The last game of Matchday 2 in the 2020 MLS season is a banger. The 2019 version of Los Angeles FC was the most dominant regular season team in the history of the league. LAFC ran roughshod over its opponents on its way to the Supporters’ Shield and set a record for most points in a season and secured the largest goal differential we’ve seen in the MLS. They were stunned in the playoffs by eventual MLS Cup winners Seattle, but they were the favorite to win the MLS in 2020 per the soccer betting odds. LAFC is already 1-0 this season, and the club will look to move to 2-0 at home against the Philadelphia Union this Sunday.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Providence Park in Portland, Oregon at 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 8, 2020. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
| TEAM | ODDS |
| Los Angeles FC | -244 |
| Philadelphia Union | +566 |
| Draw | +396 |
| Over/Under | 3 and 3.5 |
Odds Analysis
Philadelphia lost its season opener against FC Dallas last week. The Union were unable to create the same quality chances as Dallas, and that showed in the second half. Goalkeeper Andre Blake played well in the first 45 minutes for the game to enter halftime 0-0, but he couldn’t hold Dallas off forever. In the 61st minute, Zdenek Ondrasek broke open the scoreless deadlock with a deft turn and fire just outside the box that caught everyone off-guard. Super substitute Paxton Pomykal ensured that Dallas would pick up all three goals with a sly goal in the first minute of injury time that led to a 2-0 loss for the Union.
Los Angeles FC was expected to hammer expansion franchise Inter Miami in the season opener. That didn’t happen, but LAFC managed to grab all three points with a 1-0 victory thanks to Carlos Vela’s lovely goal in the 44th minute. The Supporters’ Shield winners looked a little flat after their 3-0 win over Club Leon in the CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 last week, and they allowed Inter Miami to have two excellent chances in the opening ten minutes before tightening up in the back.
Key Absences
The Union won’t have two players available for the match on Sunday. Defender Kai Wagner is dealing with a lower leg injury, while forward Andrew Wooten has a strained quad that kept him out of the first week of action.
Two of LAFC’s complimentary pieces up front will be sidelined for the foreseeable future too. Adama Diomande suffered a broken foot early last month, and there is no timetable on when he will return. Bradley Wright-Phillips will also miss an undisclosed amount of time as he recovers from a sports hernia.
Player to Watch
Vela had the best season in MLS history in 2019. He broke Josef Martinez’s year-old single season scoring record by notching 34 goals in 31 games, and he also added 15 assists to help LAFC smash all sorts of offensive records. The 31-year-old was named the MVP in a landslide, and he showed that he hasn’t lost anything over the offseason. He notched a brace in LAFC’s 3-0 win over Club Leon last Thursday, and he is the overwhelming favorite to win the Golden Boot again in 2020.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Even without Diomande and BWP, LAFC has more than enough talent to pick up a comfortable victory on Sunday. Vela and Diego Rossi are the best one-two punch in the MLS, and Philadelphia’s back line looked shaky against Dallas last weekend.
Major League Soccer Odds: Los Angeles FC 2, Philadelphia Union 0
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
