It's early days in the Major League Soccer and both Portland Timbers and Cincinnati are still hoping for a flying start in order to set the tone for the season. Three points can make a big difference at this stage.
It's no vacation for neither Portland Timbers nor Cincinnati as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Portland Timbers form and stats
OK but not perfect. That could be the conclusion for Portland Timbers's two home games in the Major League Soccer so far this season, having collected 3 points here at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Field 17.
A draw after 90 minutes last time out for Portland Timbers, who played 1-1 against Cincinnati (after extra-time, 3-2 on penalties). That match was also played at this venue (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Field 17). Preceding that game was the away draw at Los Angeles FC that finished 2-2.
Jarosław Niezgoda was able to secure the draw 1-1 in the game against Cincinnati (after extra-time, 3-2 on penalties) after coming on as a substitute and scoring the final goal. In the starting lineup today?
The hosts are favourites to win this game, with an estimated chance of about 55-60% of that outcome. Earlier Portland matches with similar probabilities have ended with six wins, zero draws and zero defeats (from six games).
It's still early days, but we have some goal stats for the Portland Timbers at home in the league. 2 on target and 3 scored by the opposition; from 2 matches.
Cincinnati form and stats
It's not happening yet for Cincinnati on their Major League Soccer travels, with zero points from their first 2 away games. Maybe today will be different?
Cincinnati has to pack their bags again for the second away game in a row. Last time they traveled to Portland Timbers (after extra-time, 3-2 on penalties) for a Major League Soccer game that ended a draw (1-1). Before that, Cincinnati secured a home win against New York RB with the score 2-0.
Przemysław Tytoń had red hot gloves after the game against Portland Timbers (after extra-time, 3-2 on penalties), shaping the outcome of the game with seven saves made. The draw against Portland Timbers (after extra-time, 3-2 on penalties) came from a losing position. The Cincinnati manager J. Stam brought on Jürgen Locadia as a substitute and the player scored to make the scores level.
As mentioned above, the odds for this match puts the home team as favourites. Perhaps this eases the pressure on the away team, who are capable of producing an upset here on a good day. Looking at earlier matches with similar odds and Cincinnati playing away, we found three games. Results were zero away wins, zero draws and three home wins.
3 goals so far away for Cincinnati, while their defence has allowed the opposition to score 5. All from 2 league matches away.
Head 2 Head
The last H2H meeting was Portland - Cincinnati 1-1, played this season. H2H stats regardless of arena (last two matches): Portland zero wins, one draw and Cincinnati one victory. As for goals, one match ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), one game had two or less.Top Goalscorers
  D. Váleri 3 goals |  J. Ebobisse 3 goals | J. Niezgoda 2 goals |
Portland Timbers missing players
Cincinnati missing players
| Portland Timbers | Cincinnati | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 6 | 4 | 2 | Played | P | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | Won | W | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | Lost | L | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 9 | 5 | 3 | Scored | S | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | Conceded | C | 0 | 6 | 10 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 0% | 100% | 100% |
| 83% | 75% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 0% | 75% | 83% |
| 67% | 50% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 50% | 50% |
| 33% | 25% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 25% | 33% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 25% | 17% |
| 83% | 75% | 50% | BTTS | BTTS | 0% | 75% | 50% |
| 17% | 25% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 25% | 33% |
| 0% | 0% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 0% | 17% |
| 3.3 | 3.5 | 1 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 2.5 | 2 |
| 4.5 | 5.2 | 7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 4.8 | 5.7 |
| 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 70 | 52 | 17 | Total Shots | T S | 0 | 45 | 54 |
| 30 | 21 | 9 | Shots on Target | S O | 0 | 14 | 19 |
| 30% | 24% | 33% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 0% | 36% | 37% |
- Cincinnati have conceded at least twice as many corners as they have won.
- Cincinnati have scored in all their away matches so far.
- Cincinnati have won significantly more corners away than at home.
- Cincinnati haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- Portland Timbers have scored in all their matches so far.
- Portland Timbers haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Sporting KC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| 2 | Minnesota United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| 3 | Atlanta United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Colorado Rapids | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Dallas | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | Los Angeles FC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | Montreal Impact | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | New York RB | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Seattle Sounders | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Toronto | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 11 | Columbus Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 12 | DC United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Portland Timbers | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 3 |
| 14 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 3 |
| 15 | Real Salt Lake | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 16 | Chicago Fire | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| 17 | New England | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 18 | LA Galaxy | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| 19 | Orlando City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 20 | Philadelphia Union | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
| 21 | SJ Earthquakes | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 1 |
| 22 | Houston Dynamo | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 1 |
| 23 | Cincinnati | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 0 |
| 24 | Inter Miami | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 25 | Nashville SC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
| 26 | New York City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |