Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union Prediction & Match Preview

• Portland Timbers bagged six goals in two home matches this season.
• Philadelphia Union will be without six first-team regulars at Providence Park.
• The Union shipped eight goals in the last two outings across competitions.

Portland Timbers suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend, falling 0-1 away at Houston Dynamo. It was an evenly-matched contest that could have easily gone the other way. The Timbers truly look revitalized under new manager Phil Neville. They have two wins, one draw, and one defeat in the inaugural four MLS affairs.

Portland will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday evening in the home clash against Philadelphia Union. The visitors are still searching for their first league win of the season. They drew in all three MLS outings so far. The run includes an eventful 2-2 stalemate away at Austin FC seven days ago.

Philadelphia Union will find it very hard to snatch their maiden win of the season. They will be without six players who started the aforementioned draw at Austin. All six had to leave the team’s camp and join their respective national sides.

Recent Meetings

Philadelphia Union have ended Portland’s dominance in this matchup by picking up clean-sheet wins in the previous two head-to-head meetings.

Portland still have a dominant home record in this matchup, though. The Timbers won four, drew one, and lost one of the previous six home outings against the Union.

We’ve seen three or more goals in all but one of the last eight H2H clashes.

Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union Prediction

Philadelphia Union will be without their first-choice keeper Andre Blake, joint-top scorer Daniel Gazdag, and four more first-team regulars in the likes of Nathan Harriel, Damion Lowe, Jose Martinez, and Jack McGlynn. Jim Curtin’s troops have generally been struggling to perform so far in the season even with the full squad available. To make things worse, they are up against an in-form opposition on Saturday. Portland Timbers got off to a fantastic start to the new season. They also have four wins, one draw, and one loss in the last six head-to-head games against Philadelphia at Providence Park. The home win is the way to go and you can back it at the 2.25 odds.

The Timbers have scored six goals in two home fixtures so far in the season. Philadelphia Union allowed eight goals in their previous two matches across competitions. The run includes a painful 0-6 loss at Pachuca in the last-16 round of the CONCACAF Champions League. As seven of the last eight H2H meetings between these counterparts also provided three or more goals, we have to take the Over 2.5 goals pick at the 1.72 odds.

Steffen Schmidt- March 21, 2024

Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union Betting Tips

Portland Timbers to win

OK

2.25 Odds

Over 2.5 goals

OK

1.75 Odds

Correct Score: Portland Timbers 3-1

OK

17.00 Odds