Timbers hope for more success in Salt Lake

The Portland Timbers return to Major League soccer action on Saturday, visiting Real Salt Lake for a 7 p.m. match. The match will be televised on Root Sports.

The Timbers, unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions and last three MLS matches, enter the game in seventh place in the Western Conference with a 5-6-4 record for 19 points. Real Salt Lake (7-4-2, 23 points) is third in the West.

Both teams played U.S. Open Cup matches on Tuesday. The Timbers beat San Jose 2-0. RSL played 30 extra minutes before advancing on penalty kicks after rallying from a two-goal second-half deficit against the Wilmington Hammerheads of the United Soccer League.

Portland is still without Darlington Nagbe, who remains with the United States national team. Defender Jermaine Taylor could be available since Jamaica has been eliminated from the Copa America tournament. RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman is also with the United States.

Timbers coach Caleb Porter noted after Tuesday’s Open Cup match that his team will have plenty of fresh legs for this match. Regular starters Fanendo Adi, Diego Chara, Nat Borchers and Lucas Melano did not play on Tuesday. Additionally, winger Darren Mattocks returned from injury as a second-half substitute on Tuesday. Dairon Asprilla is suspended because of his red card in the June 1 match with San Jose.

RSL is 6-0 in all competitions at home this season. It played its previous five MLS matches on the road while the grass field at Rio Tinto Stadium was replaced.

The Timbers are 4-0-2 in their last six MLS matches against RSL. That includes a 2-2 home draw early this season and wins in their last three trips to Sandy, Utah.