Visitors Aiming for Top in East
International friendly games can be very boring, but worry no more: Major League Soccer is here to save the day. The weekend, to be more precise. There are three games scheduled between Saturday and Sunday, including Charlotte FC vs New York Red Bulls.
Yes, we’re talking about a regular-season game, but a lot will be on the line. If the Mints win, they’ll climb to the playoff-zone. On the other hand, if the Red Bulls win, they’ll climb into first place in the Eastern Conference.
The Mints, who come in as the betting online underdogs, also seek revenge. The Red Bulls recently eliminated them from the U.S. Open Cup.
Let’s check the latest Soccer news, stats, injury reports, and MLS odds for Charlotte FC vs Red Bulls. We’ve plenty of predictions for you to consider.
Charlotte FC: Stronger at Home
MLS’ newest franchise is still learning. Learning how to balance the force, a Jedi would say. The Mints have been considerably better at home (5-0-2). In fact, they remain winless when playing on the road (0-1-6).
Here’s another good example: No other team has scored less goals than the Mints with 13, but they own the fifth best defensive unit after allowing 18 goals in 14 matches. That being said, it’s no surprise to see them in eighth place, two points behind seventh. Let’s not forget that the top seven teams in each conference advance to the postseason.
Most recently, Charlotte suffered a heartbreaking loss against the Seattle Sounders. The Mints started winning with a goal from Ben Bender in the first half. The defense was able to hold out until the 72nd minute, when Jordan Morris evened the score. Eight minutes later, Raul Ruidiaz scored the winning goal for Seattle.
On the other hand, the Mints defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 in their last home game. Andre Shinyashiki and Daniel Rios were the scorers. As you can see, this is one of those cases in which playing at home can really make the difference.
Last, but not least, head coach Christian Lattanzio took over during the international break. All players are eager to prove their worth. That’s why the Mints at +220 can be considered a tempting soccer betting underdog.
Red Bulls: Nothing to Envy
As expected, New York City FC leads the way in the Eastern Conference. The Citizens have always been among the favorites to win the MLS Cup. However, the New York Red Bulls are also having a good season. They sit in fourth place, three points behind the Citizens. Plus, the Red Bulls have scored only one goal less (25 to 24) than the reigning champs.
Prior to the international break, the Red Bulls crushed DC United 4-1. Luquinhas scored the first two goals. He was followed by Lewis Morgan and Jose Antonio Vazquez (own goal). That was the seventh game, in all competitions, in which the Red Bulls scored three or more goals.
That was New York’s first victory at home. Curiously enough, the Red Bulls have been considerably better when playing on the road. They own a 5-1-1 record (1-4-2 at home), scoring in six of those games and finishing with a clean sheet twice.
Morgan is the main reason for you to consider including the Red Bulls (+115) in your soccer picks. He leads the team with six goals, making him one of the best acquisitions of the winter. Morgan, Luquinhas and Patryk Klimala have the potential to become the best attacking trio in the league.
Charlotte FC vs Red Bulls Head-to-Head
- Previous Matches: 1
- Charlotte FC Victories: 0 (1 goal)
- New York Red Bulls Victories: 1 (3 goals)
- Draws: 0
Regarding the MLS, this will be the first meeting. Nevertheless, these two collided in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup on May 25. The Red Bulls played as the host and fulfilled their role as online gambling favorites with a 3-1 victory. Klimala, Dylan Nealis and Tom Barlow scored for the home side, while Rios connected for the visitors.
Charlotte FC vs Red Bulls Game Information
- Date: Saturday
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte,NC
- Charlotte FC vs Red Bulls Live Stream: fuboTV
Charlotte FC vs Red Bulls Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Charlotte FC | +½ -145 | +240 | 2½-120o | 1½+190o
1½-240u |
| New York Red Bulls | -½ +115 | +115 | 2½-110u | 1½+105o
1½-135u |
| Draw | +250 |
Charlotte FC vs Red Bulls Prediction
Lattanzio has had enough time to implement a new system and some other ideas, but not enough to establish a winning mentality. That doesn’t mean Charlotte FC won’t put up a good fight. Quite the contrary, but we believe the New York Bulls will be able to get a point. After all, their attacking unit is highly motivated. Plus, the total has gone over in four of the Red Bulls’ seven games when playing on the road, which is why we expect a highly entertaining matchup.
Score Prediction: Charlotte FC 2, New York Red Bulls 2
