Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber made his editorial debut on MLSsoccer.com late last month, providing a preview of the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs and predicting how Round One would unfold.
After picking four of six matches correctly on a wild opening weekend of the postseason, Feilhaber—like many other pundits across the country—went 0-for-2 on his Conference Final picks after Seattle Sounders FC stymied LAFC and Toronto FC edged Atlanta United FC to set up a Seattle vs. Toronto matchup in MLS Cup for the third time in four years.
This time around, Feilhaber returns to MLSsoccer.com with more expert analysis and a (not so confident) prediction for MLS Cup 2019, which will kick off Sunday at 2 p.m. CT at CenturyLink Field in Seattle with national coverage on ABC and Univision.
"Toronto have been the most fascinating story of these MLS Cup Playoffs,” Feilhaber writes about the Reds. “They have missed Jozy Altidore the entire postseason run and haven’t had Omar Gonzalez play any minutes yet. First thing they need to figure out is whether those two will play a part in this final. It seems unlikely that [head coach Greg] Vanney changes anything in his starting lineup, but both could be vital as super subs.”
Of the Sounders, Feilhaber writes, "Seattle always seem to find themselves in this position. Although they didn't have the greatest regular season, they know how to win the big games and they do just enough to give themselves a couple of home games in the playoffs.
"That being said, they put together some performance against LAFC in the Conference Final. No one gave them much of a chance (including this know it all!) and Seattle promptly clogged the midfield, made it a battle for the entire 90 minutes and they proved incredibly clinical with their chances on goal."
Click here for Feilhaber’s detailed take on both teams, including which side he foresees lifting the trophy on Sunday afternoon.
