San Jose Earthquakes v Dallas: MLS betting preview and tip

FreeSports, 8.30pm Saturday

It’s not easy to take a strong view on any MLS match at the moment given the amount of international withdrawals which are afflicting all teams.

San Jose, for example, get ready to shackle western conference rivals Dallas in need of a defensive reshuffle because of national team call-ups.

Dallas, meanwhile, have got six players away on duty for their countries including their pivotal midfield duo of Bryan Acosta and Carlos Gruezo.

Form figures suggest the improving Quakes – one loss in eight – are the bet against their Lone Star rivals who had gone winless in six straight before last Sunday’s timely 2-1 success over Seattle.

And San Jose have lost just one of the last eight meetings with Dallas.

But selection headaches equal punting headaches, and it may pay to back Dallas to score a first-half goal at 5-4.

The absence of San Jose centre-back Harold Cummings and left-back Nick Lima (back-up stopper Guram Kashia is another player on club leave) certainly presents Matias Almeyda with a conundrum.

And any misunderstandings at the back will be latched on by Dallas’s danger men Michael Barrios and Dominique Badji.

At the other end, Chris Wondolowski has scored all seven of the Earthquakes' goals in their last three matches, which adds to the suspicion that this could be a high-scoring contest.

Recommendation
Dallas over 0.5 first-half goals
1pt 5-4 Coral

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