St. Louis City II vs Portland Timbers II Prediction: Key Stats and Betting Tips

St. Louis City II welcome Portland Timbers II to CITYPARK on 18 July 2026 in a compelling MLS Next Pro Group Stage clash between two sides firmly in the playoff conversation. With both clubs tracking towards the MLS Next Pro Play Offs, this meeting in Missouri should have a direct impact on seeding and momentum heading into the business end of the campaign.

The hosts sit on 29 points from 18 matches, fourth in the Frontier Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference, with a perfect split of 10 wins and 8 defeats. Portland Timbers II arrive top of the Pacific Division on 34 points from 18, and third in the Eastern Conference, backed by an impressive away record. For bettors and fans searching for St. Louis City II vs Portland Timbers II prediction and MLS Next Pro betting tips, this fixture offers a classic contrast: St. Louis’ high-scoring, high-variance style against Portland’s more balanced, defensively solid profile.

Played at CITYPARK, where St. Louis City II have been strong, this matchup also renews a familiar rivalry. The sides have met regularly since 2022, with St. Louis historically dominant, but the latest encounter in October 2025 went Portland’s way. That recent shift, combined with Portland’s better current form, sets up a finely poised contest in which the visitors are marginally favoured to avoid defeat.

St. Louis City II vs Portland Timbers II Key Stats

• St. Louis City II have 29 points from 18 matches (10 wins, 0 draws, 8 losses), scoring 29 and conceding 30 in the standings.
• Across their last five head-to-head meetings since May 2023, St. Louis City II have won four times, with Portland Timbers II winning once (2–1 on 05 October 2025).
• In 2026 team statistics, St. Louis City II average 1.8 goals scored and 1.8 conceded per match, while Portland Timbers II average 1.4 scored and 1.4 conceded, with Portland recording 9 clean sheets to St. Louis’ 4.

St. Louis City II vs Portland Timbers II — Tale of the Tape

• Position: 4 vs 1 (division ranks: St. Louis City II in Frontier Division, Portland Timbers II in Pacific Division)
• Points: 29 vs 34
• Goals For: 29 vs 23
• Goals Against: 30 vs 22
• Clean Sheets: St. Louis City II 4 vs Portland Timbers II 9 (2026 team statistics)

In the 2026 standings, St. Louis City II’s 29 points from 18 games leave them with a negative goal difference (-1), reflecting their open, high-scoring approach: 29 goals for and 30 against. They are fourth in the Frontier Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference, in a position that currently aligns with the MLS Next Pro Play Offs 1/8-finals pathway.

Portland Timbers II, by contrast, sit top of the Pacific Division and third in the Eastern Conference with 34 points and a +1 goal difference (23 scored, 22 conceded). While they score less than St. Louis, they concede fewer and have kept more than double the number of clean sheets in 2026 statistics. Their away record is particularly strong: 7 wins and only 2 losses from 9 road games, with just 9 goals conceded away from home.

St. Louis City II vs Portland Timbers II Key Matchups

St. Louis attacking unit vs Colin Griffith

There is no individual St. Louis City II player listed among the top scorers or top assists, underlining how their 32 goals in the 2026 statistics are spread across the squad. They average 1.8 goals per match, with strong home output at 2.3 goals per game. On the other side, Portland’s attacking focal point in the data is Colin Griffith, who appears in the top scorers, top assists, and top cards lists. He has made 1 appearance as a forward in MLS Next Pro 2026, with 0 goals and 0 assists so far, but his repeated presence across leaderboards suggests he is central to Portland’s attacking plans even if the end product has yet to arrive this season.

The key battle will be whether Portland’s forward line, led by Griffith, can exploit St. Louis’ defensive vulnerability (32 goals conceded in 18 matches in the broader 2026 statistics) while also preventing St. Louis’ collective attack from turning the game into a shootout, as seen in previous high-scoring meetings between these sides.

Portland defensive structure vs St. Louis transition play

Portland Timbers II’s defensive unit has been one of their strengths in 2026. They have conceded only 25 goals across 18 fixtures in the extended statistics, with a particularly impressive away record: 9 goals conceded in 9 road games and 7 away clean sheets. Their defensive consistency is backed by strong tournament statistics on clean sheets (9 total) and a relatively controlled goals-against average of 1.4 per game.

St. Louis City II, meanwhile, concede at the same rate they score (1.8 per match both for and against), and their goals-against distribution shows a significant share of concessions in the 61–75 minute window. If Portland’s midfielders such as Lucas Fernandez-Kim and V. Enriquez can control tempo and feed the front line during that phase, St. Louis’ transition defence could again be exposed in the second half.

Head-to-Head: Last Meetings

These teams have built up a rich recent history in MLS Next Pro, with several high-scoring encounters and a penalty shootout. St. Louis City II have generally had the upper hand, especially at CITYPARK, though Portland took the most recent league meeting.

• 05 October 2025: Portland Timbers II 2-1 St. Louis City II (MLS Next Pro)
• 24 May 2025: St. Louis City II 6-3 Portland Timbers II (MLS Next Pro)
• 07 April 2024: St. Louis City II 1-1 Portland Timbers II (MLS Next Pro, St. Louis won 5-3 on penalties)
• 19 August 2023: St. Louis City II 4-1 Portland Timbers II (MLS Next Pro)
• 26 May 2023: Portland Timbers II 1-2 St. Louis City II (MLS Next Pro)

St. Louis City II vs Portland Timbers II Prediction

Stats suggest a tight, tactically interesting contest. St. Louis City II are strong at CITYPARK with 6 wins from 8 home league matches in the standings and an average of 2.3 goals scored at home in 2026 statistics. However, their recent trajectory is concerning: the standings form string “LLLLWO” indicates a run dominated by defeats, with just one win and one other positive result in their last six league outings.

Portland Timbers II arrive with superior recent form and underlying metrics. Their last five fixtures show 8 goals scored and 7 conceded, and their last-five form index is stronger (60 in form, 47 in attack, 59 in defence) compared to St. Louis’ 20, 29, and 24. The prediction model gives Portland a 45% chance of winning, with a 45% chance of a draw and only a 10% chance for a St. Louis victory. The advice leans towards a double chance on draw or Portland Timbers II, reflecting both their away strength and St. Louis’ current slump.

Given the head-to-head history at CITYPARK, where St. Louis have often found goals, it is reasonable to expect both teams to score. But Portland’s defensive solidity and away record suggest they are more likely to manage the game and take at least a point.

Predicted Score: St. Louis City II 1-1 Portland Timbers II

St. Louis City II Recent Form

St. Louis City II’s league form in the standings is “LLLLWO”, indicating a difficult spell with a sequence of four straight defeats followed by a win and one other positive result. In the broader 2026 statistics, they have 10 wins and 8 losses from 18 matches with no draws, underlining their boom-or-bust nature. They have scored 32 goals and conceded 32 across those fixtures, reflecting both attacking potency and defensive frailty.

Portland Timbers II Recent Form

Portland Timbers II’s standings form reads “WOWLWL”, showing a mixed but generally positive run with three wins and three losses in their last six league games. Over the 18 matches in 2026 statistics, they have 11 wins and 7 defeats, again with no draws. Their last-five indicators (form 60, attack 47, defence 59) point to a side performing at a higher and more consistent level than St. Louis, especially at the back.

St. Louis City II Possible Starting Lineup

GK: B. Lundt or C. Welsh; Defenders: K. Hiebert, L. MacNaughton, F. Fall, S. Paris; Midfielders: E. Löwen, T. Ostrák, M. Perez, C. Pearson; Forwards: Jeong Sang-Bin, P. Ault.

St. Louis City II have a deep squad listed, with multiple goalkeepers (including B. Lundt and C. Welsh) and a solid defensive core featuring experienced options such as K. Hiebert and L. MacNaughton. In midfield, creative and experienced profiles like E. Löwen and T. Ostrák can drive the team forward, while attacking options such as Jeong Sang-Bin and P. Ault give them pace and movement up front. With no injuries reported, the coaching staff have flexibility to adjust between a more aggressive front-foot setup and a slightly more conservative shape to protect a defence that has conceded 32 goals in 18 statistical fixtures.

Portland Timbers II Possible Starting Lineup

GK: H. Sulte; Defenders: B. Alex, C. Ferguson, Charles Ondo, S. Jura; Midfielders: Lucas Fernandez-Kim, V. Enriquez, M. Kissel; Forwards: Colin Griffith, Andrew Guerra, N. Santos.

Portland Timbers II’s squad list suggests a youthful but well-balanced group. In goal, H. Sulte offers experience at 23, protected by defenders like B. Alex and Charles Ondo. The midfield options of Lucas Fernandez-Kim and V. Enriquez provide energy and ball progression, while the attacking line of Colin Griffith, Andrew Guerra and N. Santos can stretch defences. Portland’s strong away defensive record and 9 clean sheets in 2026 statistics imply a compact, organised structure, likely built around a disciplined back four and hard-working midfield line.

St. Louis City II Team News

No significant absences reported.

Portland Timbers II Team News

No significant absences reported.

Injuries & Suspensions

St. Louis City II:

• None reported.

Portland Timbers II:

• None reported.

Betting Tips: St. Louis City II vs Portland Timbers II

Exactly 3 distinct tips from different markets:

• Result Tip: Double chance – Draw or Portland Timbers II. With the prediction model assigning 45% to a Portland win, 45% to a draw, and just 10% to a St. Louis victory, combined with Portland’s excellent away record (7 wins from 9 in 2026 statistics) and stronger recent form, backing Portland to avoid defeat looks the most data-aligned result market play. (No odds available in the current data.)
• Goals Tip: Both Teams to Score – Yes. St. Louis City II average 1.8 goals for and 1.8 against per game across 18 fixtures, and their home matches tend to be high scoring (2.3 scored, 1.4 conceded on average). Head-to-head meetings have often produced goals on both sides, including scorelines of 6-3, 4-1, and 2-1 since 2023. That pattern supports a BTTS angle. (No odds available in the current data.)
• Value Tip: Portland Timbers II Clean Sheet – No. While Portland have 9 clean sheets in 2026 statistics and are defensively strong, St. Louis’ attacking output at home and their history of scoring multiple times in this matchup suggest the hosts are likely to find the net. Fading a Portland clean sheet – for example via markets that back St. Louis to score at least once – could offer value, particularly given St. Louis’ 32 goals in 18 statistical fixtures. (No odds available in the current data.)

Odds are accurate at the time of writing and subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.