Orlando City vs Portland Timbers Picks and Predictions May 24th 2025

Martin Ojeda Leads Orlando City into Clash vs. Timbers

Orlando City SC and the Portland Timbers will both look to rebound from U.S. Open Cup exits when they meet in MLS play Saturday night in Central Florida.

Orlando (6-2-6, 24 points) suffered a 3-2 home loss to Nashville SC on Wednesday in the Open Cup Round of 16. Coach Oscar Pareja stuck with many regular starters, including Marco Pasalic, who notched a goal and an assist. Martin Ojeda also played 60 minutes in that match, continuing to anchor Orlando’s attack.

Check Out Our Latest Soccer Coverage For More MLS Analysis!

“We thought about rotations, and we took care of our offensive side today, probably more than our defensive side and our midfield,” Pareja said. “But let’s see, let’s see how it goes over the week.”

Ojeda, who has eight goals and three assists including a hat trick against the New England Revolution on May 10, continues to build an MLS MVP-caliber campaign. Orlando’s unbeaten streak of 13 matches across all competitions came to an end, and they’ll aim to bounce back quickly in league play.

For fans tracking MLS betting picks, Ojeda’s recent surge and Orlando’s strong home form make Saturday’s match one to watch.

Timbers Face Travel Test After Open Cup Exit

Portland (6-3-5, 23 points) endured 120 minutes of action on Tuesday in a 1-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in extra time, adding to their recent offensive struggles. The Timbers have only scored twice in their past four matches in all competitions.

Why Bet Blindly? Get Expert Advice From The Best Handicappers!

Santiago Moreno has accounted for both of those goals. The rest of the Timbers’ front line has gone quiet since their 3-2 Open Cup fourth-round win over Tacoma Defiance on May 6. Moreno didn’t feature in the midweek loss but is expected to play a key role Saturday.

“I still think we can be more — we can show more composure, more quality on the ball, and that’s something we need to keep working on,” said manager Phil Neville. “But I think the most important thing now is to accept it, lick our wounds and make sure that we’re ready for Orlando on Saturday.”

MLS Picks Delivered Daily

Unlock sharp insights with our experts.

Join Now!