It’s almost time for Major League Soccer’s postseason, and the remaining matches are critical for the teams on the playoff bubble. Saturday will feature a critical showdown between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers as they try to secure the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Can Vancouver pull ahead with a win? Or will Portland put themselves ahead in the postseason race?
At completely different points in their seasons, the AC Milan vs. Juventus and Chelsea vs. Manchester City matches in Europe will nonetheless go a long way to defining the standings in their respective leagues. Check out those previews and read on for more about this critical game across the pond.
[sc:Soccer ]Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Portland Timbers Preview
Where: Providence Park, Portland
When: Saturday, September 20, 5:00 PM ET
Line: Vancouver Whitecaps at Portland Timbers – view all MLS lines
What’s at Stake
[sc:Soccer240banner ]The fifth and final spot in the MLS Western Conference playoff race is at stake when the Portland Timbers host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. The ‘Caps currently hold a slim one-point lead with 37 points, while the Timbers trail with 36. With each team having just three games to play after this contest, the outcome could easily swing the race one way or another for good.
Betting on the Vancouver Whitecaps
The Vancouver Whitecaps rested their starters in a 2-1 road loss to FC Dallas on September 13. However, with the stakes so high in their pivotal Western Conference showdown against Portland, expect their starters to be back in action.
Defenders Steven Beitashour and Andy O’Brien should return to solidify the backline, while Pedro Morales will once again grace the midfield with his excellent all-around attacking ability. Morales leads the team with eight goals and 10 assists this season.
Striker Darren Mattocks also figures to start up top, but he hasn’t been particularly effective recently, failing to score in his last six appearances.
If Mattocks can’t convert, second-year player Erik Hurtado is a solid option off the bench after scoring his fifth goal of the season against Dallas on Saturday. The ‘Caps’ attacking front should be able to create their fair share of opportunities against Portland. The Timbers have kept their goalkeeper busy facing 133 shots (third-most in the league).
The ‘Caps will need every advantage they can get after going winless in their last eight road games. However, they will be pretty confident heading into Providence Park as their last win on the road was a 4-3 win in Portland.
Betting on the Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers have a penchant for late game heroics. With 15 minutes left against Colorado on Saturday, the Timbers found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-1 deficit. However, substitute Gaston Fernandez scored a 76th-minute equalizer to secure a 2-2- tie. More importantly, the tie put Portland within a point of the fifth-place Vancouver.
Midfielder Diego Valeri was instrumental in that match. He blasted a goal to open the scoring in the first half and created the opportunity for Fernandez’s goal. With the assist, Valeri has now assisted on five goals in his last three starts. With a red-hot Valeri spearheading the attack, the Timbers will have their moments against Vancouver.
However, the state of Portland’s defense is disconcerting. Their defenders have repeatedly left gaps, forcing goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to face more shots than necessary. Portland’s poor backline has conceded 48 goals in 28 games (tied for fourth-most in the league).
The Timbers are 3-1-6 in their last 10 league matches against Vancouver
Writer’s Prediction
The ‘Caps have a great start, but the Timbers rally to push the game to a tie. Create a betting account now and get into all the soccer action on either side of the big pond.
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