Leagues Cup Quarterfinals Odds & Picks: NYCFC vs Pumas & Orlando City vs Santos Laguna
- The Leagues Cup quarterfinals proceed on Wednesday and Thursday, with some of the finest teams from the MLS and Liga MX going head to head
- NYCFC clash with Pumas, while Orlando City take on Santos Laguna
- Find the odds, preview for both games and the picks below
The 2021 edition of the Leagues Cup is here. This single-elimination tournament features the eight best clubs from the MLS and Liga MX, who will battle it out for the ultimate prize in Las Vegas on September 22nd. All Major League Soccer teams will play host in the quarterfinals. The reigning champions of the competition are Cruz Azul, who defeated league counterparts Tigres in the final back in 2019.
On Wednesday, we have NYCFC locking horns with Pumas in the Big Apple, while on Thursday, Orlando City welcomes Santos Laguna to town. You can watch both of these matches on ESPN2, ESPN+, and TUDN network.
Read on for the odds and previews.
NYCFC vs Pumas Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYCFC vs Pumas | NYC -0.5 (-130) | PUM +0.5 (-125) | NYC -110 | PUM +245 | DRAW +320 | Ov 2.5 (-125) | Un 2.5 (-105) |
All odds as of August 10th at DraftKings.
NYCFC vs Pumas Prediction
NYCFC and Pumas meet for the first time ever and are both making their debut in the Leagues Cup. The Sky Blues have been in impressive form in the MLS, currently enjoying a five-game unbeaten run.
Ronny Deila’s side played to a 2-2 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday, but frankly, they should’ve taken the full points. New York bagged two goals in the first 20 minutes but allowed Toronto to score twice in a span of just six minutes in the second half.
Nevertheless, the Pigeons have netted 12 times in their last five appearances while conceding just three goals. Even better, NYCFC has a 6-2-1 record at Yankee Stadium this term, which is a definite reason for optimism heading into Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
Pumas, on the other hand, have been struggling in Liga MX. The Cougars are off to a poor start, currently sitting in 16th spot after three fixtures. Andres Lillini’s men tied Atlas to begin the season, then tasted defeat against Monterrey and most recently, Atletico San Luis.
ℂ𝕆ℕ 𝕋𝕆𝔻𝕆 ℙ𝔸ℝ𝔸 𝕄𝔸Ñ𝔸ℕ𝔸 💪🔝🐾#ComoDebeSer #SoyDePumas pic.twitter.com/mLKninCuZg
— PUMAS (@PumasMX) August 11, 2021
The side will get a boost though, with Johan Vasquez returning after winning a bronze medal with Mexico at the Tokyo Olympics. Lillini will also be looking to Juan Dinenno to add a spark up top for Pumas following a 16-goal season in 2020/21.
These teams are in opposite form right now, but in a one-off game like this, anything is possible. However, NYCFC has been terrific on home soil and will be looking for a bounce-back performance after a disappointing draw. Take the hosts.
Pick: NYCFC -110
Orlando City vs Santos Laguna Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando City vs Santos Laguna | ORL +0.5 (-185) | SAN -0.5 (+110) | ORL +215 | SAN +130 | DRAW +320 | Ov 2.5 (-105) | Un 2.5 (-120) |
Orlando City vs Santos Laguna Prediction
Orlando welcomes a tough opponent to Exploria Stadium in Liga MX standouts Santos Laguna. The MLS outfit is currently enjoying another brilliant season, just two points ahead of NYCFC in second place in the Eastern Conference.
📍Next stop: @LeaguesCup 🇺🇸🇲🇽 New competition, same drive 💪🏾#MondayMotivation #OrlandoCity #LeaguesCup #TeamWork #Motivation #Hardwork #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/kOuXqD0aWb
— Nani (@luisnani) August 9, 2021
The Lions are fresh off back-to-back 1-1 draws against FC Cincinnati and Florida counterparts, Inter Miami. Orlando conceded late in the first half to Cincy on Saturday, but talisman Nani brought his side level in the 56th minute with a wonderful strike from the edge of the box. The Portuguese midfielder leads the team with nine goals and six assists in 15 appearances.
Santos Laguna got off to a rocking start in Liga MX, burying Nexaca 3-0. But, two extremely tough matches followed with Cruz Azul and Tigres, which both ended in draws. Guillermo Almada’s squad had three points in the bag against Tigres after Florian Thauvin was sent off in the 35th minute. Laguna held a 1-0 lead until late in the second half, only to allow Carlos Salcedo to equalize just minutes before the full-time whistle.
🇳🇬⚔️ ¡Vamos por la @LeaguesCup! ¡Contigo somos Legión!👊🔥
🆚 @OrlandoCitySC
📆🔜 Jueves 12 de Agosto
⏰07:00pm#ModoGuerrero⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Sc0Z3T89yp— Club Santos (@ClubSantos) August 10, 2021
Fernando Gorriaran scored the lone goal and will be a key figure in the middle of the pitch on Thursday. Diego Valdes, who typically plays right behind the lone striker as a No. 10, has already netted twice this term and will look to carry his fine form into Orlando.
Santos Laguna is a strong side from front to back, with plenty of firepower in the final third. Orlando City has looked very solid this season as well, but I like the Mexicans here to grab a victory on the road.
Pick: Santos Laguna +130
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
