Sunday's Major League Soccer predictions including LAFC vs. Houston Dynamo

Columbus Crew vs. Portland (Sunday, 6.00pm)

Caleb Porter will face the club that gave him his first head coaching opportunity in MLS as his Columbus Crew host the Portland Timbers at Lower.com Field on Sunday.

The Crew are only two points above the Eastern Conference playoff line after losing 2-1 to Inter Miami on Tuesday, while Portland are sixth in the West following a fourth consecutive triumph last weekend.

We say: Columbus Crew 1-1 Portland Timbers

Both teams have been relatively consistent over the past few weeks and have found ways to earn their share of points, and we expect a tight defensive battle between these sides this weekend.

DC United vs. Inter Miami (Sunday, 10.00pm)

With their 2022 MLS playoff hopes officially over, DC United have a chance to put a dent in the postseason aspirations of Inter Miami, who they host on Sunday at Audi Field.

The Herons came up with a massive 2-1 victory at home to the Columbus Crew earlier this week, while DC have one win in their previous 10 domestic encounters, falling 3-0 at Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday.

We say: DC United 0-1 Inter Miami

DC look like a broken team, and it is hard to blame them, seeing as they have suffered six defeats by three goals or more this season, as all year they have struggled to keep the ball out of their own goal.

Inter Miami do not have much more overall quality than the Black and Red, but they have two individuals in Higuain and Pozuelo who have shown that they are capable of leading this team to victory on numerous occasions, and we expect them to do exactly that on Sunday.

Los Angeles vs. Houston (Monday, 3.30am)

Los Angeles FC can officially clinch first place in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer when they host the Houston Dynamo at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday.

The Black and Gold have just one win in their previous six matches, drawing Minnesota United 1-1 on Tuesday, while the Dynamo won their first game under interim boss Kenny Bundy this week, 3-1 over the New England Revolution.

We say: Los Angeles FC 2-0 Houston Dynamo

LA have more wins at home than any side in MLS this season, while Orange Crush have the third-fewest road victories in the Western Conference.

Besides that, Houston do not have the individual quality to handle LAFC over 90 minutes, so expect them to hang back and try to make the score respectable, while we anticipate the Black and Gold will find a breakthrough eventually.