Vancouver Whitecaps VS Portland Timbers Match Prediction
2017-07-23
22:30:00
Vancouver Whitecaps
VS
Portland Timbers
Our Prediction Tip
Vancouver Whitecaps will win this match.
2017-07-2322:30:00 Vancouver Whitecaps will win this match.
Portland Timbers have won 14 of their last 34 matches against Vancouver Whitecaps, to the Canadian teams’ ten in that time, but no team has won consecutive matches in this fixture since 2012. Given Portland won 2-1 thanks to Darlington Nagbe and Darren Mattocks’ goals earlier in the season, Vancouver are now due a win. Here are the results of the last five matches:
Apr 22, 2017: Portland Timbers 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Oct 23, 2016: Vancouver Whitecaps 4-1 Portland Timbers
May 22, 2016: Portland Timbers 4-2 Vancouver Whitecaps
May 07, 2016: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Portland Timbers
Nov 09, 2015: Vancouver Whitecaps 0-2 Portland Timbers
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Portland Timbers are in the midst of a mini-crisis, with a long injury list and further hindered by international call-ups and now suspensions too.
It is little surprise to see them without a win in seven games and it is hard to see them ending their bad run either, particularly with a tough away trip to Vancouver next on the cards.
Portland won 2-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, but their last match at the Whitecaps ended in a 4-1 defeat, and Vancouver have hit some good form with wins against New York City and LA Galaxy in the last two weeks.
Cristian Techera and fit-again Erik Hurtado are Vancouver’s biggest attacking threats, and the makeshift Portland defence will have their work cut out trying to keep them at bay.
Vancouver Whitecaps are 9/10 with Bovada to beat Portland Timbers on Sunday, and you can improve those odds by betting against the visitors to score.
Given Fanendo Adi, one of Portland’s joint-top scorers, is suspended it is not an unreasonable prediction, and Vancouver to win to nil is 11/4.
You can also get 27/20 against both teams to score along those same lines, while a two-goal winning margin is worth 9/2 with Bovada.
Vancouver will have been confident, with home advantage, even without Portland Timbers’ long absentee list.
Knee injuries continue to keep David Edgar and Brett Levis sidelined, while Vancouver’s Canadian international trio, Alphonso Davies, Marcel de Jong and Russell Teibert, are away at the Gold Cup. Kendall Watson’s call-up to the Costa Rican squad for the knock-out rounds means he too is unavailable. Brek Shea and fit-again Erik Hurtado were benched for the LA Galaxy game, and are pushing for recalls to the starting XI.
Winger Cristian Techera has scored ten and assisted four so far this season.
Vancouver Whitecaps have lost just one of their last six matches – a 4-0 reverse at Chicago Fire – and head into this match after back-to-back wins at home to New York City and, on Thursday, away at LA Galaxy.
Goalkeeper:Ousted
Defenders:Nerwinski, Jacobson, Parker, Harvey
Defensive Midfielders:Laba, Tchani
Midfielders:Techera, Montero, Shea
Forwards:Hurtado
Portland Timbers could be without up to ten first-team players on Sunday, with suspended duo Fanendo Adi and Victor Arbeloda banned after their red cards in midweek. Chance Myers returned from injury to start that game at the back, only to suffer an ankle injury, while Liam Ridgewell, Gbenga Arokoyo and Amobi Okugo are also injured. Diego Chara and Vytas are fighting to return to the starting XI, while David Guzman, Darren Mattocks, Alvas Powell and Darlington Nagbe are all at the Gold Cup.
Diego Valeri has scored 12 goals so far this season, while also providing six assists.
Having drawn their last three matches, Portland Timbers are without a win in six MLS matches. Portland drew 2-2 with Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders in their two most recent home games, either side of a 1-1 draw at Sporting KC.
Goalkeeper:Gleeson
Defenders:Valentin, Mabiala, Miller, Andriuskevicius
Defensive Midfielders:Zemanski, Olum
Midfielders:Asprilla, Blanco, Barmby
Forwards:Valeri
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