Austin FC will be looking to pick up a fifth consecutive home victory when they play host to Portland Timbers at the Q2 Stadium on Wednesday.
The Timbers head into the midweek tie unbeaten in each of their last five games against the home side since November 2021 and will be looking to extend this impressive run.
Match preview
© Reuters
Austin FC continue the struggle for results on their travels as they played out a 1-1 draw with San Jose Earthquakes when they squared off at PayPal Park.
The Quakes were made to rue their wasteful display in front of goal as Brendan Hines-Ike struck in the 44th minute to cancel out Jeremy Ebobisse's 10th-minute opener and force a share of the spoils.
Austin FC have now failed to win six of their seven away matches this season — losing three and claiming three draws — and have won just one game on the road since July 2023.
Josh Wolff's men now return home, where they are on a five-match winning streak, scoring 12 goals and keeping two clean sheets since a 2-2 draw against Philadelphia Union on March 17.
However, Austin will need to be at their best on Wednesday as they take on an opposing side whom they had failed to get the better of in each of their last five encounters, losing four and claiming one draw since a 3-1 victory in August 2021.
Portland Timbers, on the other hand, made it two home wins on the bounce last time out as they edged out Sporting Kansas City 2-1 when the sides squared off at Providence Park.
Following a relatively uneventful first half, Felipe Moura and Evander scored either side of Memo Rodriguez's 62nd-minute equaliser to condemn the Loons to their seventh defeat of the season.
After a slow start to the campaign, Phil Neville's men have picked up four wins and four draws in their 15 MLS matches to collect 16 points and rise into 10th place in the Eastern Conference table, level on points with 11th-placed St Louis City.
While Portland Timbers will be looking to pick up where they left off at the weekend, they have struggled to get going away from home, where they are on a seven-game winless run, picking up just two points from a possible 21 since March's 2-1 victory at New York City FC.
Team News
© Reuters
Austin FC will have to cope without Irish full-back Jon Gallagher, who missed the game against San Jose Earthquakes through a groin injury.
In his absence, former Columbus Crew man Hector Jimenez should retain his role in the back four, teaming up with Julio Cascante, Hines-Ike and Brazilian left-back Guilherme Biro.
Colombian midfielder Santiago Moreno has missed Portland Timbers' last two matches after picking up an injury against San Jose Earthquakes on May 16 and is a major doubt for Wednesday's game.
He is joined on the club's injury table by Costa Rican defender Marvin Loria, who has been out of action since coming off with a severe knee injury back in January.
Mora was involved in both goals against Sporting Kansas City last time out and the 30-year-old striker, who now has seven goals and one assist in 11 league matches, will be one to keep an eye on.
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Jimenez, Cascante, Hines-Ike, Biro; Pereira, Valencia; Obrian, Driussi, Wolff; Rubio
Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Araujo, Zuparic, Miller; Mosquera, Ayala, Evander, Paredes, Asprilla; Rodriguez, Mora
We say: Austin FC 2-0 Portland Timbers
Austin will be licking their lips as they take on an inconsistent Portland side who have failed to win their last seven away matches. Wolff's men have been near impenetrable at the Q2 Stadium this season and we see them claiming all three points in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
