<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Timbers MatchDay: vs. Earthquakes

By , Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter
Published:

Earthquakes at Timbers

Kickoff: 8 p.m. Sunday at Providence Park.

TV / radio: ESPN2 / AM 750.

Tickets: Limited seats available. Timbers.com or 503-553-5555.

Timbers notes: The Timbers cheered the shift of kickoff to 8 p.m., explaining that the cooler conditions on the field should make for a more energetic contest. The game was originally slated to start at 2 p.m., in the heat of the day on a surface known to be as much as 50 degrees warmer than the air temperature. The Timbers (8-6-4, 28 points) entered the weekend third in the Western Conference. Portland is 5-1-3 at home this season. The Timbers have won four consecutive home matches with shutouts over D.C. United, New England and Houston and last weekend’s 4-1 win over Seattle. The Timbers were eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 loss on Wednesday at Real Salt Lake. Coach Caleb Porter lamented that Portland hasn’t played a Cup match against a MLS foe at home in the last four seasons. “We knew that was going to be a touch road (match), but we put out a strong lineup and it didn’t fall for us.” … Players who did not play on Wednesday included Darlington Nagbe, Diego Chara, Alvas Powell, Will Johnson, while Diego Valeri and Fanendo Adi played limited minutes at RSL. … As of Friday, Porter said the status of Nagbe (shoulder) and Chara (ankle) was still being evaluated. … Powell will join Jamaica for the Gold Cup tournament following Sunday’s match. … The Timbers lead the series with San Jose in MLS play with 4 wins, 6 draws and 1 loss.

Earthquakes notes: The Earthquakes (7-5-4, 25 points) are three points back of Portland but have played two fewer games than the Timbers. … The Quakes will be without top scorer Chris Wondolowski (9 goals), who is with the United States national team for the Gold Cup tournament. San Jose also will be without suspended midfielder Sanna Nyassi (2 goals, 1 assist). … Statistically, San Jose has the third best defense in MLS, allowing one goal per game. Porter called the Quakes back four among the best in the league, citing the experience of center backs Clarence Goodson and Victor Bernardez and outside backs Jordan Stewart and Marvell Wynne. David Bingham, 25, has five shutouts and 54 saves in his first season as the Quakes No. 1 goalkeeper. … Coach Dominic Kinnear is in his first year back in San Jose after moving with the Quakes to Houston in 2006 and guiding the Dynamo to consecutive MLS Cup titles. Porter noted that Kinnear has had success with size and experience on his teams: “They’re what I would call a man’s team. … They’ve got size. They’ve got athleticism, and they’ve got experience.”

Loading...
Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter