New York City vs Vancouver Whitecaps Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

The Eastern Conference’s second placed side plays host to Western Conference play-off hopefuls Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS on Sunday, and the bookmakers have the home side down as the clear favourites to take all three points. Fourteen points separate the two clubs before kick-off, but with New York City boasting a better defensive and attacking record that gap is likely to increase this weekend.

New York City are on course to equal their second place finish of last season, following another campaign full of goals and great defensive displays. Only one team has scored more goals in the Eastern Conference than New York City this season, and just two can boast a better defensive record. Sunday’s hosts have achieved all this despite veteran striker David Villa missing almost half of their games through injury.

Both Moralez and Tajouri have stepped up to the mark and provided the goals needed to continue New York City’s assault on the Eastern Conference title, scoring eight goals each just like Villa. However, the solid defensive displays of the New York City backline cannot be overlooked, especially in recent weeks. New York City have won four of their last six matches and lost the other two, and each of those victories were accompanied by a clean sheet.

Former Atalanta midfielder Moralez was brought to the MLS because of his reputation for creating goals, something the Argentinian has lived up to with seven assists so far this season. However, the diminutive midfielder has already surpassed his goals tally of last season and needs one more goal to beat his own personal record set when playing for Vélez Sarsfield in his homeland.

Vancouver Whitecaps have had no problem scoring goals this season, in fact they have netted one more than New York City as things stand. The ageing Kei Kamara leads the way in front of goal for the Canadians this season with a total of nine in the MLS so far, and 17-year old midfielder Davies looks set for a bright future having claimed eight assists and chipped in with five goals for Vancouver.

Despite some excellent individual performances in recent weeks, Vancouver Whitecaps’ own form has been rather hit and miss of late, with three wins and three defeats from their last six league and cup games. Vancouver certainly possess the talent to cause new York City problems this weekend, but the Canadians are clearly much happier in the comfort of their own backyard as their last four away games have each ended in defeat.

Vancouver’s biggest weakness is their defence which has conceded forty-four goals this season, the joint worst in the Western Conference alongside Minnesota United. For Vancouver Whitecaps to pick up all three points this weekend they are most likely going to have perform to their very best up front and attempt to limit their hosts to as few chances as possible, but that seems highly unlikely.

We’re confident that New York City will win this weekend and that the hosts will keep another clean sheet in the process. The hosts last four wins all produced clean sheets and their defence has been so tight at home that they wont fear Vancouver’s attacking threats. The visitors are in the midst of a poor run of form away from home which now reads four defeats on the run, while New York City are unbeaten at home in their last seven league games. As for a final score, we’re backing New York to claim a narrow, yet comfortable 2-0 win on Sunday.