Portland Timbers vs Sporting Kansas City Predictions

• Portland have lost only two of their last ten MLS home games in 90 mins (W6, D2)
• Sporting Kansas City have conceded first in six of their nine MLS games this season.
• Both teams have scored in the last three head to head meetings with Portland victorious in two of them.

Timbers can capitalise on Sporting’s slow starts

Portland Timbers will try to take advantage of Sporting Kansas City’s tendency to concede the first goal when the two sides meet at Providence Park this weekend.

The Wizards have allowed their opponents to score the opener in six of nine matches this season and in three of four on the road.

It’s as if Peter Vermes’ side need to fall behind to trigger their best form and that was the case again in a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Austin FC last weekend.

Portland have been very solid at home this term with only Western Conference leaders Seattle Sounders able to knock them off their stride between victories over Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy.

The Timbers are unbeaten in three straight versus Sporting KC and, given the visitors’ propensity to go behind, we are taking them to win this one.

There have been three or more goals scored in the last three meetings between Portland and Sporting KC, so it should be worth taking the hosts to win and Over 2.5 goals in the game too.

Last month, the Wizards lost 3-1 at Real Salt Lake, who are one place below Portland in the standings right now, and we like the chances of the Timbers cutting them down to size with the same result.

*To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.