Portland Timbers vs St Louis City Sc Picks and Predictions June 8th 2025

St. Louis City Eyeing Another Win Under New Coach Against Rested Timbers

St. Louis City heads into Saturday’s road clash with the Portland Timbers with renewed energy and belief after snapping their 11-match winless skid. Now under interim manager David Critchley, St. Louis will try to ride that momentum against a Portland side returning refreshed after a 10-day break.

Both teams are hoping to build consistency as the playoff race in the Western Conference tightens. St. Louis City (3-8-5, 14 points) still faces an uphill battle but showed signs of life in Critchley’s debut, while Portland (7-4-5, 26 points) aims to maintain its spot above the playoff line.

Want Smarter Soccer Bets? Check Out the Latest Winning Picks and Trends

St. Louis Shows Aggressive New Mindset Under Critchley

Last weekend’s 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes wasn’t just a much-needed three points — it also marked a clear tactical shift. Rather than sit back late, St. Louis stayed aggressive after conceding an equalizer and pushed for a winner.

“Yes, they equalized late and gave us a little bit of adversity,” Critchley said. “It’s OK. We’re changing things around here. We don’t sit back in them moments, we go and try and win a football game. And that’s what they done.”

Joao Klauss and Eduard Lowen each scored their second goals of the season in the win, with Lowen converting a stoppage-time penalty earned by Klauss.

It was just the fourth time this season St. Louis has scored multiple goals in an MLS match — a key stat as they prepare to face a Portland squad that has started finding its scoring rhythm.

Rested Timbers Looking to Keep Momentum

Portland will return to action fresh off a rare 10-day break following a 2-1 home win over Colorado on May 28. The victory snapped a run of six matches without multiple goals, thanks to strikes from Antony and Kevin Kelsy.

“I’ve got to say that it felt really good,” said coach Phil Neville. “We were on this treadmill of game after game after game… the players were running on empty a little bit.”

Join the MLS Winner’s Circle

Join now—it’s free.

Sign Up Free!

Now rejuvenated, Portland will look to extend their strong home form. Kelsy and Antony both have five goals this season, and the Timbers’ balanced attack could pose problems for a St. Louis defense that has struggled much of the year.

With both clubs entering with something to prove, this is an ideal match for fans and bettors to explore Soccer Predictions and Betting Picks as momentum and match fitness could be key deciding factors.

Looking to Beat the Book on Soccer? Unlock the Top Expert Betting Guide