TIMBERS AT SAN JOSE
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara University.
TV: Live on KPTV (Comcast cable channels 12 and 712), Spanish telecast on Estralla (Comcast channel 307).
Radio: AM 750/FM 101 (AM 940 Spanish broadcast).
Records: San Jose is 5-8-9, eighth in the West. Portland is 7-10-4, seventh in the West.
Why to watch: Portland needs another strong performance to build momentum after beating Los Angeles — and to get a leg up on San Jose in the playoff chase.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Portland Timbers
Forwards: Jorge Perlaza, Kenny Cooper.
Midfielders: Darlington Nagbe, Sal Zizzo, Jack Jewsbury, James Marcelin.
Defenders: Mike Chabala, Eric Brunner, David Horst, Lovel Palmer.
Goalkeeper: Troy Perkins.
Key alternatives: F Brian Umony, MF Peter Lowry, D Rodney Wallace, D Mamadou “Futty” Danso, D-MF Jeremy Hall, GK Adin Brown.
San Jose Earthquakes
Forwards: Chris Wondolowski, Alan Gordon.
Midfielders: Ramiro Corrales, Khari Stephenson, Brad Ring, Jacob Peterson.
Defenders: Bobby Convey, Bobby Burling, Nana Attakora, Tim Ward.
Goalkeeper: Jon Busch.
THE MATCHUP
Chara suspended: Diego Chara, Portland’s only designated player, is suspended for one game because of yellow card accumulation.
Unsettled middle: With Chara suspended and captain Jack Jewsbury considered a game-day decision because of a hamstring injury, Portland coach John Spencer might have to decide who joins James Marcelin in the center of his midfield. His options include Peter Lowry, moving Lovel Palmer from right back, or shifting Darlington Nagne inside and starting Kalif Alhassan out wide.
Spencer says: The Portland coach calls Chris Wondolowski a natural goal-scorer. Wondolowski leads San Jose with eight goals this season.
NOTABLE
• Gordon, again: Alan Gordon, who was the A-League rookie of the year for the Timbers second division club in 2004, might start up front for San Jose. He played against the Timbers in their loss at Toronto, but was traded to San Jose on July 14.
• Injury report: San Jose — Out: MF Andre Luiz (knee injury); DF Ike Opara (foot injury); Questionable: DF Steven Beitashour (leg injury); FW Alan Gordon (quadriceps strain); MF Simon Dawkins (hamstring strain); Probable: DF Jason Hernandez (calf strain) . . . Timbers — Out: DF Kevin Goldthwaite (knee ACL rupture); FW Spencer Thompson (R knee); Probable: FW Bright Dike (Achilles rupture); DF Jeremy Hall (groin soreness); MF Jack Jewsbury (hamstring strain); GK Troy Perkins (R hip soreness).
Suspended — Portland: Diego Chara (through Aug. 7). Warnings (suspended next yellow card) — San Jose: Alan Gordon … Portland: Rodney Wallace.
