Our prediction for this MLS match:
Portland Timbers
Match Time & Date:
19/09/2018
10:30 PM
Prediction: 1-1
Columbus Crew
Providence Park will host Thursday’s football game between Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew, the two teams who are eyeing a place in the play-offs. Portland Timbers experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a heavy 4-1 loss to Houston Dynamo, but it is well known that they produce much better showings at home than on the travels. Columbus Crew, on the other hand, played out a goalless draw with Dallas at the weekend, with the team extending their unbeaten run in the Major League Soccer to three games. A close encounter is on the cards and seeing that both sides are likely to adopt a cautious approach in the midweek clash, we believe that there is a big value in betting on draw. It has to be noted that both teams found the ne in each of their last five meetings in MLS.
Highlighted Player (Cristian Martinez):
Cristian Martinez is a Columbus Crew midfielder who was born in Panama City on February 6, 1997. Martinez began his senior career in 2012 at local club Chorrillo, but after four years he was sent on loan to MLS club Columbus Crew. The Panama footballer found the net for Columbus on his MLS debut on June 1, 2016, becoming the youngest goal scorer in the club history.
Cristian Martinez played for the likes of Pittsburgh Riverhounds and FC Cincinnati on loan as well, but in 2018 he returned to the MAPFRE Stadium outfit. The Columbus footballer made his debut for Panama national football team against El Salvador on February 18, 2016, coming as a substitute for Armando Cooper in the 78th minute of the match.
Martinez made his first start for Panama in a 1-0 loss to Nicaragua in a friendly game on March 16, 2016. The Columbus midfielder has five caps for Panama U20 team as well as he represented los Ticos at the 2017 CONCACAF U20 Championship.
Highlighted Team (Columbus Crew):
Columbus Crew are an American soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The Black & Gold participate in the Eastern Conference and in 2008 they won both the conference and the MLS CUP final. Columbus Crew defeated New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final, with the likes of Moreno, Marshall and Hejduk scoring for the Black & Gold in the title game.
The club welcome their rivals at Mapfre Stadium, the venue which was opened on May, 15 1999. The current capacity of the stadium is 19.968 and it has to be noted that Mapfre Stadium is the first soccer-specific venue ever built for a MLS club.
A number of high-profile players were part of Columbus Crew in the past, but Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the most famous footballer that wore the black and yellow shirt. Schelotto played for Columbus Crew from 2007 to 2010 and during his spell with the Mapfre Stadium outfit the Black & Gold won the aforementioned MLS Cup.
