Minnesota United vs. Toronto Preview, Odds, Predictions (June 3)

Initial Thoughts

Minnesota United are winless in back-to-back Western Conference fixtures. But TFC’s dreadful form and off the field drama means Bob Bradley’s side arrive at Allianz Field as massive +320 underdogs on Saturday.

The Narrative

19 shots. 7 on target. 58% possession. Wednesday night’s game against Chicago Fire felt like yet another missed opportunity for Toronto FC.

Bob Bradley’s side could realistically have been 3-0 up at half-time after Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi all went close inside the first 30 minutes.

If just one of those efforts had found a way in, Toronto would have racked up back-to-back wins for the first time this season, and Bernardeschi’s return to the fold would have been a cause for celebration in the stands and reconciliation in the dressing room.

Instead - and not for the first time this season - the 0-0 scoreline leaves Bob Bradley and Co. with more questions than answers. 

Is the side more balanced with only one highly paid Italian star in the starting lineup? Can Insigne play to his strengths while Bernardeschi is on the field? Can the squad thrive and develop under Bob Bradley’s leadership? And will the Reds be able to put together a decent run of form at any point this season?

Two goals in their last six games is a desperately poor return for a side with this much attacking talent. And in 13th place on 17 points, TFC have played one more game than both of the teams below them.

Despite having lost one more game overall, Minnesota United are having a far better time of it over in the Western Conference. Adrian Heath’s side are 7th in the league standings, just inside the playoff places. 

After going unbeaten for the opening five matches, the Loons flew into heavy weather and took only two points from their next six.

Two 1-0 wins against Houston and Portland got Minnesota back on track in mid May. Before a 1-1 draw at home to Salt Lake city and a 2-1 loss away to Austin in midweek put a stop on the Loons’ momentum yet again.

Despite that, the home side come into this one a massive favourites, with Toronto’s struggles on the road making them +320 underdogs heading into Saturday’s fixture.

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Nuts and Bolts

Bob Bradley’s side have failed to pick up a single win on the road this season and they’ve lost each of their last three fixtures on the road.

On top of that, the Reds have found the net on only two occasions across their last five away matches, with both of those goals coming in a 4-2 loss against Philadelphia Union back in April.

Five of Minnesota’s six wins this season have come on the road, but their home form has also been solid. The Loons have lost only once at the Allianz Field all campaign and they’ve picked up 4 points from a possible six in their last two outings at home.

Adrian Heath’s side racked up 22 shots in their 2-1 loss to Austin on Wednesday, and they had 53% of the possession in their 1-1 tie with Real Salt Lake last weekend.

All that points to a team high on both confidence and resilience. Which are just two of the qualities utterly lacking at Toronto FC.

Homestand Picks

All odds courtesy of Northstar Bets

Pre-Packed Parlay: Full Time Minnesota United & Under 4.5 goals (+112)

It’s hard to see how the home side wont make light work of this struggling TFC lineup, and this Pre-Packed Parlay offers good value for a low scoring Minnesota win on Saturday.

Both teams not to score (-103)

With TFC failing to find the net in five of their last six outings, we’re backing the Loons to rack up their third clean sheet of the season at Allianz Field.

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