Our prediction for this MLS match:
Portland Timbers
Match Time & Date:
27/02/2022
01:30
Prediction: 3-2
New England Revolution
After suffering a loss to New York City in the 2020 MLS Cup final, Portland Timbers will look to kick off the new season in style when they face New England Revolution on Sunday. The last season finalists head into the match following a 3-0 warm-up win over Real Salt Lake, which is surely giving fans a reason for optimism ahead of the visit of New England Revolution.
Midfielder Eryk Williamson remains in the recovery room, while a man to watch in the home team will be Felipe Mora, who scored 11 goals in the MLS last term. The Revs, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in their last warm-up game, with the team losing by four goals to nil to Los Angeles Galaxy. Even though Bruce Arena has a full squad to choose from, we are tempted to put our money on Portland, who impressed in the 2020 MLS season.
Highlighted Player (Dario Zuparic):
Dario Zuparic is a Croatian footballer, who plays for Pescara as a defender. Zuparic played for the likes of Sladograna Zupanja, NK Granicar Zupanja and Cibalia during his youth career. He continued playing for Cibalia at senior level and he made 57 league appearances for the Croatian outfit from 2011 to 2013.
In 2013 he signed a contract with Pescara and made 21 appearances for the team in the 2013/2014 Serie B campaign. Zuparic quickly established himself as a first-team regular at Pescara and it has to be noted that he played 36 games for the Delfini in the 2015/2016 season. The Pescara highly rated defender was born in Croatia, but he started playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He has 3 caps for Bosnian and Herzegovina U19 team, but he eventually decided to represent Croatia on the international stage. Zuparic has 5 caps for Croatia U20 and he played three matches for Croatia U21. The 188-cm-tall footballer was born on 3 May, 1992 in Zupanja.
Highlighted Team (New England Revolution):
Unlike famous NFL club New England Patriots, the Revolution have yet to win the domestic trophy. New England participated five times in the MLS Cup final, but they were more than fortunate not to lift the silverware. The Revs played their last final in 2014, with the team losing to LA Galaxy in the title game at StubHub Center. New England Revolution, though, clinched the North American SuperLiga trophy in 2008 and that is considered as the club’s biggest success.
It has to be noted that the Revs defeated Houston Dynamo on penalties in the final of the tournament. New England Revolution were founded in 1994 and Gillette Stadium is the home ground of the club. Legendary defender Alexi Lalas played for the Revolution (1996-1997) and he scored three goals for the Gillette Stadium outfit. Fellow USA ace Clint Dempsey was part of the team as well and you should know that he netted 25 goals in 71 league appearances for the club.
