Our prediction for this MLS match:
Portland Timbers
Match Time & Date:
27/03/2022
22:00
Prediction: 2-2
Orlando City
Portland Timbers and Orlando City square off against each other at Providence Park in what is expected to be an interesting MLS game. Portland aim to make amends for a heavy 4-1 loss to Dallas, and they are surely capable of matching Orlando in front of home fans. Both Blanco and Rasmussen are pushing for a start, while Poland international Niezgoda should continue to lead the line for the hosts.
The Lions, on the other hand, aim to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Los Angeles Galaxy. Orlando City regained a much-needed confidence at the weekend, which is probably the main reason why we predict they will hold Portland to a draw at Providence Park. The opposition back-line should have new recruit Facundo Torres at bay as he opened his goal-scoring account in the triumph over L.A. Galaxy.
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 (Orlando City):
Orlando City are a member of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer. The Lions have been participating in the major league since 2015 and they host their rivals at Orlando City Stadium. The venue was opened in February, 2017 and the construction of the stadium cost $155 million. Orlando City finished the 2015 MLS season in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and they failed to make it to the play-offs in the 2016 season as well (8th place).
Brazilian ace Kaka is undisputedly the club’s most famous player and the former Real Madrid and Milan man became the highest-paid player in MLS history. His base salary was $6.6 million per year and it has to be noted that the Brazilian superstar found the net on his Orlando City debut against FC Dallas (friendly). Orlando City’s home kit is violet, while they wear white and violet shirts and white socks on the travels. The club’s official mascot is Kingston the Lion.
