Our prediction for this MLS match:
Portland Timbers
Match Time & Date:
08/09/2018
10:30 PM
Prediction: 2-1
Colorado Rapids
Portland did well to end a four-match losing run that threatened to ruin their season, first defeating Toronto at home before sharing spoils with New England Revolution on the road. The Timbers now hope to further improve their position ahead of the play-offs and the game against out-of-sorts Colorado Rapids will seem like a good opportunity to add another three points to their tally. Rapids are low on confidence after the 2-0 loss to Los Angeles FC was followed by the embarrassing 6-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake and even though they will have had two weeks to recover, we don’t think their poor record on the travels will be improved this weekend. Portland have been pretty impressive on home soil this season, winning 11 of last 16 fixtures at Providence Park and we fully expect the bright run to continue.
Highlighted Player (Tim Howard):
Tim Howard is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the history of USA national football team. Howard is well known for his spell with English giants Manchester United. The experienced shoot-stopper played for the Red Devils from 2003 to 2007 and he spent the 2006/2007 season on loan at Everton.
At the end of the season he signed a permanent deal with the Goodison Park outfit and it has to be noted that he made no less than 354 league appearances for the Toffees. During the 2011/2012 Premier League campaign he scored his first and only goal for Everton as he found the net in a 2-1 loss to Bolton Wanderers. Thanks to the goal against Bolton he became the fourth goalkeeper to score a Premier League game.
In 2016 he decided to return to USA, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal with Colorado Rapids. Howard conceded 20 goals in 19 appearances for the Rapids in the 2016 MLS season and he managed to keep eight clean sheets. It is well known that the USA goalkeeper won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup with the Yanks.
Highlighted Team (Colorado Rapids):
Colorado Rapids is a Major League Soccer club and they compete in the USA professional soccer league as a member of the Western Conference. Colorado began their play in MLS back in 1996 and 14 years later they managed to win the MLS Cup trophy. The Rapids recorded a 2-1 win over FC Dallas in the final of the tournament, with George John scoring the winner for Gary Smith’s team in the extra time. Colorado made it to the MLS Cup final in 1997 as well, but D.C. United proved to be a big catch for the club in the title game.
The Rapids play their home games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and the venue has been Colorado’s home ground since 2007. It has to be noted that the likes of Tim Howard, Carlos Valderama, Claudio Lopez and Jermaine Jones were all part of the club in the past. Colorado’s colors are red, sky blue and white, but they were yellow shirts and blue shorts when playing on the travels.
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