Bradley Carnell is optimistic about St. Louis City’s attacking prowess after their thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Miami last week. The team is gearing up to host the Portland Timbers on Saturday, and Carnell sees the result as a turning point in their season. Despite sitting 11th in the Western Conference, three points behind the Timbers, St. Louis showed promise in their performance against Miami.
Carnell praised his team’s ability to score three goals and create numerous chances against a counter-pressing Miami side with a full roster. He believes that their success lies in exploiting space during transitions, which has been their bread and butter. The coach is excited about the development of some of the players and hopeful for the upcoming games.
On the other hand, the Timbers have been on a positive run, earning seven points from their last three matches and securing a playoff position. They drew 2-2 with the Houston Dynamo and achieved wins against Sporting Kansas City (2-1) and Austin FC (2-0). Phil Neville, the Timbers’ boss, acknowledged the challenge of playing against St. Louis, describing them as a high-pressing team that doesn’t give opponents a moment on the ball. The players have trained well and are focused on the upcoming game.
In terms of players to watch, Indiana Vassilev stands out for St. Louis City. He scored his second goal of the season against Miami and has been instrumental in creating key passes for his team. For the Timbers, Evander has been impressive with seven assists and seven goals this season, a feat achieved in fewer appearances than any other Portland player in previous years.
Looking ahead to the match, St. Louis City and Portland both secured 2-1 away wins over each other last season. These games took place before the end of April, and three of the six goals were scored in the 75th minute or later. St. Louis has had 15 regular-season games with at least three goals scored, more than any other team since joining MLS last year. With Portland’s leaky defense, which has conceded 32 goals in just 17 matches, St. Louis City could find success.
According to Opta, St. Louis City has a win probability of 43.5%, while the Timbers have a win probability of 29.7%. A draw is predicted to have a probability of 26.8%.
In conclusion, St. Louis City’s draw with Miami has given them confidence heading into their match against the Portland Timbers. Both teams have shown promise in recent games, and it will be an exciting contest to watch.
