It’s about time that the Portland Timbers snapped their poor run of results and Chivas USA might just be the side to give them a sniff of a chance in a midweek game.
Despite a change of manager Portland continued their downward spiral (as predicted) although no-one would have predicted the right score. David Beckham and Robbie Keane scored a braceapiece; and Landon Donovan had a goal and an assist en route to a Los Angeles Galaxy 5-3 victory on Saturday night.
Best begun, then undone
It looked to be “New Manager, New Results”, and Portland fans couldn’t have asked for a better start as the Timbers took a 1-0 lead in the third minute thanks to a Kris Boyd goal off a cross from Kalif Alhassan. But things took a turn for the Galaxy BIG style when (that man) Beckham sent the ball into the back of the net in the 20th minute to tie the game, soon it was 2-1 when Becks sent a free kick past Timbers’ ‘keeper Troy Perkins just four minutes later. Donovan made it three with his seventh goal of the season, on a penalty kick in the 26th minute, before passing to Robbie Keane for an easy tap in, on 28 minutes.
Goals goals goals galore!
4-1 with just a third of the game gone, you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was all over bar the shouting, but the Timbers seemed to be unable to recognise defeat (odd considering its regular occurrence). Kosuke Kimura cut the deficit back to 4-2 when Galaxy keeper Josh Saunders scuffed a shot in the 35th minute. Six goals in one half was more goals than anyone had any right to expect, and it was no surprise that the second half didn’t quite live up to the hyper-hype of the first, but there were still a couple of strikes left in the game.
Robbie Keane quieted cheers from the home side for a fightback when he restored an LA three goal cushion in the 64th minute to make it 5-2 but in a display of grit and determination (that bodes well for Thursday’s match) Kris Boyd kept on fighting the good fight and added a consolation goal in the 70th minute for Portland.
The game ended 5-3 to LA but no-one could have complained that they were not entertained.
Portland are now dead last in the Western Conference tied with FC Dallas on 19 points but with a slightly worse goal difference. A win against Chivas, a team just one point ahead of Portland would be an absolute tonic for the falling Timbers.
There really is no place like home
Portland HAD boasted a respectable 5-2-2 record at home, before the Galaxy match, but Portland haven’t won away all season... BUT there’s no time like the present to start putting that right. Chivas have a poor home record of 2W 2D 6L, which will offer some hope to the Timbers. It’s not much hope though as Portland are 0-2-6 on the road.
Big hands barring Portland’s way
Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, is in no form to do Portland any favours. Kennedy's managed to keep his goals-against average to just 1.06 (the second lowest in the league for a regular netminder). More significant is the fact that he’s managed five shutouts and hasn't given up a goal in his last 228 minutes of MLS play. If you want to back a Portland win, don’t back many goals.
Don’t expect another eight goal stunner, if anything bet on this game ending under 2.5 as the last two Chivas games have ended goalless, and Chivas have only scored three goals in their last five games. Even going up against a defence as watertight as a colander (Portland have conceded 13 in their last five) won’t see Chivas do a Galaxy.
The last three games between these sides have only seen five goals in total, and each game has been decided by just one goal.
Last time these teams met at Chivas it was a 1-0 victory for the home side, a repeat of that score is well worth a bet. But I have a feeling in my bones that after the spanking Portland endured against the Galaxy they will have turned a corner and will snap out of their road skid.
Soccer Betting Prediction: Portland ---
Best begun, then undoneIt looked to be “New Manager, New Results”, and Portland fans couldn’t have asked for a better start as the Timbers took a 1-0 lead in the third minute thanks to a Kris Boyd goal off a cross from Kalif Alhassan. But things took a turn for the Galaxy BIG style when (that man) Beckham sent the ball into the back of the net in the 20th minute to tie the game, soon it was 2-1 when Becks sent a free kick past Timbers’ ‘keeper Troy Perkins just four minutes later. Donovan made it three with his seventh goal of the season, on a penalty kick in the 26th minute, before passing to Robbie Keane for an easy tap in, on 28 minutes.
Goals goals goals galore!
4-1 with just a third of the game gone, you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was all over bar the shouting, but the Timbers seemed to be unable to recognise defeat (odd considering its regular occurrence). Kosuke Kimura cut the deficit back to 4-2 when Galaxy keeper Josh Saunders scuffed a shot in the 35th minute. Six goals in one half was more goals than anyone had any right to expect, and it was no surprise that the second half didn’t quite live up to the hyper-hype of the first, but there were still a couple of strikes left in the game.
Robbie Keane quieted cheers from the home side for a fightback when he restored an LA three goal cushion in the 64th minute to make it 5-2 but in a display of grit and determination (that bodes well for Thursday’s match) Kris Boyd kept on fighting the good fight and added a consolation goal in the 70th minute for Portland.
The game ended 5-3 to LA but no-one could have complained that they were not entertained.
Portland are now dead last in the Western Conference tied with FC Dallas on 19 points but with a slightly worse goal difference. A win against Chivas, a team just one point ahead of Portland would be an absolute tonic for the falling Timbers.
There really is no place like home
Portland HAD boasted a respectable 5-2-2 record at home, before the Galaxy match, but Portland haven’t won away all season... BUT there’s no time like the present to start putting that right. Chivas have a poor home record of 2W 2D 6L, which will offer some hope to the Timbers. It’s not much hope though as Portland are 0-2-6 on the road.
Big hands barring Portland’s way
Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, is in no form to do Portland any favours. Kennedy's managed to keep his goals-against average to just 1.06 (the second lowest in the league for a regular netminder). More significant is the fact that he’s managed five shutouts and hasn't given up a goal in his last 228 minutes of MLS play. If you want to back a Portland win, don’t back many goals.
Don’t expect another eight goal stunner, if anything bet on this game ending under 2.5 as the last two Chivas games have ended goalless, and Chivas have only scored three goals in their last five games. Even going up against a defence as watertight as a colander (Portland have conceded 13 in their last five) won’t see Chivas do a Galaxy.
The last three games between these sides have only seen five goals in total, and each game has been decided by just one goal.
Last time these teams met at Chivas it was a 1-0 victory for the home side, a repeat of that score is well worth a bet. But I have a feeling in my bones that after the spanking Portland endured against the Galaxy they will have turned a corner and will snap out of their road skid.
Soccer Betting Prediction: Portland ---
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