FC Dallas is looking to beat another team from the Pacific Northwest this Saturday. After trouncing the Seattle Sounders last week, FC Dallas has its sights set on taking down the Portland Timbers.
Like Seattle, Portland is not off to a great start this year. While both clubs were the best in the Western Conference in 2017, they are in the cellar this season with neither one grabbing a point through two games. The Timbers are currently dead last due to allowing six goals in their two losses.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Toyota Stadium at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on either Twitter or Univision.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Portland Timbers +326FC Dallas -131Draw +288Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
Coming into the season, you would have believed that Portland had a good chance to pull out a road win. However, that is looking more and more improbable due to how this team has played in recent weeks.
Still, despite the poor start, oddsmakers seem to have a feeling that Portland is a better team than this. Terrible teams are usually +500 or more on the road in situations like this, so that should make Timbers fans a little optimistic about their chances.
Recent Form
Portland had a bye week last week, which is a good thing considering their performance on the road against New York in the second week of March. The Timbers were thrashed 4-0 by the Red Bulls, but the result is not as terrible as it may have looked on paper.
Portland controlled possession for the majority of the game, and while it had just one shot on target, it did create some chances. The game would have been much different had the Timbers gotten an equalizer at some point, because New York’s final three goals all came in the last 15 minutes as the Timbers were trying to press in order to score.
As for FC Dallas, the home side is feeling good after a 3-0 defeat of Seattle last Sunday. FC Dallas hopped on the Sounders early, with Roland Lamah scoring thanks to some great work from Michael Barrios and Mauro Diaz. Things flipped even more in their favor shortly before the half.
Clint Dempsey picked up a questionable red card late in the first half, making things much easier for Dallas from that point forward. Max Urruti got a goal in the 58th minute to make the result academic, while Roland Lamah scored again to notch a brace in the 63rd minute.
Key Absences
Since this is a week where we see international friendlies taking place, there are some players that have been recalled for international duty and will miss this weekend’s games in addition to those who are suffering from injury.
Dallas will not have Tesho Akindele after being called to play with for Canada, and will also be without midfielders Kellyn Acosta and Brandon Servania, as well as forward Jesus Ferreira. Goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez is still considered questionable due to a meniscus injury, but he probably won’t see action.
As for the Timbers, midfielder David Guzman and forward Andy Polo have been called upon by their national teams. Guzman (Costa Rica) and Polo (Peru) are hoping to be named to their country’s World Cup squads and need all the caps they can get. Additionally, defensemen Vytas and Roy Miller and goalkeeper Jeff Attinella have been declared out. Portland is hoping that midfielder Diego Chara will play though, and he is traveling with the team.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Go with the draw in this one. Dallas has been a bit fortunate so far, while Portland has had some time to recover and get their minds right after the loss to New York.
Major League Soccer Odds: FC Dallas 1, Portland Timbers 1
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