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Football tips

Impact and Fire set up to put on goals extravaganza

Both Saputo Stadium sides are in free-scoring form

Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates scoring for Chicago Fire with Joao Meira (66) and Nemanja Nikolic
Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates scoring for Chicago Fire with Joao Meira (66) and Nemanja NikolicCredit: Dylan Buell

MLS
Sky Sports Football, midnight

There were four goals when Toronto FC beat Montreal at the Saputo Stadium on Sunday and a bet on over 3.5 goals looks good value again when the Impact host Chicago Fire.

The fourth-placed Fire are three berths above and five points superior to Montreal in the Eastern Conference. But they have lost four on the spin and the Impact, who have a game in hand, had won four on the spin before their 3-1 reverse to their table-topping Canadian rivals.

Montreal thumped Real Salt Lake City 3-1 a fortnight ago and before that they won 3-0 over both the Fire at Saputo and the Union in Philadelphia. That great run began with a 2-1 win over Orlando City at Saputo.

There have been four or more goals in six of Montreal’s 12 home MLS and Canadian Championship games this season and it is a similar story for Chicago’s road trips. There have been over 3.5 goals in six of the Fire’s 14 league and US Open cup away games.


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Since their 3-0 defeat at Saputo, Chicago have lost 3-1 at home to Toronto and 2-1 at home to expansion outfit Minnesota United. Before it they lost 3-1 at Columbus Crew and won 4-1 at home to New England.

Seven of the Fire’s last 11 games in all competitions at all venues have seen four goals.

Impact defender Shaun Francis, goalkeeper James Pantemis and midfielders Samuel Pierre and David Choiniere are involved in the Canada v Jamaica friendly in Toronto. Chicago could be without five defenders through injury as well as keeper Jorge Bava, while midfielder Dax McCarty was in the USA squad for their World Cup qualifier with Costa Rica on Friday night.

Rival kingpin strikers Ignacio Piazzi and Nemanja Nikolic are primed to put on a performance though.

Recommendation
Over 3.5 goals
2pts 11-8 Betfair, BetBright, Paddy Power

Bet on this match at soccerbase.com

Max OramRacing Post Reporter

Published on 1 September 2017inFootball tips

Last updated 22:01, 1 September 2017

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