After finishing atop the Western Conference in the regular season last year, no one expected this out of the Portland Timbers. Portland has yet to win a match this season, and the club has a long way to go if it wants to reclaim that spot.
The schedule has played a part in the team’s struggles. Portland has gone on the road for its first four matches and will be on the road one last time this weekend before its home opener against Minnesota United. The Timbers are hoping they can knock off Orlando City SC and finally get in the win column.
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MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Portland Timbers +220
Orlando City SC +114
Draw +257
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
The MLS is one of the toughest soccer leagues in which to win on the road. There were 22 teams in the league last year, but only one was able to finish with a winning record away from home. That leads to heavily skewed lines where teams are odds-on favorites at home against superior opponents.
The last time these clubs met, it was all Portland. The Timbers cruised to a 3-0 victory and the Lions were clearly frustrated. Orlando picked up two straight red cards in the second half of the match.
Recent Form
Orlando City was glad to see Dom Dwyer back in the lineup last week. The Lions had not performed well without their talisman, barely pulling out a draw in their home opener against D.C. United and dropping games to Minnesota United and NYC FC. With Dwyer back in action, Orlando City found its form last weekend and picked up its first win of the season. Dwyer notched a brace in the victory and has the Lions feeling much better heading into this week.
The Timbers have improved after a tough start to the year, but they are still nowhere near where they want to be. Portland lost its first match to the LA Galaxy and were then waxed by the Red Bulls on the road. The club performed much better in picking up draws against Dallas and Chicago the last two weeks, but they will again be on the road and on the other side of the continent.
Key Absences
The defense could be an issue for Orlando City in this match. Captain Jonathan Spector has missed the last couple matches due to a concussion and is still in the MLS concussion protocol. He is the team’s lynchpin at the back and not having him will hurt. His loss will be magnified as Chris Schuler is also out for Orlando City.
Additionally, the Lions will be without midfielder Oriol Rosell and forward Stefano Pinho in this match.
The Timbers won’t have defender Roy Miller or midfielder David Guzman available for this match. Miller is battling an Achilles issue, while Guzman is dealing with a knee problem.
The club is hoping that defender Alvas Powell will be back in action though. Powell is listed as questionable on the injury report and has been dealing with a couple different knocks this season.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Portland will eventually turn things around. The Timbers are way too talented to keep struggling, and it feels like it will be just a matter of time before they break through.
However, the club has been traveling across the country with less rest than other teams because of their East Coast swing to start the season. That will give Orlando an advantage, and the return of Dwyer will be enough to push the Lions past the Timbers.
Major League Soccer Odds: Orlando City SC 2, Portland Timbers 1
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