FC Dallas vs Portland Timbers: Match Preview and Prediction

By

 Stefan Altenbach

FC Dallas vs Portland Timbers
Major League Soccer 2016 (USA)
Date: Sunday; 4-September-2016
Kick-off: 02:00 UK / 9:00 pm Eastern Time
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Frisco (Texas).

FC Dallas look for a treble against Portland Timbers when the two sides meet for the third time in this season’s Major League Soccer on Saturday evening.

Dallas sit pretty at the top of the Western Conference table with 48 points and 5 points clear off the second placed Colorado Rapids. And they are coming on the back of a 3-1 away win at Huston Dynamo. With another 7 matches to play in this regular season, every point is extremely important for the side from Texas.

Portland Timbers are pushing for a place in the play-off zone and they sit 6th in the Western Conference table. But they have plenty of threat from San Jose Earthquakes at 7th at a 3 point gap 8th and 9th placed teams Seattle and Vancouver at 4 points behind them. The Timbers earned a thrilling 4-2 win against Seattle Sounders last weekend, which was a vital three points in their fight to hold on to the final play-off spot.

FC Dallas vs Portland Timbers: Head-to-Head

FC Dallas won in the first two meetings of the three match series against Portland this season. They won 3-1 away at Portland on April 2016 and 2-1 at home on May 2016.

Dallas will go in with a three match unbeaten run against Portland. They lost once in the last five home matches against the Timbers, while won 3 and drawn 1.

The last six consecutive meetings between these two sides have seen over 2.5 goals.

FC Dallas vs Portland Timbers: Prediction

Portland Timbers are the worst side in this season’s MLS and managed just 6 points on the road with as many draws from their 13 matches so far. Dallas are unbeaten at home and won 9 and draws 4 of their 13 matches. And on current form the home side should with this quite comfortably.

Dallas have also scored 2 or more goals in 11 of the 13 home matches this season and therefore backing them to score over 1.5 goals is a good option for this game. Also 10 of the last 11 games between these two sides have seen over 2.5 goals with both teams scoring.