Portland Timbers won their one and only MLS Cup back in 2015 and will commence their search for a second title when they travel to Houston Dynamo for the first leg of their Conference Semi-final. Portland Timbers won the 2015 MLS Cup but did not win the Western Conference that season and the last time they won the regular season title, they did not go on to win the MLS Cup. The Timbers will be hoping for better this season as they play a Houston Dynamo team who finished fourth in the Western Conference this season and last won the MLS Cup back in 2007.
MLS BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas – 31st Sunday October – 01:30 UK Time
|
Draw Best Odd of: 12/5 at Ladbrokes |
|
Houston Dynamo
Portland TimbersHouston Dynamo Form
Houston Dynamo come into this match having lost only one of their last 8 MLS games. Having finished fourth in the Western Conference, they were forced to play in the Knockout Round of the playoffs. They had a tough match at home to Sporting Kansas City and, who finished just a point behind them in the Western Conference and needed extra-time to win through by one goal to nil. The win over Sporting Kansas City means it is now 4 wins in a row at the BBVA Compass Stadium for Houston Dynamo and they have kept a clean sheet in the last 2 games, conceding on average 0.5 goals across the 4 matches. Houston Dynamo have scored 2 or more goals in 15 of their previous 18 home MLS games.
Portland Timbers Form
Portland Timbers come into this match having won their previous 2 MLS games, results which were good enough to see them finish top of the Western Conference and avoid having to play in the Knockout Round of the playoffs. Portland Timbers fought back well form a tricky spell in June and July when they won only 3 of their 11 games in all competitions. Since then, they have suffered just 3 defeats in 13 MLS games, winning 8 of them. Away from home in the MLS, Portland Timbers have found life tough and they have won only 2 of their last 14 games. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 MLS matches on the road but have managed to find the back of the net in each of their last 10 and that could be crucial in this game.
Team News
Houston Dynamo will be without George Malki, Memo Rodriguez, AJ DeLaGarza and Leonardo who are injured. They are expected to play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mauro Manotas starting up-front. Portland Timbers have Gbenga Arokoyo and Chance Myers missing due to injury and have fitness concerns over Fanendo Adi. They are expected to start in a similar formation to the hosts in this first leg, with Darren Mattocks as the lone striker.
Top Betting Tips
If you look at the form of both teams in terms of scoring and defending, this game should produce plenty of goal scoring chances. Therefore, both teams to score looks like being a good bet and can be backed at 8/13 with Ladbrokes. Portland Timbers have struggled when playing away from home this season and failed to win at Houston Dynamo in their previous 6 attempts. However, they have managed 3 draws and you can get 10/3 with Ladbrokes for the match to finish level with both teams scoring. Diego Valeri has been in fantastic goal scoring form for Portland Timbers, scoring 10 goals in his previous 11 MLS games. The Argentine is 13/8 with William Hill to score at any time in the match.