Portland Timbers (2-3-3) travel to face off against Columbus Crew (3-1-4) on Saturday, April 20th. This match will be played at Lower.com Field in Columbus, OH. Both Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew ended their previous matches with a draw. The match is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.

Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew

Portland Timbers Is Coming Off A Draw

The Portland Timbers will be looking to get back on the winning track after picking up a draw vs. Los Angeles FC. This match finished in a 2-2 tie, and even though they were at home, they went into the match with a money line payout of +188.

Portland’s offense took a total of 10 shots, four of which were on goal. The four combined goals fell short of the pre-match over/under line of 4.5 goals and surpassed the payout line of +175.

Two of the four goals for the Timbers came from Felipe Mora and Evander, with Evander also picking up the assist on Evander’s goal. Overall, the offense finished with two assists and a total of four corner kicks.

On the defensive end, the Timbers’ goalie unit made a total of two saves, with each goalie making one save apiece. The defense, as a whole, blocked three shots and intercepted nine passes.

Through eight matches, the Portland Timbers have struggled to find consistency, going 2-3-3 overall, which puts them 10th in the Western Conference. They have drawn their last two matches, and their last win came back on March 17th. Overall, they have just one win on the road, going 1-2-1. Following this match, they will head out on the road once again to take on Los Angeles FC on April 28th.

Columbus Crew Is Coming Off A Draw

The Columbus Crew played to a draw in their last match, taking on Real Salt Lake. This match was played on the road, and despite the match being level, they were heavy underdogs +320.

Heading into the match, the over/under line was set at 2.5 goals, and the offensive unit didn’t score on any of their 12 total shots or four shots on goal. The club’s attack was led by Gyasi Zardes and Pedro Santos, who finished with three shots each.

On the defensive end, the Columbus Crew did a good job of keeping Real Salt Lake off the scoreboard, despite Real Salt Lake taking a total of 16 shots. The defensive unit also blocked four shots and intercepted 12 passes.

Through eight matches, the Columbus Crew have a record of 3-1-4, putting them in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. They have been on a draw streak, tying their last three matches. At home, the Crew have yet to lose, going 3-0-1. Overall, they have been favored in seven of their eight matches, going 3-1-3 in those contests. Following this match against the Portland Timbers, the Crew will be back at home on Saturday, April 27th, taking on CF Montréal.

Portland Timbers Offense Breakdown

The Portland Timbers have been one of the most efficient offenses in MLS this season, ranking fifth in the league with 1.9 goals per match. They have scored more than their season average in three straight matches. Evander has been their top scorer, finding the back of the net four times, which is ninth in the league. He also leads the team in shots on goal, ranking 23rd in MLS. Overall, the Timbers are 20th in shots on goal and 29th in corners.

Columbus Crew Offense Breakdown

So far this season, the Columbus Crew have been one of the most efficient passing teams in MLS, leading the league with an 86.9% passing percentage. However, they have struggled to generate shots on goal, averaging just 4.4 per match, which is 19th in the league. This has been the case in each of their last five matches. Cucho Hernández has been their top goal scorer this season, finding the back of the net three times, which is 19th in MLS. He has also taken 10 shots on goal, which is 12th in the league.

Portland Timbers Defense Breakdown

The Portland Timbers’ defense has struggled this season, allowing the second-most goals per match (2.0) in the MLS. They are also 22nd in blocked shots and 23rd in interceptions. Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau has yet to record a clean sheet this season and is 19th in saves. Over their last five matches, they have allowed 2.4 goals per match, including three matches where they allowed three goals. Their last match was against the 8th-ranked scoring offense in Los Angeles FC, and they allowed two goals.

Columbus Crew Defense Breakdown

Heading into their match against the Portland Timbers, the Columbus Crew’s defense is currently ranked 1st in MLS, allowing just 0.9 goals per match. However, they are 15th in blocked shots and 17th in interceptions. Keeper Patrick Schulte is 11th in clean sheets and 29th in saves. Over their last four matches, they have given up five goals, including two matches against teams in the bottom five in scoring.

Portland Timbers vs Columbus Crew Prediction

Given that Columbus comes in as the top defense in the MLS, our projections have this one finishing in a 1-1 draw, with the payout at +320. Looking at the matchup, we have Cucho Hernandez as the player with the best chance to score for Columbus. On the other side, Jonathan Rodriguez is the top projected goal scorer for a Portland team that is 5th in goals scored but is taking on a tough Columbus defense.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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