There is one match in the Major Soccer League on Thursday night as the latest leg of the Cascadia Cup takes place when the Seattle Sounders host their bitter rivals Portland Timbers in what is probably the biggest rivalry in MLS right now.
This match is big for both teams anyway but when you throw into the mix that the winners will end the evening on top of the Western Conference it starts to carry even more significance, especially with matches running out in the regular season.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live on the Free Sports channel here in the UK with the programme beginning at 3.35am and the match itself starting a few minutes after that. The match will also be able to be watched on the streaming consoles at bookmaker sites.
Seattle Sounders
The champions head into this match perfectly placed to push on and make a serious defence of their title. A win here would move them three points clear at the top of the Western Conference and they would have a game in hand of the Timbers so they would be looking good for both the number one seed and the guaranteed home advantage that comes with it. This is the time of a season where the Sounders tend to show their best form which will give them plenty of confidence here.
Although they usually play their best at the business end of the season they go into this match without a win in two matches although having players away on international duty didn’t help them in those games. Even so, they weren’t terrible results on the road when you consider the heavy schedule and everything that has gone with it. Seattle have only lost one of their 10 home matches this season, although they won’t need reminding that loss came against the Timbers.
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Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers will also be coming into this match full of confidence. Although they will want to win the MLS Cup, there is an element of them playing with the house money about their season after they secured silverware at the MLS is Back tournament and picked up the benefits that go with it down the line. They have continued that form throughout much of the regular season that has followed as well.
The Timbers have been particularly good on their travels this season and nobody in the Western Conference have got more points on the road than Portland which could be significant here. The Timbers also have the added confidence of knowing that they have been to CenturyLink Field and won this season and even though they haven’t won either of their last two matches, at this stage Portland lay claims for being the best team in MLS right now.
Betting
I respect the Seattle Sounders’ form at this stage of a season and their home record as a whole but they look a little short to me in this one and I think taking the Portland Timbers on the Asian handicap line is very much the way to go here. Seattle haven’t won either of their last two matches and one or two players that you would like them to have are either missing for this match or questionable, which with the schedule probably means they won’t be chanced.
Portland aren’t perfect in terms of personnel but I think we’ve seen them look more comfortable on the road this season and they’ll be happy to soak up a bit of pressure here and then get after this Seattle side on the break. When you throw in the derby element to this match and that top spot is at stake for whoever wins this is likely to be an extremely hard-fought contest where no quarter is given. I think that plays into the hands of a tight game so Portland with the start will do me.
Tips
WON – Back Portland Timbers (+0.75AH) to beat Seattle Sounders for a 3/10 stake at 1.87 with BetVictor
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