There is one match left in the Major League Soccer weekend and it is a big one in the Western Conference as the latest leg of the Cascadia Cup takes place when the Portland Timbers host the Seattle Sounders.
Both these sides have made positive starts to their season and it is always competitive when they meet so we should be in for a cracking contest. Unfortunately due to the time zone you will need to be a night owl to watch it in the UK.
Where to watch
The match will be shown in full on Free Sports in the UK. The build up begins at 3.20am with the match due to kick off a few minutes after that. You will also be able to watch it on the bookmaker streaming consoles.
Portland Timbers
The MLS is Back tournament winners took full advantage of their opportunity to bolster their regular season standing down in Orlando, but rather than be content with that they then pushed on to win the tournament and secure their spot in the Champions League for next term, so now they can really attack the remainder of the campaign and hunt further silverware knowing that a spot with the big boys next season is already secured.
One thing which was apparent down in Orlando was that there is a bit of a frailty to the Timbers defensively. They didn’t keep a single clean sheet on their way to the title but the obvious flip side of that is that there is goals in this team even though they were missing some key cogs in the attacking wheel at MLS is Back. Portland know how to go all the way in MLS and with the platform they have given themselves you’ve got to think they’ll be dangerous from here.
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Seattle Sounders
The defending MLS champions played largely to type in the MLS is Back tournament. They are renowned for being slow starters to a season but then they get to this time of year and usually catch fire. The problem with that for the Seattle Sounders is that they are usually halfway through the campaign by now rather than a handful of matches, so it will be interesting to see if they can find the form we know they are capable of from here on in.
The obvious thing that needs to improve if they are going to go on and make a successful title defence is their own defence. It was pitiful at times down in Orlando and they could seriously do with an experienced addition during this transfer window. They weren’t at their best up from at MLS is Back but the continuity and creativity will return naturally with the stars they have within their ranks so that is less of a concern at this stage.
Betting
While betting on the outcome of derby encounters can be risky, as we saw with the Los Angeles game on Saturday evening, I think the Portland Timbers are the ones to be on here. It is rare that I’m keen to go against the Timbers at Providence Park and I’m certainly not going to go against them here after the confidence they will have picked up when they came away from Orlando with the MLS is Back tournament trophy.
It is almost a month since Seattle Sounders have played competitively and while they will have been able to train together in that time, there is no substitute for matches. Compare that to the Timbers who won the title just under two weeks ago and they should be in tip top condition for this match. Seattle’s defence is a big concern of mine as well and with Portland historically so good at home I’ll side with them, albeit with some draw cover given the rivalry between the two teams.
Tips
Back Portland Timbers (0AH) to beat Seattle Sounders for a 3/10 stake at 1.75 with Bet365
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