Sporting KC vs Portland Timbers Prediction, 8/18/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Guy Bruhn - 8/16/2021

soccer picks Daniel Salloi Sporting KC predictions best bet odds

Game: Sporting KC vs Portland Timbers

Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Location: Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Kansas City (-175) Portland (+370)

Children's Mercy Park is the venue where Felipe Mora and the Portland Timbers (7-2-9, 7th in Western Conference) will play Sporting KC (11-4-4, 1st in Western Conference) on Wednesday. The expected starting goalkeepers will be Tim Melia for Sporting KC and Steve Clark for the Portland Timbers. The line on this game has Sporting KC priced at -175 and the Timbers are at +370. The total has been set at 2.5.

Kansas City played Dallas in their most recent game and notched a win by a score of 2-0. Sporting KC tried 21 dribbles in this matchup and were able to convert 11 of those tries for a rate of 52.4%. In the passing game, they finished with a 90.1% passes received percentage by connecting on 474 out of their 526 passing targets in their last outing.

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In terms of shooting accuracy, Kansas City ended this match at a 54.5% rate by putting 6 shots on target out of 11 shots. Kansas City sports an average of 1.84 goals per 90 (35 total goals) and have accounted for 22 assists In all contests for the year.

Daniel Salloi is a guy who should be able to impact this match for Sporting KC. Salloi has been in the starting lineup in 99 matchups in his career and he has earned 0.34 goals per 90 mins. The forward hailing from Hungary has totaled 34 goals in 9,119 mins. He has totaled 21 assists while tallying 10 yellow card cautions so far in his career.

Someone else who should impact this match is Alan Pulido, the forward representing Mexico. He has helped on a goal 23 times during his pro soccer career while scoring 72 total goals. Pulido has 14,354 mins during 148 starts and has been given a total of 17 yellow card cautions. He is averaging 0.45 G/90 during his soccer career.

The man protecting the net for Sporting KC is Tim Melia. Melia has played for 18,323 minutes and has 627 saves so far in his pro soccer career. His goals allowed per 90 mins is 1.24 (252 goals allowed) and he has a save % of 72.4. The keeper from the United States has seen 873 shots tried against him in 204 career starts. Melia (87-51-67 mark during his career) has accumulated 63 shutouts, which gives him a 30.9% clean sheet percentage.

In their last outing, Portland took a loss by a final score of 6-2 against Seattle. They finished the contest by converting 383 out of their 456 passes they tried for a rate of 84.0%. The Timbers had a 63.3% successful dribble rate by completing 19 out of the 30 dribbles they pursued. Portland converted 10 shots on goal out of their 22 shots tried which had them at a 45.5% rate when they last stepped onto the pitch. With 25 goals and 18 assists for all their matches, Portland sports an average of 1.39 goals and 1.00 assist per 90 minutes.

Felipe Mora should provide a lift for Portland Timbers. He sports an average of 0.48 goals per 90 and has started 146 matches in his career. The forward born in Chile has been on the pitch for 12,861 mins while scoring 69 goals. He has accumulated 14 yellow card warnings during his career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 9 times. Make sure to watch out for Diego Valeri, the forward representing Argentina. Valeri has been given 32 yellow card warnings in 20,632 mins played (233 career starting assignments). His G/90 average so far in his pro soccer career is 0.38. He has 86 goals in his career while assisting on a goal 66 different times.

Steve Clark will be looking after the net for Portland Timbers. In his career, Clark has allowed 353 goals while tallying 838 stops in 241 starts. He has allowed 1.47 goals per 90 minutes while he holds a record of 84-69-87. He holds a save % of 71.4 and his shutout rate is currently at 22.8%. Clark has recorded 55 shutouts while defending 1,191 shots against him in 21,617 mins in his career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Kansas City (-175)

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Sporting KC vs Portland Timbers Prediction, 8/18/2021 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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