Austin FC vs. Portland Timbers 8/31/22 - Major League Soccer Picks & Predictions

Austin FC hosts the Portland Timbers on Wednesday in a MLS Western Conference fixture. Austin is second in the conference table at 15-6-6 on 51 points with a goal difference of +22. Austin is only six points adrift of first place LAFC. Austin picked up a big victory at home last Friday when defeating LAFC 4-1. Maximiliano Urruti scored a brace with goals in the 47th and 51st minute, while Diego Fagundez scored in the 32nd minute and Sebastian Driussi scored in the 59th minute.

With its 4-1 victory against LAFC last Friday Austin has 51 points which is 20 points more than during its first MLS campaign last year, which is the second largest improvement by any expansion side from year to year. Sebastian Driussi is the leading goal scorer for Austin with 19, while Maximiliano Urruti has scored nine. Diego Fagundez is the leader in assists with 11.

Portland is eighth in the conference table at 8-12-8 on 36 points with a goal difference of 0. Portland took all three points at home last Friday when defeating the Seattle Sounders 2-1. Dairon Asprilla opened the scoring for Portland with an equalizer in the 41st minute after Seattle had scored in the 8th minute. Sebastian Blanco scored the eventual winner with a goal in the 51st minute.

Portland has won only three of its 30 matches in the MLS played in Texas with 12 draws and 15 losses. This past April, Portland battled to a draw in Houston in its most recent match played in the Lone Star State. Jaroslaw Niezgoda is the leading goal scorer for Portland with nine while Sebastian Blanco has scored seven. Blanco is also the leader in assists seven and Santiago Moreno has five, as does Eryk Williamson.