The Copa America reaches the knockout rounds in the early hours of Friday morning with Argentina and Ecuador getting the quarter-finals underway in Houston.
Argentina cruised through the group stage recording three straight victories and their reward is a tie with Ecuador, who qualified ahead of Mexico on goal difference.
Our bet of the day comes in what should be an entertaining Copa America contest.
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Bet of the Day
Lautaro Martinez to score at any time @ 7/5
Argentina were made pre-tournament Copa America favourites and they lived up to that billing in the group stage.
The world champions beat Canada, Chile and Peru, all without conceding a goal, and while Lionel Scaloni’s men may expect tougher tasks in the knockout rounds, it may not be against Ecuador.
Lautaro Martinez scored in all three of those first-phase matches, hitting nine shots on target in the process and the Inter Milan forward started two of those games on the bench.
The 26-year-old should get a starting berth against Ecuador and, at 7/5, Martinez looks a solid anytime scorer bet.
Longshot of the day
Portland to beat Dallas @ 15/8
Portland are on a seven-match unbeaten run, the Timbers have won three matches on the bounce and it’s hard to see why Phil Neville’s men are such a big price at Dallas.
The Timbers got the better of Minnesota 3-2 on Sunday and that was a seriously impressive performance in which Portland put up an expected goals for tally of 4.36.
Of course, that was on home soil, but Neville’s men have won at Austin, San Jose and New York City this term and there is no reason why the Timbers won’t stand up at Dallas.
Special of the day
LA Galaxy v LAFC over 3.5 goals @ 11/10
The Los Angeles derby takes place in the early hours of Friday morning and it’s a fixture that has a history of goals.
The 19 matches between the Californian sides have produced 80 goals, at an average of 4.2 per game, all of the last eight meetings have gone over 2.5 goals and four of the previous six have smashed the 3.5 mark.
LAFC have scored 13 goals in their last four matches, the Galaxy have hit 11 in their previous four home games and it’s hard to see how it won’t be goal crazy at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
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