The Portland Timbers play host to LAFC on Sunday in a MLS Western Conference fixture. Portland is sixth in the conference table at 11-13-8 on 46 points with a goal difference of +3. Portland is just three points ahead of eighth place Real Salt Lake and just the top seven quality for the postseason. Portland played to a 1-1 draw on the road versus Columbus Crew last time out, as Santiago Moreno scored an equalizer in second-half stoppage time (90'+5').
Portland is unbeaten in each of their last five matches with four wins and one draw. Since breaking for international play in June, Portland has just two losses. Jaroslaw Niezgoda is the leading goal scorer for Portland with nine, while Dairon Asprilla has scored eight. Sebastian Blanco is the leader in assists with seven, while two others have six assists each.'
LAFC sits at the top of the conference table at 20-4-8 on 64 points with a goal difference of +28. LAFC is tied on points with Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia in the race for the Supporters' Shield. LAFC defeated Houston 3-1 in its most recent MLS fixture. Carlos Vela scored a brace with goals in the eighth minute and first-half stoppage time. Ryan Hollingshead scored the other goal for LAFC in the 52nd minute.
LAFC had seven victories in the first 11 matches on the road this season with one draw and three losses. The 22 points taken in those 11 road matches were the third-most in the league, but since that time in early August, LAFC has taken just one point from five road matches. Cristian Arango is the leading goal scorer for LAFC with 16 and Carlos Vela has scored 11. Vela is the leader in assists with nine.
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Portland Timbers +175