Portland Timbers vs Orlando City SC Prediction & Betting Tips - Major League Soccer

Prediction published on 09/08/2020, 14:26  by James | Modified on 09/08/2020 at 15:26 in Football Predictions

Portland Timbers and Orlando City are set to duke it out in the final of the MLS is Back tournament this Wednesday. Portland made it to this stage by beating Philadelphia Union 2-1 in their semi-final, Jeremy Ebobisse and Sebastian Blanco getting the goals. Orlando progressed to the final by disposing of Minnesota United in the semi-final, former Manchester United star Nani getting a brace in the 3-1 victory. Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League is at stake. Portland have participated in the Champions League twice before, crashing out in the group stage of each edition of the competition. Orlando have never qualified for it. It's a wonder that Orlando have made it to this stage, given how poorly they performed in the Eastern Conference last season. Yet despite that eleventh-placed finish, they have managed to dump out the likes of Los Angeles FC and Montreal Impact on their way to the final. FC Cincinnati and New York City FC were among the sides that Portland, who finished sixth in the Western Conference last season, beat in the knockout rounds before making it to the main event. Orlando's semi-final win was the first knockout win in which they scored more than one goal. For Portland, it was the fifth time in six matches that they scored at least two goals.

Orlando have dominated this fixture since they were founded in 2013, winning three of the five encounters. Chris Mueller, a striker with three goals in this competition, scored in the 3-2 victory back in 2018, while Portland's Ebobisse scored in the last encounter. Ebobisse has four goals in the tournament and with Sebastian Blanco, the competition's leading assist-maker with five, supplying opportunities, we wouldn't rule out him furthering his tally. Three of the five encounters between these teams featured both teams scoring and we can see a repeat occurring here. We ultimately see the more attacking Portland getting a rare triumph over Orlando. Back the Timbers to win and both teams to score.