 draw at home on Saturday by the Vancouver Whitecaps. LAFC gave up two goals in the first 38 minutes of the first half before getting one back as Carlos Vela scored in the 40th minute for the club. Jose Cervantes added the equalizer in the 75th minute for LAFC and the club shared the spoils at home. LAFC will be without Mahala Opoku and Mark-Anthony Kaye, while Daniel Musovski is questionable.
Minnesota United defeated the Portland Timbers 2-1 at home on Saturday in their most recent MLS fixture. Portland opened the scoring in the 10th minute but Chase Gasper leveled the score with a goal in the 74th minute for Minnesota and Robin Lod scored the winner in the 85th minute for United. Minnesota took 28 shots during the match but only six were on target while Portland took only eight shots with three on target. Minnesota will be without Dayne St. Clair, while Michael Boxall is questionable
LAFC Needs Better Play from its Backline
LAFC is fifth in the Western Conference standings of the MLS with a record of 6-4-5, 22 points and a +3 goal difference. LAFC has given up 17 goals this season and it's back line and goalkeepers must tighten ranks against Minnesota. Part of the problem may be a lack of consistency at goalkeeper as Pablo Sisniega and Tomas Romero share duties with Sisniega playing in eight matches and Romero playing in 7. With 17 goals conceded, LAFC is allowing an average of 1.13 goals per match but has allowed two goals in three of its last six fixtures.
On attack, LAFC has scored 20 goals this season for an average of 1.33 per match. LAFC has scored two goals in three of its last four matches. Jose Fuentes and Diego Rossi have each scored five goals to lead LAFC and Carlos Vela has scored 4. Vela has four assists to lead LAFC and three teammates have two assists each. LAFC has scored at least one goal in each of its last 10 MLS fixtures.
Minnesota Climbing Conference Standings
Minnesota United started the Season poorly with four consecutive losses, but since then have battled back to sixth place with a record of 6-3-5, 21 points and a -2 goal difference. Minnesota has scored at least one goal in 10 of its last 11 MLS matches, but is averaging only 1.07 goals per match. Robin Lod is the leading goal scorer for Minnesota with 4. Ramon Abila, Adrien Hunou and Franco Fragapane have each scored two. Fragapane is the assists leader with three.
Minnesota's backline and keepers played poorly to start the season giving up four goals in the season opener to Seattle and over the first four matches allowed a total of 10 goals, but since that time have allowed just seven goals over the last 10 matches. Number one keeper Tyler Miller has appeared in 10 of Minnesota's 14 matches and allowed a total of 7 goals.
Pick: Minnesota United +480
Minnesota started the season poorly, losing each of the first four matches and giving up a total of 10 goals during that span including losing 4-0 in its season opener to the Seattle Sounders. However, since that time, Minnesota has allowed an average of 0.70 goals per match. Minnesota is coming off an impressive 2-1 victory at home over the Portland Timbers and prior to that shutout the first-place Seattle Sounders 1-0. In contrast, LAFC struggled at home this past weekend in a 2-2 against the 12 place Vancouver Whitecaps. LAFC has two losses and one draw in its last three matches against Minnesota
Total: Under 3
LAFC has received excellent scoring from Diego Rossi and Jose Cervantes, but will be facing a Minnesota United back line and goalkeeper that have allowed an average of only 0.70 goals per match over the last 10 matches and have posted clean sheets in three of the last six matches. The total has finished under the 2.5 goals per match threshold in 8 of Minnesota United's last 10 matches.
Promotional Summary:
Fifth place LAFC faces a difficult challenge at home on Wednesday when hosting sixth place Minnesota United.