MLS Soccer Predictions – Seattle vs. Salt Lake – SATURDAY APRIL 10, 2010
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Onto the week’s MLS preview and prediction for the week.
MLS Betting Odds – Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake:
Seattle Sounders: (1-1-0) +275
Real Salt Lake: (1-1-0) -110
Draw: +230
The Seattle Sounders will travel to Utah to take on last year’s MLS Cup winner Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at the friendly confines of Rio Tinto Stadium.
The two sides faced off twice last year with the home team winning each match and the visiting team failing to score a goal. Both teams have 1-1-0 record and both have scored twice as many goals as they have allowed this season.
Now Real Salt Lake will return to Tinto, where in both 2008 and 2009 they lost just a single match. RSL went 11-12-7 last season, barely making the playoffs then narrowly beating out Colorado and D.C. United for the league’s eighth and final playoff spot. The side went on to upset the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup for their first championship in club history.
Salt Lake’s starting XI is almost the same as it was in the final match of 2009 and is led by three-time All-Star midfielder Kyle Beckerman, who has 19 goals and 26 assists in 83 starts. Beckerman along with veteran midfielder Javier Morales, who continues to add to his league-leading scoring tally, will be expected to shoulder the most of the offensive load. They will have some help from newcomer Alvaro Saborio who appears to be adjusting well to Salt Lake’s offense and should start scoring goals soon. The defense is showing well too, after shutting out San Jose 3-0 and holding Houston to only two shots on goal in a 2-1 loss in their previous match. 
Seattle meantime, finished strong on the road last season, winning four and losing only once in their final five road trips. Its final mark of 5-5-5 was third best in MLS. The Sounders won its initial away match last season, 2-0 at Toronto FC. Over the final two months of the regular season it defeated the L.A. Galaxy (2-0), D.C. United (2-1), Columbus Crew (1-0) and Kansas City Wizards (3-2) all on the road.
The Sounders pack a nasty punch up top, led by Osvaldo Alonso and Brad Evans. The will get support from 2009 MLS newcomer, 22-year-old forward Fredy Montero who finished third in the league with 12 goals and four game-winners last season.
After defeating newbie Philadelphia United 2-0 to open the season, the Sounders struggled offensively, surrendering their first goal of the season in a 1-0 loss to New York last Saturday night.
Seattle is a strong side and has proven they can beat some of the best squads away from Qwest Field, but Salt Lake are playing well and are even better at home. I expect an early one-goal lead, as Real Salt Lake downs the Sounders 2-1.
There you have it, this week’s Seattle vs. Salt Lake MLS rundown. Watch for more of my soccer betting odds, predictions and tips here at Capperpicks.com.
