NYCFC vs Portland Timbers Odds & Preview: MLS is Back Quarterfinals August 1
- A berth in the MLS is Back semifinal is on the line when the Portland Timbers take on New York City FC on Saturday night
- The Timbers ride a five-match unbeaten streak, but face a Pigeons squad riding high after their decisive 3-1 win over archrivals Toronto FC
- We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Saturday night’s quarterfinal clash in Orlando
The Portland Timbers will be aiming to extend their current unbeaten streak in league play to six matches when they take on New York City FC on Saturday in an MLS is Back quarterfinal matchup as +175 underdogs on Saturday, August 1 at 10:30 pm EST.
New York City FC vs Portland Timbers Odds
| Team | Moneyline Odds | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|
| New York City FC | +138 | O 2.5 (-148) |
| Portland Timbers | +175 | U 2.5 (+123) |
| Draw | +255 | n/a |
Odds taken July 30. For more betting options visit DraftKings Sportsbook
Timbers Unbeaten in Tournament
After finishing atop the Group F table with a 2-1-0 win-draw-loss record, the Timbers continued their winning ways in their first knockout stage contest, outlasting a surprising FC Cincinnati squad with a victory on penalties. Overall, the club now sports a 4-1-0 record in five league contests since suffering a 3-1 loss to Minnesota United in their MLS season opener, back on March 1.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐒 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭!
Who will take home the #MLSisBack Tournament title? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/z5SQhsvNUO
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2020
While the Timbers have steadily produced, earning at least a point in nine of their past 11 outings, a spotty offense remains a concern. Portland has managed to score more than three goals just once in their past 17 league outings, and have been outscored by a 23-21 margin despite compiling a respectable 7-4-6 record during that stretch.
Niezgoda, Ebobisse Driving Offense
Recent arrival Jaroslaw Niezgoda has provided the Timbers attack with a boost, opening the scoring in each of Portland’s past two matches. And despite being held off the scoresheet in Tuesday night’s narrow win over Cincinnati, Jeremy Ebobisse has also emerged as a threat on the attack, scoring three times so far in the tournament, capped by a crucial late-game marker in last week’s 2-2 draw with Los Angeles FC that clinched top spot on the group stage table.
Seba Blanco puts it on a platter for Jarek Niezgoda and finally, the breakthrough! #PORvFCC #RCTID pic.twitter.com/BD1OmhYHdH
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) July 29, 2020
But with the NYCFC offense showing signs of awakening from a lengthy slumber, a strong performance from goalkeeper Steve Clark will likely be key to the Timbers’ chances of advancing to the semi-final.
OH NO! 😶 pic.twitter.com/lFc0xGSfY3
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 29, 2020
The 34-year-old provided the Timbers’ offense with a little bit of breathing room last season while recording a sparkling 1.04 goals-against average over 24 starts, and atoned for a costly error that led to a goal on Tuesday with a crucial save during the shootout to seal the win over Cincinnati. Clark also rose to the occasion in his only previous meeting with NYCFC as a member of the Timbers, turning aside all five shots he faced in Portland’s 1-0 win.
New York City FC vs Portland Timbers Stats
| 1st in Eastern Conference (64 points) | Standing in MLS (2019) | 6th in Western Conference (49 points) |
| 1.85 | Goals per game | 1.53 |
| 1.24 | Goals against per game | 1.44 |
| 2-0-3 | W-D-L record in past five MLS matches | 4-1-0 |
NYC on the Rebound Following Lengthy Slide
New York City FC will try to build on their decisive 3-1 victory over Toronto FC in Round of 16 action when they face the Timbers on Saturday night as +138 favorites. The Pigeons have found new life in the MLS is Back tournament, eking out a berth in the knockout stage with a 1-0 win over Inter Miami that also put the brakes on the club’s five-match losing streak in league play.
The second-best offense in MLS lifted NYCFC to the top of the Eastern Conference standings last season. However, with their offense sputtering, the club made a speedy exit from the 2019 MLS Cup playoffs with a 2-1 loss to Toronto that marked the first of their five straight losses. Overall, the Pigeons tallied just two total goals during their recent slide, which featured recent group stage losses to Philadelphia and Orlando.
Pigeons Rewriting Narratives in Orlando
However, after capitalizing on their scoring opportunities in a huge morale-boosting win over their arch-nemeses from north of the border, NYCFC look poised to rewrite yet another narrative in their date with Portland.
List of MLS teams ever to win and shutout a single opponent in every road fixture against them (minimum 2 games played)-
Timbers at NYCFC 3 games#ThatsItThatsTheWholeList #RCTID— Mike Donovan (@TheMikeDonovan) July 8, 2019
The Pigeons enter Saturday night’s matchup at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando looking to end a stretch of three straight losses to Portland in league play, in which they have been held off the scoresheet. But if they can continue to play the patient soccer that proved key to their win over the Reds, the Pigeons have the tools to get past the Timbers and take yet another step towards shaking their reputation as a club that can’t win the big game.
Picks: New York City FC to win (+138)
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
