Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union

Providence Park is the venue as Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union face off against each other in a Major League Soccer blockbuster.

Consistency issues have plagued Portland’s early season as they’ve alternated between winning (2) and not (D1, L1) across their opening four MLS outings, most recently succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at Houston Dynamo. It was their first scoring blank this term, but the home comforts of Providence Park should help them get back on the rails. Phil Neville’s men have traditionally rained down goals on home turf, with a 4-1 win against Colorado Rapids on day one maintaining that trend. Despite failing to build on the success in the follow-up, Portland’s free-flowing frontline netted twice in a dramatic 2-2 draw against DC United in their last home league game. The Timbers will need their attack at its best to avenge a 2-0 defeat in this corresponding fixture in 2023.

That victory halted Philadelphia’s two-game losing league streak at Providence Park and marked their only clean sheet on six visits to this venue (W1, D1, L4). However, Jim Curtin’s men have traveled poorly in the build-up to this contest, going winless in their last three competitive games on hostile turf (D2, L1), including an embarrassing 6-0 defeat at Mexican outfit Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions League. Both Philadelphia’s away league matches this season have ended level, with each game yielding an identical 1-0 halftime score (W1, L1 at HT). Philadelphia’s offensive set-up tends to show up late, with two of their three MLS away goals arriving beyond the hour mark.