The Thorns will be without forwards Christine Sinclair (Canada) and Alex Morgan (USA), defender Rachel Buehler (USA) and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc (Canada), who are in Toronto for Sunday’s international friendly between the United States and Canada.
Sinclair and Morgan, with four goals apiece, have scored eight of the Thorns 12 goals so far this season.
The Red Stars will be missing starting goalkeeper Erin McLeod, defenders Carmelina Moscato and Rachel Quon (national team duty with Canada), and midfielders Shannon Boxx (injury) and Lauren Fowlkes (retired).
This will be the third meeting this season between Portland and Chicago. The Thorns won each of the first two games, both in Lisle, Ill., 2-0. The Red Stars are 0-4-2.
Portland enters this match off consecutive shutout wins over Washington and Seattle, and on a stretch of 190 minutes without conceding a goal.
To provide depth, the Thorns have added goalkeeper Cris Lewis, midfielder Amanda Dutra and defender Carlie Davis as amateur players for Saturday’s match.
Parlow Cone refused to say who might play instead of her missing stars, and also declined to say if the changes might include a formation adjustment. She said she built her roster.
“This is a great opportunity for the players,” she said. “It’ll be interesting to see who steps up to the challenge.”
The United States and Canada will play an exhibition match at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The match will be broadcast live on ESPNews.
Timbers U-23s win
Goals from forward Clark Phillips and midfielder Victor Souto lifted the Portland Timbers U-23s to a 2-0 win over the North Sound SeaWolves on Friday before 5,897 fans at Jeld-Wen Field on Friday afternoon.
Clark County native Nick Palodichuk started in midfield and had an early scoring chance for the Timbers U-23s in the Premier Development League match.
The Timbers U-23s (4-0-0) lead the PDL’s Northwest Division. Phillips scored five minutes before halftime and Souto tallied in the 89th minute.
On Saturday, the Timbers U-23s visit the Kitsap Pumas in Bremerton, Wash. The 7 p.m. match opens a stretch of four consecutive road matches for the Timbers U-23s.
