Our prediction for this MLS match:
Dignity Health Sports Park will host Saturday’s MLS game between Los Angeles Galaxy and Portland Timbers, the two teams who sit in the opposite halves of the table. L.A. Galaxy quickly bounced back from a 3-0 loss to Houston Dynamo, with the team outplaying Austin 4-1, and they must be high on spirits ahead of the visit of Portland Timbers. Dejan Joveljic is widely expected to return to the starting XI after scoring a brace in the last league match, while all Kljestan, Villafana, and Saldana should miss out with injuries.
The Timbers, on the other hand, suffered yet another dip in form, with the team losing each of their last three league fixtures. Portland struggle at the back, which is yet another reason why we are going to put our money on Chicharito and Co. The likes of Fochive, Gutierez, Sulte, and Mora have been struggling with injuries of late, speaking of the away side.
Highlighted Player (Jorge Villafaña):
Jorge Villafana is an American footballer who began his senior career at Chivas USA. Villafana was born in Anaheim, California on September 16, 1989 and he played for the likes of Santa Ana DSP Juventus and Chivas USA during his youth career.
Nowadays, the American footballer plays for Portland Timbers, but it has to be noted that he made no more than eight appearances for the club in the 2018 season. In 2015, though, Jorge Villafana did well to win the MLS Cup in 2015 and three years later he clinched the Liga MX trophy (Clausura) with Santos Laguna.
Speaking of his international career, the Portland Timbers man made his full USA debut in a friendly against Serbia on January 29, 2017. Over the years Villafana has established himself as a first-choice left-back in the national team. His main position is left-back, but he is capable of playing as a left midfielder as well. The USA international has a dual citizenship (USA, Mexico).
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.