Our prediction for this MLS match:
Austin FC
Match Time & Date:
02/07/2021
03:30
Prediction: 1-1
Portland Timbers
Austin will be aiming to put an end to their eight-game winless run when they take on Portland Timbers at Q2 Stadium on Saturday morning. Austin have been playing some low-scoring games of late, with under 2.5 goals being netted in each of their last six league fixtures. Josh Wolff’s troops obviously struggle in front of goal, which is probably the main reason why home win should not be considered. All Hoesen, Lima, Schoenfeld, Segura, and Sweat are likely to miss the game with injuries.
Portland, on the other hand, have been having their ups and downs in June. The Timbers aim to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Minnesota United, but beating Austin on the road is easier said than done. Taking everything into account, a close encounter is on the cards in Texas. All Paredes, Polo, Niezgoda, Jome, and Attinella have been struggling with injuries of late.
Highlighted Player (Andres Flores):
Nicknamed Ruso, Andres Flores joined River Plate youth academy in 2006. Flores played for River Plate’s Reserves from 2006 to 2008 and he was producing terrific displays with los Millonarios. However, he began his professional career in his homeland club Isidro Metapan, scoring ten goals in 95 appearances for the Salvadorian outfit. In 2012 he signed a loan deal with Danish club Viborg, but he played only one game for the Greens.
Andres Flores was then sent on a loan to New York Cosmos and after making eight appearances for the MCU Park outfit, he signed a permanent contract with the club in 2015. The El Salvador midfielder, who is capable of playing as a striker as well, made his debut for New York Cosmos on August 2, 2014 in a 1-0 loss to Carolina RailHawks.
Speaking of his international career, Andres Flores received his first call-up for the El Salvador national football team in March, 2008 in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.
Highlighted Team (Portland Timbers):
Founded in 2009, Portland Timbers is a soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers are well known for their green kit and their secondary colours are red and black. Portland welcome their opponents at Providence Park and the capacity of their home ground is 21.144.
The club hold a long-running rivalry with Seattle Sounders as the two clubs used to face each other in the North American Soccer League. In 2015 Portland Timbers did remarkably well to win the MLS Cup and that is considered the club’s biggest success.
The Timbers defeated Columbus Crew in the final of the tournament and it has to be noted that the title game was hosted by Mapfre Stadium (Columbus).
Former Premier League footballer Liam Ridgewell played for Portland in the 2015 MLS Cup final against Columbus Crew. Speaking of the club’s supporters, you should have in mind that the Timbers sold out almost every home game in the MLS. Portland’s main supporters group is the Timbers Army.
