MLS Week 7 Preview: Inter Miami, LAFC, Vancouver Whitecaps & More… | OneFootball

With fourteen fixtures this weekend, we split our coverage between myself and Josep Packsten. You can find his previews over here.

MLS is starting to heat up. Teams are starting to gel after the season kicked off a couple months ago, and the preseason rust is slowly coming off. This weekend, there are some tasty matches coming up, so let’s dive into them.

All games will be played on Saturday, except one. Kickoff times are listed and you can stream the matches on Apple TV.

Toronto vs Cincinnati

Kickoff: 1pm ET/10am PTBMO Field, Toronto, Canada

Toronto made a lot of investments into their team for this season, such as signing Josh Sargent, Walker Zimmerman, Benjamín Kuscevic, Djordje Mihailović, José Cifuentes, and Emilio Aristizábal.

They lost the first two games, but the team is starting to find rhythm and just won three out of last four games. In fact, they beat Cincinnati in Cincinnati a month ago so they will be feeling good heading into this game.

On the other hand, Cincinnati are in trouble– having conceded up to 18 goals in last four games. Their head coach Pat Noonan is feeling a lot of criticism from the fanbase. It’s hard to see them getting a result out of this game.

Prediction: Toronto 3-1 Cincinnati

Austin vs LA Galaxy

Kickoff: 2:30pm ET/11:30am PTQ2 Stadium, Austin, Texas

Austin are winless in last four games. But they did get draws against the likes of LAFC and Inter Miami, so they must be feeling good about themselves. Plus, Q2 Stadium is always electric.

Meanwhile, LA Galaxy also aren’t in a good form. In fact, they have only one win this season. Coming off of a 4-2 midweek loss down in Mexico, their week isn’t getting any easier by facing Austin on the road.

With both teams desperate for a win, this will be a competitive match. But Austin at home have a slight advantage over visitors from Southern California.

Prediction: Austin 1-0 LA Galaxy

Portland vs LAFC

Kickoff: 4:45pm ET/1:45pm PTProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon

Another team performing well under their expectations is Portland, who are in a terrible form. They’ve lost four of their last five games and Phil Neville is feeling the pressure.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side, you have LAFC scoring goals for fun. They just struck nine in last two games and they can’t wait to add more misery to this Portland side.

LAFC haven’t lost a game within 90 minutes since October, so it’s hard to see them losing this one. It should be an easy game for them with Heung-Min Son and Denis Bouanga adding more goals to their tally.

Prediction: Portland Timbers 0-3 LAFC

Inter Miami vs New York Red Bulls

Kickoff: 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PTNu Stadium, Miami, Florida

This is going to be another exciting matchup. Inter Miami have a good core of young South Americans combined with the leadership of Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Luis Suárez. Meanwhile, New York Red Bulls are also building a really young team under Michael Bradley.

With the beautiful Nu Stadium opening in Miami, there is so much excitement for the team down there. So expect another sell-out crowd and that’s going to help Miami players, who are desperate to get the first win at their new home.

The Red Bulls are in a good form. But they will have a difficult night down in Miami. Even with all the star power in pink, eyes will be glued to 17-year old sensation Julian Hall, who’s currently tied with Messi on goals scored (5).

Prediction: Inter Miami 3-1 New York Red Bulls

Vancouver Whitecaps vs NYCFC

Kickoff: 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PTBC Place, Vancouver, Canada

After back to back losses in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and MLS, Vancouver Whitecaps bounced back last week with a win over Portland Timbers. At home again this week, they are looking for another win.

It won’t be easy though. NYCFC are performing a lot better than Portland. They’ve lost just once this season, and that’s to Messi’s Miami.

This one could be very fun to watch. A draw with many goals seems a likely outcome.

Prediction: Vancouver 2-2 NYCFC

San Diego vs Minnesota United

Kickoff: 10:30pm ET/ 7:30pm PTSnapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California

After a great first season, San Diego are somewhat in a Sophomore Slump. They are winless in last four games, having conceded 12 goals.

Meanwhile for Minnesota, the James Rodríguez experiment isn’t quite working out yet. He’s just played a few minutes and is once again uncertain for the game this weekend.

With both teams not in a great form, it will be interesting to see which team comes out with a win. San Diego have an advantage being at home, and this seems like the right time for a bounce back.

Prediction: San Diego 2-1 Minnesota

Columbus Crew vs Orlando City

Kickoff: SUNDAY @ 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PTScotts Miracle-Gro Field, Columbus, Ohio

Last but not least, we have Columbus and Orlando taking place on Sunday.

After a terrible start to the season, Columbus got their first win last weekend away to Atlanta, and they want to keep the momentum going at home this week.

Meanwhile, Orlando are in trouble. They conceded 11 goals in last two games, and with departure of head coach Oscar Pareja, things are looking bleak at the moment. This should be an easy game for Columbus.

Prediction: Columbus 3-0 Orlando