Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers Prediction, 3/4/2023 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 2/28/2023

Game: Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers

Date: Saturday, March 4, 2023

Location: Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, CA

TV: Apple TV - Free

Odds/Point Spread: Los Angeles (-198) Portland (+500) Banc of California Stadium is the site where the Timbers (11-13-10 last season) will take on Los Angeles FC (21-4-9 last year) on Saturday. LAFC opens at -198 and the Timbers are at +500. The over/under has been set at 2.75. The expected starting goalies will be John McCarthy for Los Angeles and Aljaz Ivacic for Portland.

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The LA Football Club were 1st in the category of expected goals having 62.2, and the expected goals against came in at 34.6. Los Angeles relinquished 38 goals while giving up 1.12 goals per 90 min, and opponents tallied 116 shots on target on them. This team's differential on goals was sitting at 28 by 66 goals accumulated and also 38 goals given up. They accounted for 9 clean sheets, which gave them a % of 26.5% over the course of last season. Los Angeles had a total of 80 saves and earned a save rate of 70.7 the prior year. Los Angeles earned 79 yellow card warnings the previous season in addition to 2 red cards. The previous season, the club finished with an average of 1.97 pts/match (67 points) and also sat at 6th in MLS with 41 assists.

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Last year, Portland had a save percentage of 69.9 (173 SoTA), and also sat at 16th in MLS with 46 points. The Timbers put together an average of 1.35 points per match while amassing 35 assists and 5 red cards. Portland recorded 53 goals and this team's goals expected over the course of last year was 50.3. Portland recorded a clean sheet % of 17.6% the previous season and 94 yellow card warnings. Their goals against per 90 minutes was at 1.56 in addition to 121 saves, and they accumulated 6 clean sheets. Portland ranked 13th in the category of goals surrendered with 53, and the squad's difference in goals was at 0.

The man who will protect the net for Los Angeles will be John McCarthy. His goals allowed per 90 mins is 1.18 (139 total goals given up) and he is the owner of a save percentage of .730. McCarthy (45-34-38 mark in his career) has accounted for 37 clean sheets, which gives him a 31.6% clean sheet rate. McCarthy has been on the field for 10,591 mins and has accumulated 340 stops during his pro soccer career. The goalkeeper from the United States has had 466 shots sent in his direction in 117 career starting assignments.

Aljaz Ivacic will reside in front of the net for Portland. Ivacic has accumulated 17 clean sheets and has defended 443 shots tried against him in 7,971 minutes throughout his career. He holds a save percentage of .682 and his shutout rate is 19.3%. He has conceded 1.64 goals per 90 mins while he holds a mark of 29-29-30. Thus far in his career, Ivacic has surrendered 145 goals and has 302 stops in 88 starting assignments.

Kwadwo Opoku is a guy who can be a difference maker for Los Angeles. The forward representing Ghana has totaled 7 goals in 2,109 professional minutes played. Opoku has been given a starting assignment in 23 outings during his career and he tallies 0.30 goals per 90 mins. He has totaled 4 assists while accumulating 1 yellow card during his pro soccer career.

Portland has a guy in Santiago Moreno, who defenders will be preparing in this game. He scores 0.24 goals per 90 mins and has been in the starting lineup in 55 contests thus far in his career. The forward from Colombia has accumulated 4,885 mins and he has scored 13 goals. He has 6 yellow card cautions so far in his career and has helped on a goal 14 times.

Who will win tonight's MLS game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Portland (+500)

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Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers Prediction, 3/4/2023 MLS Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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