New York City FC vs Philadelphia Union Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 7/9/2020

by Josh Schonwald - 7/8/2020

Game: New York City FC vs Philadelphia Union

Date: Thursday, July 9, 2020

Location: ESPN Sports Complex in Orlando, FL

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: New York City FC (+163) Philadelphia Union (+137)

Alexander Ring and New York City FC (0-0-2, 13th in the Eastern Conference) are headed to ESPN Sports Complex on Thursday where they'll meet the Philadelphia Union (0-1-1, 10th in the Eastern Conference). The goaltenders protecting the net will be Sean Johnson for New York City FC and Andre Blake for the Philadelphia Union. The moneyline on this matchup has New York City FC coming in at +163 and the Zolos are at +137. The O/U opens at 3.5.

New York City FC comes into this game with a mark of 0-0-2 which puts them at 13th in the league. So far this season, they have yet to score a goal which has them at 13th in the conference and 26th in the league. Their goal differential is -2, which puts them at 21st in the league. With regard to shots on target, they currently have a total of 6 which has them at 13th in the conference and 22nd in the league. As a unit, New York City has racked up a total of 29 fouls which means they have an average of 14.5 fouls per game.

Alexander Ring is one of the top players to keep an eye on for NYCFC. The midfielder from Finland has appeared in 211 games in his pro soccer career and has totaled 16,040 mins. During that time, the 27-year-old has a total of 17 goals and has had an assist on 13 goals. He has a career average of 76.0 minutes per game. Ring has started 211 games over the course of his career and has a total of 376 fouls over that period. With regard to shots on target, Ring has 77 in the time he's played pro soccer which places him at 119th out of all players still active and 29th in the Eastern Conference among midfielders. Maximiliano Moralez is another guy to keep an eye on for the squad from New York City. The 31-year-old from Argentina has tallied 44 goals in the time he has played pro soccer which has him ranked 11th in the Eastern Conference among midfielders and 53rd when compared to all players still active in Major League Soccer. He has played 20,072 minutes in his professional soccer career which places him at 12th among active midfielders and has an average of 75.5 minutes per appearance which puts him at 196th in MLS. In his career, he has produced 148 shots on target which is 11th in the Eastern Conference among active midfielders.

Protecting the goal for NYCFC is Sean Johnson from the United States. He is 29 years old and has totaled 24,186 mins defending the goal in his career. Johnson has given up 1.36 goals per 90 minutes which has him ranked 13th in the East and 24th out of all active goalies in Major League Soccer. Over the course of this career, he's allowed 365 goals. He's earned a career save % of .696 which has him ranked 11th among active professional goalies in the Eastern Conference.

The Philadelphia Union will be the team on the other side of the pitch and for the 2019 campaign they sit with a record of 0-1-1. In connection with goal differential, they rank 10th in the conference and 20th in MLS with -2. They currently have a total of 3 goals for 2019 which is good for 4th in the conference. Philadelphia has a save % as a team of .688 which currently has them sitting 14th in MLS.

One of the hardest players to defend for the Zolos is Alejandro Bedoya. The 31 year-old has put 36 balls past the goalie over the course of his pro soccer career. He ranks 16th among active midfielders in the East in assists with 31 and has a total of 143 shots on target over the course of his pro soccer career. He has totaled 22,295 mins and is averaging 77.4 minutes per game over the course of his pro soccer career. Another solid player on this team is Kacper Przybylko. The forward from Poland has racked up 43 goals in the time he has played pro soccer which ranks him 18th in the East among active forwards. He also has committed 132 fouls.

In net for the Zolos is Andre Blake who has had a rough career by giving up 1.50 goals per 90 mins and that places him 21st in the Eastern Conference out of all goalkeepers still active and 37th in pro soccer. In the 11,124 mins he has been on the field as a goaltender in his career, he's given up 186 goals. He holds a career save percentage of .682 which has him ranking 16th among Eastern Conference goaltenders and 31st out of all goalkeepers still active in pro soccer.

Who will win tonight's soccer game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take New York City (+163)

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New York City FC vs Philadelphia Union Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 7/9/2020

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