New York City FC will be vying for their first MLS Cup title when they visit the Portland Timbers on Sunday to battle for this year’s crown as slim 2.54 favourites on the soccer futures at Sports Interaction. The Pigeons ride an eight-match undefeated streak into their first-ever MLS Cup final appearance, capped by a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union in last weekend’s Eastern Conference final. The Timbers return to action riding a six-match win streak after knocking off Real Salt Lake by a 2-0 score in the Western Conference final. However, Portland sports odds as long as 2.75 of clinching victory inside 90 minutes on Sunday, and raising the MLS Cup for the first time since 2015.
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Portland Timbers vs New York City FC
Sunday, December 12, 3:00 pm ET
Providence Park, Portland
Club Records
NYCFC: 14-9-11, 51 points (4th, Eastern Conference)
Timbers: 17-4-13, 55 points (4th, Western Conference)
Timbers vs NYCFC Betting Trends
Sunday afternoon’s matchup marks the first meeting between these clubs since August 2020. The Timbers have dominated New York City in head-to-head action, posting wins in five of six all-time meetings, and have outscored the Pigeons by a wide 8-1 overall margin while taking home the win in each of their past four clashes. While that run features a decisive 3-0 victory on home turf back in 2018, NYCFC’s lone victory over the Timbers came in Portland, a 2-1 win back in 2016.
NYCFC advances to first-ever MLS Cup!
2-1 the happy final in Philly in Eastern Conference Finals! #NYCFC will face Portland in #MLSCup next Saturday at 3 pm on @ABC7NY ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/vrnrILk8pL
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) December 5, 2021
The Timbers proved to be a force on home turf this season. The club has earned three points in 13 of 19 home dates so far this season and has surrendered just one total goal during their current 4-0-0 run at Providence Park. That steady performance has helped this club overcome the long 21.50 odds to win the MLS Cup that they sported at the beginning of the season, and which now sit at a short 1.90 at Betway.
The Portland Timbers celebrate winning the 2015 MLS Cup in Columbus #GoTimbers https://t.co/vLuJv6MTbU pic.twitter.com/nznMf9F5l2
— Timbers on Fanly (@fanly_timbers) December 14, 2015
Lagging well behind the early favourites on the MLS futures as a 7.22, NYCFC struggled badly on the road during the regular season, posting just two wins over their final 13 road matches. However, they have emerged as road warriors during the postseason, first knocking off the heavily favoured New England Revolution in the first round before punching their ticket to the final with last week’s win in Philadelphia. The club’s current 3-0-0 road surge marks their longest win streak away from home since May 2019.
Portland Timbers News & Notes
Set to host the MLS Cup for the first time since joining the league in 2011, the Timbers enjoy good health going into the weekend. Forward Dairon Asprilla is set to return to play after missing the Western Conference final due to a red card. Asprilla was key to the Portland attack this season, finishing second in team scoring with 10 goals, with seven of those markers on home turf.
Mora hits the post ❌
Asprilla hits the back of the net ✅ pic.twitter.com/XzdpHHcqoP— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 30, 2021
Asprilla’s return provides a big boost to a Portland attack that has scored 10 total goals during their four-match home win streak. And after ending a nine-match scoring drought in league play by tallying the winner in last week’s victory over RSL, Felipe Mora will be aiming to score in consecutive for the first time since September. Mora tops all Timbers strikers as a 300 bet to score at any time on Sunday, while Asprilla offers value as a 3.45 wager.
Sports Interaction
To extend his goalscoring streak to seven matches by scoring the first goal in Sunday’s MLS Cup final
5.60
New York City FC News & Notes
The Pigeons will also field a healthy starting XI in Sunday’s matchup with the addition of the Valentin Castellanos, who returns to action after missing last week’s victory in Philadelphia due to a red card. The leading goalscorer in the MLS during the regular season with 19 goals, Castellanos has potted eight markers during his current six-match goalscoring streak, including three total goals over his past two road appearances.
Valentín Castellanos gives NYCFC the lead in the 2nd overtime against the #NERevs pic.twitter.com/SN6BEMCmEj
— Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL) December 1, 2021
And as Castellanos goes, so go the Pigeons, with the club avoiding defeat in all but one of the 17 matches in which he has scored this season. With the talented 23-year-old opening the scoring in three of NYCFC’s past six contest, he offers exceptional value as a 5.60 bet to score the first goal on Sunday afternoon.
Best Bets: New York City FC win in 90 minutes (2.62) at Bet99
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