The Portland Timbers have one of the best home field advantages in the MLS, and the club is looking to get the points needed to have those fans at their back in the playoffs. Portland is only one point ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy for a spot in the postseason, but the Timbers are also just a win out of third place. They will be out to secure that victory when they host the DC United on Sunday.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Providence Park in Portland, Oregon at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 15, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on FS1.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Portland Timbers -172
D.C. United +410
Draw +350
Over/Under 3 and 3.5
Odds Analysis
DC United won seven of their first 12 games, and they appeared to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. However, since mid-May, the club has only registered three wins, and that has seen DC United slide slowly down the table. They have lost five of their last eight matches coming into this game, but the club finally stopped the bleeding last week with a crucial win over playoff contender Montreal.
A win for Montreal would have put DC United’s playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. The Impact are just outside the playoff picture at the moment, but the win would have led to Montreal leaping DC United. Instead, DC United have a five-point cushion in their bid to make the postseason, thanks to a brace from Ola Kamara in a 3-0 win over Montreal two weeks ago.
Portland continues its extended homestand this week. The Timbers had registered five wins and two draws in their seven home games following the three-week summer break before a quick slump in mid-May. They lost at home to Atlanta United and the Seattle Sounders, knocking them out of the playoff picture momentarily.
Fortunately, the Timbers have responded with wins the last two weeks to move back into playoff position. Portland beat Real Salt Lake 1-0 off of a Diego Valeri goal two weeks ago, and they secured a comeback 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City last weekend.
Key Absences
The visitors aren’t going to have three defenders for this match. Oniel Fisher is a long-term injury after undergoing knee surgery, and Chris Odoi-Atsem has been sidelined for a while with a hamstring problem. Jalen Robinson will be out for DC United as well with a knee injury.
Renzo Zambrano will serve the first game of a two-match suspension for a red card here for Portland. Additionally, the Timbers won’t have goalkeepers Jeff Attinella and Kendall McIntosh or defenders Modou Jadama, Larrys Mabiala, and Julio Cascante. That will stretch the back line thin with defenders Marco Farfan and Zarek Valentin questionable here.
Player to Watch
Diego Valeri currently leads the Western Conference in assists with 16, and the former league MVP is still one of the most important players in the MLS. Valeri has played a pivotal role for the Timbers since joining in 2013, and he has notched 76 goals and 81 assists in 207 appearances for the club. He has linked up well with Brian Fernandez this season, making Portland one of the most fun clubs to watch.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
The Timbers are more vulnerable than usual with the injuries in defense, but DC United have not been in good form. They have lost their last four road matches against Western Conference opponents, and the news that Wayne Rooney is headed back to England has cast a pall over the team. Bet on Portland here.
Major League Soccer Odds: Portland Timbers 2, DC United 0
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