Home sweet home. That’s what the Portland Timbers are feeling now after 12 straight games on the road to start the season. Portland has done well enough on the road that the club isn’t too far out of the playoff picture despite the impossible schedule, and the Timbers will be playing their fifth road game of the season against Orlando City SC on Thursday night. The Lions are a respectable 3-4-3 on the road this season, but the MLS betting odds have them unlikely to pick up a result in this one.
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MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Portland Timbers -169
Orlando City SC +411
Draw +310
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
The Timbers are currently on a three-match point streak. They knocked off FC Dallas and New York City FC by a score of 1-0 thanks to some great play from midfielder Sebastian Blanco, but they were forced to settle for a draw at home against the Colorado Rapids last week after Julio Cascante was shown a straight red card in the 55th minute.
As for the Lions, Orlando is looking to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They have had diminishing results since their debut in 2015, but this is set to be the best year yet for the club. Orlando is sitting just one point behind Toronto in the race for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Lions are playing much better defense than we saw in 2018.
Fatigue could be a factor for both Portland and Orlando in this game. This will be the fourth match in two weeks for Portland after a US Open tie with LAFC in the middle of last week, but it will be the fifth match in two weeks for Orlando City, who have played two matches a week since late June.
Key Absences
Cascante will be suspended for this match after his red card for a two-footed tackle against Colorado over the weekend, and defender Marco Farfan is considered unlikely to play after coming off with a lower body injury early in the match.
Additionally, Portland has three defenders and a goalkeeper that are listed as questionable. Defenders Bill Tuiloma and Jorge Villafaña are questionable with thigh injuries, while a lower leg injury might sideline Modou Jadama. Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella is dealing with a shoulder issue.
Orlando won’t have midfielder Christian Higuita available because of a hamstring injury, and defender Shane O’Neill will miss the match due to a concussion. Defender Joao Moutinho is questionable to play with a quad injury.
Player to Watch
Diego Valeri is one of the most influential midfielders in the league, but he has been relatively quiet in recent weeks. He has just one goal and didn’t register an assist in Portland’s last three matches. Valeri is the Timbers’ talisman though, and his five goals are tied for the second-most on the team, while his 10 assists are the third-most in the league.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
It’s tough to see a way Orlando gets a point here. The Lions have not had any rest over the last three weeks, and a long road trip is certainly not what they want right now. While Orlando have picked up a result in three of their last four road games, they have lost both of their road tilts against Western Conference opponents this season, so I’ll take Portland to win.
Major League Soccer Odds: Portland Timbers 2, Orlando City SC 0
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