We have a complete round of fixtures in Major League Soccer this weekend and present our analysis of an intriguing cross-conference clash.
The game between Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union takes place on the 24th of March at Providence Park.
The hosts begin this round of matches in 3rd place in the Western Conference on 7 points from 4 games while the visitors are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference on 3 points from 3 matches played.
Mikael finds the back of the net to equalize after Nate sends a dangerous ball into the box ⚡️Watch FREE with #MLSSeasonPass on @appletv: https://t.co/tzzhgSfBtG#DOOP | #ATXvPHI 2-2 pic.twitter.com/A8wmJWzdkp— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) March 17, 2024
Mikael finds the back of the net to equalize after Nate sends a dangerous ball into the box ⚡️Watch FREE with #MLSSeasonPass on @appletv: https://t.co/tzzhgSfBtG#DOOP | #ATXvPHI 2-2 pic.twitter.com/A8wmJWzdkp
Portland Timbers come into the match having lost 1-0 at Houston Dynamo last weekend in the MLS. The only goal of the game was scored in the 43rd minute and Portland Timbers failed to make the breakthrough in the second half.
The defeat at Houston Dynamo was the first loss in the MLS this season for Portland Timbers. They started the campaign with a good 4-1 home victory over Colorado Rapids and beat New York City 2-1 away in the league.
There was also a 2-2 draw at home with DC United sandwiched between those two victories.
Statistics show Portland Timbers are undefeated in 6 of their 7 most recent home matches in the MLS.
They score plenty of goals when playing at home in the league and Portland Timbers have scored 2 or more goals in 8 of their last 9 MLS fixtures on home soil.
However, they have also failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 of their last 11 home MLS matches.
Philadelphia Union make the trip to Providence Park on the back of a 2-2 draw at Austin last weekend in the MLS.
Philadelphia Union opened the scoring in the 14th minute to lead 1-0 at the interval. However, Austin came back strongly in the second half, equalising in the 56th minute and taking the lead 2 minutes later.
Philadelphia Union struck back to make it 2-2 in the 65th minute.
The draw at Austin means Philadelphia Union have failed to win any of their last 6 competitive fixtures in all competitions.
There was a disappointing 6-0 loss at Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and draws against Chicago Fire at home in the MLS, Pachuca at home in the Champions Cup, and Sporting Kansas City away in the MLS.
The MLS game with Seattle Sounders was suspended due to bad weather.
Trends show Philadelphia Union are undefeated in 13 of their last 15 Major League Soccer games.
However, they have recorded just 1 win from their 8 most recent away trips in the league, with both teams scoring in 6 of those 8 matches.
Team news: Portland Timbers are without the injured quartet of Zac McGraw, Felipe Mora, Marvin Loría, and Claudio Bravo.
Philadelphia Union have three players unavailable for this game, with Holden Trent, Isaiah LeFlore, and Leon Flach in the treatment room.
Given the teams form home and away respectively, we expect to see them both find the back of the net in this match. Philadelphia Union struggle to win on the road in the MLS and this could end with a narrow one goal margin of victory for Portland Timbers.