Our prediction for this MLS match:
Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers face each other at Talen Energy Stadium in what is expected to be a close MLS encounter. The U’s have been impressive at the back of late, with the team eyeing their third consecutive clean sheet in the Major League Soccer. You should bear in mind that under 2.5 goals have been netted in each of their previous five league fixtures. Brazil international Ilson should be the only absentee in the home team.
Portland Timbers, on the other hand, head into the match following back-to-back wins over San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles Galaxy. Considering that the visitors look solid at the back as well, a low-scoring affair is on the cards at Talen Energy Stadium. Chile international Felipe Mora should be recalled to the starting XI after scoring a brace in the triumph over LA Galaxy, with injured attacker Andy Polo dropping to the bench.
Highlighted Player (Andre Blake):
Andre Blake is a Jamaican goalkeeper who plays for MLS club Philadelphia Union. Blake was born in May Pen, Jamaica, on November 21, 1990, but he went to the UConn college in United States of America. The 193-cm-tall shoot-stopper spent three years playing college football and in 2014 he signed a professional contract with Philadelphia Union.
Andre Blake made his debut for the U in July 2014 in a friendly game against Crystal Palace and he played his first MLS match against Montreal Impact. Speaking of his international career, the goalkeeper made his Jamaica debut on March 2, 2014 in a 2-0 victory over Barbados. Later that year Andre Blake won the Caribbean Cup with the Reggae Boyz as they defeated Trinidad and Tobago on penalties in the title game.
Over the years Blake has established himself as a first-team regular and, no doubt, there is a bright future ahead of him. The Philadelphia Union shoot-stopper wears the number 18 on his shirt.
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.