The final of the MLS is Back Tournament takes place on Tuesday night where the first participant of the Champions League for next season will be finalised when the Portland Timbers take on Orlando City in a match with plenty riding on it.
Although not one of the favourites for the tournament when it started, the Portland Timbers would have been legitimate dark horses whereas Orlando City will have been total outsiders with most judges before a ball was kicked. One of them will get their hands on the trophy and that coveted Champions League place.
The Format
The 26 MLS teams have now become 24 with FC Dallas and Nashville being withdrawn from the tournament after positive Covid tests. The remaining teams have been placed into six groups of four. Each team plays the other three in their group once in the group stage. The results of these matches not only count in this tournament but also towards the regular season when it resumes. At the end of the group stage the top two from each group and the four best third placed finishers go into a 16-team knockout stage. The entire tournament takes place in Orlando with the final scheduled for August 11. There is a Champions League place for the winners which should ensure it is competitive.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live on the Sky Main Event, Sky Football and Free Sports channels. The build up to the clash begins at 1.40am with the match due to start a few minutes after that.
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Portland Timbers
If you were to use a word to describe how Portland Timbers have made it to this final you would probably use efficient. They haven’t been outstandingly superb but they have played to a decent standard and come through the draw very nicely indeed. They have been pretty solid defensively and the longer they have been in the event the better their cohesion and quality has been in front of goal so they are well worth their spot in this final.
The Timbers will feel very comfortable going into this match. They won the MLS Cup a few years ago and made the final of that again in 2018 so they are used to the high pressure and high profile occasion. A few of the squad who lost to Atlanta in 2018 are still in the side now so there might be some added fuel to their fire to ensure they get over the line this time. You sense the Timbers aren’t going to beat themselves and are going to be tough to beat.
Orlando City
Given that they were given little chance of making it this far when the tournament began, there is an argument to say that Orlando City can play without pressure here but that is nonsense. They won’t be wanting to make up the numbers so they are as under pressure as Portland Timbers. They have carried the tag of outsiders well throughout the tournament and when you think they have edged out LAFC and cruised past Minnesota United in the last two rounds, they certainly appear to be peaking at the right time.
The obvious concern for Orlando City is the big match inexperience that they have. To be fair in the likes of Nani they have someone who has played in some of the biggest matches in the world but collectively they are inexperienced so it is imperative that they make a good start to the match. The Lions have shown in this tournament that they have goals in them but you wouldn’t fancy them to win this one from behind so a good start is vital.
Betting
I will admit I’ve been guilty of underestimating Orlando City in this tournament but I’m going to go against them again here. Portland Timbers just look too strong in my eyes. They are defensively solid, have a real dynamic attack and most importantly of all they have the big match experience which I fancy will be a bigger advantage than we think here, even allowing for the fact that the match is being played behind closed doors.
There is no doubt Orlando have had the toughest path to this final but it isn’t like Portland haven’t had a battle or two along the way. I just think they have more match winners in their side than Orlando and quite often that is what decides the outcome of these big matches. Portland will know that Nani is the danger man and if they can keep him quiet they will go a long way to winning this match. I’m siding with the big game experience and going with the Timbers to win on the draw no bet market at odds against.
Tips
WON – Back Portland Timbers to beat Orlando City (DNB) for a 3/10 stake at 2.05 with BetVictor
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