Football Bet of the Day: NYCFC to extend winning streak against lowly Quakes

The weekend games are starting to thin out now most European leagues have drawn to a close, but there is still action to look out for in Scandinavia where the Norwegian and Swedish top-tier divisions are in their early infancy.

The same can be said for many leagues further afield, with plenty of football to look out for in Brazil and Argentina, but it's to the USA we go for my football bet of the day for Saturday, June 1, as New York City host the San Jose Earthquakes in MLS at the Yankee Stadium (KO, 00:30).

At the time of writing, NYCFC sits third in the Eastern Conference, having collected 25 points from their first 15 games. They could drop to fourth by the time Saturday rolls around as their city rivals, the New York Red Bulls, play Charlotte at home in the early hours of Thursday (UK time) and would draw level on points - overtaking them on goal difference - with a win.

Regardless, it's been a fantastic start to the season for Nick Cushing's side, who finished outside the play-offs last year in 11th on just 41 points. Cincinnati and Inter Miami already look to be establishing themselves as runaway leaders, seven and eight points ahead of NYCFC at the time of writing, but there is a real chance for Cushing and co to establish themselves as the 'best of the rest'.

The same can't be said of the San Jose Earthquakes, who are 13th in the Western Conference - level on 11 points with bottom side Sporting Kansas City - and already 18 points behind leaders Real Salt Lake. Pablo Mastroeni's side are winless in their last three MLS games - two of which they lost - and were knocked out of the US Open Cup by USL Championship outfit Sacramento Republic last week.

The Earthquakes are unlikely to be enamoured at the prospect of coming up against an NYCFC side that has won their last four matches, and seven of their last eight. Four of those victories saw at least three goals scored as they beat the Red Bulls (H), the Philadelphia Union (A), and Charlotte 2-1 (H) 2-1, and triumphed 3-2 against Toronto FC (A).

Five of NYCFC's eight MLS wins this term have seen both teams score, while seven of the Earthquakes' 10 defeats in the competition have seen them also find the back of the net.

A couple of 2-2 draws aside in friendly games, these sides haven't met since May 2022, but it's a fixture that has usually provided goals, with five of their six head-to-heads featuring at least three goals, all of which were won by NYCFC, though the Quakes did score in four of them.

Saturday's visitors to the Yankee Stadium will hope to kickstart their campaign with a win, but it's difficult to look past their paltry away points total of four from eight games, with only FC Dallas (two) picking up fewer points on their travels - from two fewer games.

NYCFC, meanwhile, have collected 16 points from their eight home games - only Inter Miami (17) and Charlotte (18) have accrued more, and the latter have played a game more.

Both teams have scored in five matches at the Yankee Stadium, with the home side triumphing on three occasions, while all six of the Quakes' away defeats have seen BTTS - Yes land.

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 50% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

You can read all our latest Football Bets of the Day at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.