Portland Timbers at Houston Dynamo - 7/18/20 MLS Soccer Picks and Prediction

The Houston Dynamo face the Portland Timbers on Saturday, July 18th at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for an "MLS is Back Tournament" group stage match. 

It was a bittersweet result for the Houston Dynamo in the team's last game against LAFC on July 13th. Houston was the heavy underdogs in the match, but that did not stop the club from taking a 3-1 lead into halftime. Memo Rodriguez scored twice for the Dynamo, and Alberth Elis added one in added time in the first half. LAFC's new face Bradley Wright-Phillps, the former NY Red Bull, scored the lone goal of the first half for LAFC in the 19th minute. LAFC was able to mount an impressive comeback in the second half, as Diego Rossi and Brian Rodriguez scored six minutes between each other to tie the score at three. That would be the final score, as each team was able to earn a point in the draw. It is bittersweet for Houston because although the team was able to earn a point against one of the top teams in the MLS, Houston should have earned three via a win. 

Portland defeated the LA Galaxy in their first match of MLS is Back group stage action. The final score of that match was 2-1, as all three goals combined between the two teams were scored in the second half. Jeremy Ebobisse scored in the 59th minute to give Portland the 1-0 lead. Sebastian Blanco then scored only seven minutes after for Portland to extend that lead to 2-0. In the 75th minute, Portland's Dario Zuparic was sent off with a red card. LA finally found the back of the net with the man advantage in the 88th minute thanks to Javier Hernandez and that would be the only offensive strike for LA, as Portland was able to hold on for the victory.