Another all-Western Conference on Saturday night sees Portland Timbers return to their Providence Park to take on Houston Dynamo with the hosts looking to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.
Portland Timbers come into this clash having lost their first home match of the season last time out which was a 3-2 loss to Western Conference leaders, Los Angeles.
The hosts have played 12 of their first 13 matches of the new MLS season away from home and this has had a detrimental effect as Portland Timbers sit bottom of the Western Conference as a result.
Recent results have produced a mixed return for the home side as they’ve collected wins against Columbus Crew, Toronto, Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia Union but have also been handed defeats by Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles.
With only 1 home game played so far this season it’s hard to guage how Portland Timbers will go in this encounter, but they’ve managed to win just 1 of the last 3 meetings at home against Houston Dynamo.
Houston Dynamo have also produced unconvincing results of late as the visitors have gained just 1 win out of their last 5 matches overall in the MLS, which was a 2-1 home win over DC United.
Defeats on the road at Seattle Sounders 1-0 and Minnesota United 1-0 have had a negative impact upon an away record which has seen the visitors win just 1 of their first 4 matches on their travels this season.
Houston Dynamo started the season in impressive fashion as the visitors chalked up 6 wins out of their first 8 matches of the new campaign, and although their momentum has dipped in recent times, they still represent a serious threat.
Portland, we have arrived. #ForeverOrange pic.twitter.com/BwouDJOIDm— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) June 20, 2019
Portland, we have arrived. #ForeverOrange pic.twitter.com/BwouDJOIDm
They started brightly enough away from home as they registered a resounding 4-1 win at Colorado Rapids but have since suffered three defeats on the trot at 2nd placed LA Galaxy, 3rd placed Seattle Sounders and 6th placed Minnesota United.
These losses have been against three of the top six teams in the Western Conference though, and Houston Dynamo may be able to find more luck against this Portland Timbers side who have played just 1 home match so far this season, which they lost 3-2.