Dallas against Columbus comes down to a visiting spine that is short of bodies and short of legs. In Minnesota, both defences have lost key pieces in the same week, while both attacks still have their main routes to goal. Neither match is likely to be decided by tidy control.
Columbus arrive on their third match in seven days, one of them a 120-minute cup final. Camacho is still out at centre-back, Bangoura is suspended after his red card, Gomes is out or doubtful, and playmaker Mendez did not train early in the week. That is the core of both their deep block and their possession game.
Dallas under Quill play direct and win aerial duels. Musa against a back line without Camacho, and a Dallas bench that scored late against San Jose, should meet tired legs after the hour. Columbus need the points, so a Dallas lead pulls them forward into space. Their best route is Chambost's set-piece delivery, which has produced several corner goals lately, and a single dead-ball goal is the one way they can drag this level.
In Minnesota, Sporting Kansas City field a rebuilt back line again, with four defenders out. Minnesota lose their two holding midfielders, Trapp and Stroud. The hosts create volume and have a late bench wave, and SKC still create chances on the counter through Afrifa and Luiz. Minnesota's recent home games have been high-scoring, both sides concede almost every week, and neither has shown it can protect a lead.
That's why I'm siding with Dallas at home, and with plenty of goals in Minnesota.
