The Portland Timbers will look to continue their ascent up the Western Conference standings when they host the Houston Dynamo on Saturday. Portland has been able to rebound after a tough start to the season, and they are currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. However, the Dynamo are close behind, sitting just four points back of the Timbers.
Due to an excessive heat forecast, the start time for this match has been changed. The match was originally slated to kick off at 9 p.m. ET, but instead it will begin two hours later. That has led to a change in broadcast partners, and the match will be shown on FOX instead.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Providence Park in Portland, Oregon at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 28, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FOX Plus.
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Odds Analysis
Houston had been playing well until its mid-week match against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. The club had managed to pick up a result in four straight matches, securing draws against Los Angeles FC, Colorado Rapids, and FC Dallas, and defeating Minnesota United.
The match had gotten off to a good start for the Dynamo. Mauro Manotas found the back of the net on a nice give and go 10 minutes in, and that gave Houston a 1-0 lead. Philadelphia’s Alejandro Bedoya leveled the score after a defensive error not long before the end of the fist half, but Houston looked to be in good shape. However, a very questionable red card issued to Tomas Martinez put Houston down a man. The Union were able to capitalize with two goals following the red, giving the club a 3-1 road victory.
Incredibly, Portland has picked up a result in every MLS match since early April. The Timbers went on a six-game winning streak after their last loss, and they are on a 13-game unbeaten streak at this point.
Portland has yet to drop a game at Providence Park this season. The Timbers are 5-3-0 in their eight home games this season, and they were able to pull out a draw against Montreal when we last saw them. Diego Valeri had another great outing, scoring the goal that ensured the 2-2 draw for Portland.
Key Absences
Coming into this match, Portland has no news to report on the injury report. No news is good news, and that will help the Timbers who will be both healthier and more rested in this one.
The same can’t be said for Houston. The Dynamo have been without left back A.J. DeLaGarza all season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in last year’s playoffs. For at least this match, the club will be without the services of midfielders Juan David Cabezas and Arturo Alvarez and forward Mac Steeves as well. Alvarez and Steeves are dealing with hip injuries, while Cabezas is healing from a quad injury. The club may be without midfielder Andrew Wenger too, he is questionable with a calf injury.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
No line has been released for this match yet, but you can expect the Timbers to be an odds-on favorite on the three-way line. Portland has been phenomenal at home, and they will get a full week’s worth of rest. Houston will have to make a long trip on just two days of full rest, and the injuries will only complicate matters.
Furthermore, Houston will be without Martinez for this match unless he wins his appeal. He is one of the Dynamo’s main playmakers, and you can be sure that he will appeal the referee’s decision after a very iffy dismissal. If he losses his appeal, that should make Portland an even bigger favorite.
Major League Soccer Odds: Portland Timbers 3, Houston Dynamo 1
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