Competition: MLS

Market: Goal to be scored in both halves

Odds: 8/15 @ Pribet

Two sides who are desperately seeking some kind of boost in the early hours of Thursday, St. Louis will welcome San Jose to Missouri.

Starting with the hosts, while St. Louis might have made real history last season as they were crowned Western Conference champions, Bradley Carnell’s men have come crashing back down to earth this time around. Suffering a major second-half collapse away at Vancouver last weekend as they eventually fell to a dramatic 4-3 defeat, the Missouri-based outfit have failed to muster a single victory from any of their previous nine MLS appearances. With that run stemming all the way back to a 3-1 win against Chicago on May 12th, the former New York Red Bulls coach will also have a mounting headache over his side’s glaring defensive issues. Including a woeful 3-0 drumming at home against Colorado last month, St. Louis have shipped 20 goals on their nine-match winless rut. Opening Thursday’s return to CityPark sat nine points adrift of finding a route into the play-off places, Carnell’s side have also recorded just a sole MLS clean sheet in front of their own supporters since the middle of April.

As for the visitors, opening up the midweek fixtures sat rock-bottom of the Western Conference table, San Jose have endured a public MLS crisis this season. Breaking a host of unwanted records since opening up the 2024 campaign, the Earthquakes have collected just a trio of wins from any of their 20 MLS appearances this year. Signing off June with another nightmare performance as they fell to a routine 3-0 drumming at home against LA Galaxy, interim boss Ian Russell has seen his struggling squad lose all of their previous five consecutive top-flight matchups. With their glaring issues underlined by an action-packed 6-2 loss away at Los Angeles last month, San Jose have also gained a reputation for their drastic struggle at the back. In fact, Thursday’s guests have remarkably shipped 20 goals in their five consecutive MLS defeats. Likewise, it should also be highlighted, the Goonies have conceded 54 goals so far this season and hold the worst defensive tally in the Western Conference.

Bet: Goal to be scored in both halves at St. Louis City vs San Jose Earthquakes 8/15 for Thursday’s MLS matchup @ Pribet