Atlanta United vs Philadelphia Union MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal Odds & Pick
By Daniel Coyle in Soccer News
Updated: March 30, 2020 at 6:40 am EDTPublished:
- Atlanta United are a -145 favorite in their Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup with Philadelphia
- Atlanta has fallen to defeat in just three of 40 matches on home turf since June 2018
- The Union lag as +345 underdogs after posting wins in just two of their past six outings
Atlanta United will be gunning for a fourth straight win on home turf when they host the Philadelphia Union on Thursday in an Eastern Conference Semifinal clash as -145 favorites in the MLS Cup Playoffs odds.
After their Round One wins, Atlanta’s MLS Cup odds are now +700, while Philadelphia’s are +1200.
Atlanta United vs Philadelphia Union Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United | -0.5 (-145) | -145 | O3.0 (-120) | +2500 |
| Philadelphia Union | +0.5 (+115) | +345 | U3.0 (+100) | +3300 |
| Draw | N/A | +315 | N/A | N/A |
*Odds taken 10/21/19
Atlanta Extends Unbeaten Streak With Win Over Revolution
Atlanta escaped with a narrow 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution in first-round playoff action, and has now come away with at least a point in four of five overall contests going into Thursday night’s Atlanta vs Philadelphia matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta United MOVES ON to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 1-0 win over New England. 🔥⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ozOnwPu7h9
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) October 19, 2019
The club has been particularly dominant on home turf, since the early going of the 2018 MLS season, falling to defeat in just three of 40 contests across all competitions, a run that began with a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia back in early June 2018. Atlanta have also regularly filled the net during their impressive run at home, potting three or more goals in eight of their past 16 contests.
Injuries Remain a Concern
However, injuries remain a concern for the Five Stripes. The status of Miles Robinson remains unclear for Thursday’s contest after he missed this weekend’s win over New England after suffering a hamstring injury while attending the recent US Men’s National Team training camp. Robinson has been key to Atlanta’s defense, and played the most minutes of any player other than goalkeeper Brad Guzan. He has been nominated as a finalist to take home MLS Defender of the Year honors.
Miles Robinson's injury has Michael Parkhurst back in the Starting XI for @ATLUTD. @JillianSakovits has more. pic.twitter.com/QKPNoc5srz
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) October 19, 2019
The status of playmaker Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez is also uncertain after the Argentine midfielder was benched against New England despite scoring a pair of goals over the final four matches of the season. Those concerns have contributed to the tempered odds that Atlanta sport to repeat as MLS Cup champions, lagging behind Los Angeles FC and New York City FC as a lengthy +700 bet.
Atlanta United vs Philadelphia Union Stats
| 18-4-12 (2nd in Eastern Conference) | Standings | 16-7-11 (3rd in Eastern Conference) |
| 509 | Shots | 475 |
| 179 | Shots on Goal | 172 |
| 58 | Goals Scored | 58 |
Wins Scarce Down the Stretch for Philly
The Union arrives in Atlanta pegged as +345 underdogs after eking out a narrow 4-3 extra-time victory over the New York Red Bulls in first-round action. Third-place finishers in the Eastern Conference standings, just three points back of Atlanta, the Union struggled down the stretch, posting just one win over their final five regular-season matches.
Atlanta United vs Philadelphia Union, Thursday at 8:00 on ESPN2 and 92.9 The Game.
Atlanta United is 3W-1L-2D all time vs PHI (+5 GD)
At the Benz, Atlanta is 2W-0L-1D vs PHI (+5 GD)Atlanta is 5W-1L-1D all time in the playoffs
Philadelphia is 1W-4L-0D all time in the playoffs— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) October 20, 2019
The Union also have no history of success in the MLS Cup playoffs, with last weekend’s win over New York marking their first-ever playoff win in four all-time appearances
The club has also surrendered seven total goals over their past three outings, and have particularly struggled on the road of late, getting outscored by a 24-14 margin while compiling a 3-7-1 win-loss-draw record over their past 11 dates away from Talen Energy Stadium. The Union also have no history of success in the MLS Cup playoffs, with last weekend’s win over New York marking their first-ever playoff win in four all-time appearances.
Offense Hobbled by Injury to Przybylko
Injuries also remain a concern for Philadelphia, most notably the status of Kacper Przybylko. The 26-year-old attacker led Philadelphia in goalscoring by a wide margin, potting 15 markers in just 26 appearances, which represents over a quarter of the club’s total goal production this season.
During our last regular-season broadcast I stated my case for Kacper Przybylko for @MLS comeback player of the year. pic.twitter.com/fRhGvxZIAi
— Marisa Pilla (@Pilla_Talk) October 17, 2019
Should Przybylko be unable to go on Thursday, the Union face a massive challenge to earn their first-ever win in Atlanta after being outscored by a 7-2 margin while earning just a single point over three previous visits.
Picks: Atlanta United to win (-145); Atlanta to keep a clean sheet (+185)
Sports Writer
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
