Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers Predictions, Odds, Picks

• The home side will be on the hunt for their first win over their opponents from Oregon in nearly two years 
• The Timbers have recently had the upper hand in these meetings, but that domination might end on Sunday
• LAFC will look to Carlos Vela for the magic again

Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers Odds

Los Angeles FC to win

Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers Prediction

Los Angeles FC were on fire on the opening weekend and will be the ones to back once again. They won with ease against the Colorado Rapids while Portland Timbers had to fight back twice to earn a draw.

The Timbers were up against the New England Revs and needed an overhead kick from Yimmi Chara to earn a draw. They did not have a good game, and coach Giovanni Savarese will be looking for a better performance this weekend.

Los Angeles FC looking to ride on Carlos Vela’s form again

Carlos Vela started with a bang last weekend and scored the first hat-trick of the 2022 MLS season. The Mexican striker has been LAFC’s best player for some time, and he will be eyeing the Golden Boot.

The former Real Sociedad and Arsenal star won the award in the 2019 edition of MLS by notching a record 34 goals, but has not reached anywhere close to those numbers in the last two seasons. He missed the majority of the two seasons due to MCL and Hamstring injuries but is now back to full fitness and gunning for the Golden Boot again.

LAFC will be looking to ride on Vela’s form once again and make it to the playoffs this season. They finished 9th in the Western Conference last season, after picking up just 12 wins from their 34 games.

While they finished just 3 points outside the playoff places, the management decided it was time to move on from Bob Bradley and hired Steve Cherundolo despite his dismal record with Las Vegas Lights FC in the USL. In his short spell in Vegas, the former United States assistant manager lost 23 of his 32 games in charge and managed just six wins.

However, LAFC has decided to take the gamble, and given how they played in the opening game, it might well work out.

Portland Timbers aiming to go all the way this season

Missing out on the championship hurts, and when it happens by losing a penalty shootout in the final, there is nothing worse. Felipe Mora scored a dramatic injury-time winner for Timbers in the 2021 MLS Cup final to take it to extra time and penalties, but he missed his kick in the shootout that ended in a 4-2 loss against New York City FC.

This season, the Timbers are looking to go all the way and lift the trophy at the very end but have not started the season well. They were held on the opening day of the season by New England Revolutions after the away side took the lead twice.

Yimmi Chara scored a goal-of-the-season contender on the opening day to seal a draw for the Timbers. The Colombian was left unmarked in the box and despite having all the space and time in the world to control the ball and slot it in, the winger chose to score via an ultimately stunning overhead kick to help his side pick up a point.

Savarese will be looking for a much better performance from his players on Sunday night, but they are up against a side that is full of confidence. The Timbers hadn’t been at their best in pre-season, with just two wins in six matches, including two defeats to Viking FK.

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