New York City FC vs Portland Timbers Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 8/1/2020

by Tony Sink - 7/31/2020

Game: New York City FC vs Portland Timbers

Date: Saturday, August 1, 2020

Location: ESPN Sports Complex in Orlando, FL

TV: FS1

Odds/Point Spread: New York City (+120) Portland (+210)

Maximiliano Moralez and New York City FC (2-0-6, 12th in the Eastern Conference) are headed to ESPN Sports Complex on Saturday where they'll take on the Portland Timbers (5-2-1, 2nd in the Western Conference). The expected starting goaltenders will be Sean Johnson for New York City FC and Steve Clark for the Portland Timbers. The Timbers are priced at +210 while NYCFC is at +120. The over/under is set at 2.5.

New York City has controlled possession for 52.4% of games while they have success at dribbling 57% of the time (16th in Major League Soccer). They have launched 67 shots at their opponents goal with 22 being on target, which means they have a 32.8% shots on target percentage. NYCFC have tallied 2 goals this year, which ranks them 25th in MLS. Their players have caught 1,956 passes from teammates on 2,282 targets on the season, giving them a receiving percentage of 85.7%.

Maximiliano Moralez is a guy who should impact this matchup for NYCFC. He has totaled 53 assists while earning 37 yellow cards in his pro soccer career. Moralez has started 233 matchups in his career and accounts for 0.19 goals per 90 mins. The midfielder from Argentina has earned 44 goals scored (46th among active MLS players) in 20,315 professional minutes played. Someone else who should impact this match is Heber, the forward who hails from Brazil. He has assisted on a goal 9 times in his career while scoring 50 total goals. Heber has played 6,836 minutes during 81 career starts and has been handed 10 yellow card cautions. He averages 0.66 goals per 90 mins so far in his career (6th among active MLS players).

The man who will protect the net for New York City will be Sean Johnson. Johnson has seen the field for a total of 24,636 minutes and has earned 850 saves so far in his MLS career. His GA/90 is 1.36 (371 total goals given up) and his save % is .702. The goalkeeper from the United States has had 1,210 shots sent his way in 274 starting assignments. Johnson (103-81-90 record during his soccer career) has recorded 61 clean sheets, which has his sitting with a 22.3% shutout rate.

Portland has accumulated 2,277 pass targets on the campaign (11th in the league) with 1,968 completed passes. They hold a receiving percentage of 86.4% while they control possession of the ball 48.6% of the time. The Timbers have had success dribbling 60.9% of the time this season while tallying 8 goals. They have been able to connect on 42.6% of their SOT on 47 shots.

Sebastian Blanco should provide a lift for Portland. The forward from Argentina has been on the pitch for 15,935 minutes while scoring 44 goals (44th among active MLS players). He has accumulated 47 yellow cards in his career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 41 times. He sports an average of 0.25 goals per 90 mins and has started 69 outings thus far in his career. Make sure to keep an eye out for Felipe Mora, the forward who was born in Chile. He has 56 goals in his career while helping a teammate on a goal 5 different times. Mora has earned himself 14 yellow card warnings in 10,969 minutes played (126 career starting assignments). His goals per 90 min average in his pro soccer career is 0.46 (30th among active players).

Steve Clark will look after the net for the Timbers. Clark has racked up 50 shutouts while seeing 1,085 shots attempted against him in 19,611 career minutes. He sports a save % of .706 and his clean sheet rate is 22.9%. He has surrendered 1.47 goals per 90 minutes while earning a mark of 74-63-80. So far in his MLS career, Clark has given up 321 goals while totaling 766 stops in 218 starting assignments.

Who will win tonight's soccer game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Portland (+210)

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New York City FC vs Portland Timbers Predictions, MLS Picks, Betting Tips 8/1/2020

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