The race for the MLS Cup playoff couldn’t be more exciting in the Western Conference. Real Salt Lake has to fend off the pesky FC Dallas for the third-seed of the conference, while Portland is still in the hunt for the wild card berth currently held by the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The circumstances setup a high-stakes match between Portland and Real Salt Lake. Read on for our complete preview of this upcoming match. In the meantime, the English Premier League is set to return after the international break. Check out our preview of the Manchester City vs. Tottenham match here.
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Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake Betting Preview
[sc:Soccer240banner ]The Portland Timbers are neck-to-neck with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs, with both teams having just two games remaining. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake are only one point ahead of the fourth-placed FC Dallas. Solidifying their spot as the third seed would ensure that RSL avoid the wild card playoff in the Western Conference postseason.
Betting on the Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers are trailing Vancouver by a point to make the MLS Cup playoff. The Timbers will start their run without their captain, defensive midfielder Will Johnson, who suffered a season-ending right leg injury.
Despite missing Johnson, the Timbers can still boast of a devastating front line. Attacking midfielder Diego Valeri has posted MVP-like numbers this season. When he wasn’t netting his 10 goals, he assisted in 10 others for the Timbers. Valeri is coming in hot into this game having scored three goals, including a brace against San Jose, in his last three appearances for Portland.
Meanwhile, Fanendo Adi and Maximiliano Urruti provide some firepower in the forward position with nine goals each. Portland’s scoring trio should find some openings against a Real Salt Lake defense that is missing a handful of key players.
For all their firepower up front, the Timbers have a paltry backline which has caused goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to face the third-most shots in the league throughout the 2014 season (147). Despite his activity, Rickets managed to save 101 of 147 shots for a 69 percent save percentage.
The Portland Timbers are unbeaten in six of their last seven MLS matches.
Betting on Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake nabbed their seventh-consecutive (and first under head coach Jeff Cassar) MLS Cup playoff berth after their 2-0 win over San Jose on October 11 courtesy of goals from midfielders Ned Grabavoy and backup Sebastian Velasquez.
However, that win came at home. On the road, the Claret and Cobalt have looked the most vulnerable, going 0-4-1 in their last five road games. Included in their disappointing road run is a 1-0 loss to the lowly Chivas USA on October 5.
Real’s star players have struggled to find their form on the road, especially leading goal scorer Joao Plata, who finished with two shots (one on target) in his last two appearances. Central midfielder Javier Morales has picked up the slack with a goal and an assist in back-to-back road games against Chivas USA and Vancouver.
Real will also miss midfield talisman Kyle Beckerman after he was called for the USMNT along with veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Meanwhile, defenders Chris Schuler (broken sinus), Rich Balchan (adductor) and Tony Beltran (back) are all injured, leaving Real wide open for the attack.
With Rimando out, the starting goalkeeper job will fall on Jeff Attinella. While Attinella has a 1.4 goals allowed average, he was uninspiring in his lone start against Portland this season, conceding three goals.
Real Salt Lake are 4-1-1 against Portland in their last six matches.
Writer’s Prediction
The Portland Timbers keep their postseason hopes alive with a resounding victory over Real Salt Lake. Create a betting account now and get into the nation’s top soccer action.
