PHILADELPHIA UNION vs PORTLAND TIMBERS
PPL PARK, Chester, Pa.
July 11, 2015 (WEEK 19, MLS Game #187)
7 p.m. ET (WPVI-6abc; ROOT-NW)
Philadelphia Union and the Portland Timbers meet for the only time this season when the clubs face off in an interconference clash Saturday evening at PPL Park. Union enter the match sitting four points outside of the playoff positions in the Eastern Conference, returning to action off a 2-2 home draw with the Montréal Impact two weeks ago. The Timbers continued their rich vein of form, winning their second consecutive match in a dramatic 1-0 home victory against the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend to move within a point of the top of the Western Conference.
- Maurice Edu scored his first league goal since last May 25 and Eric Ayuk Mbu scored his second goal of the season, but Union still settled for a 2-2 draw with the Montréal Impact in their last match, June 27 at PPL Park.
- The Timbers won their fifth consecutive game at Providence Park and for a sixth time in their last seven league encounters as Jack Jewsbury scored the dramatic stoppage-time match-winner for a 1-0 victory against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday evening. Both of Jewsbury’s goals this season have been stoppage-time game-winners, his first two in MLS play since 2012.
- Union have never defeated the Timbers. In five meetings all-time, Portland has won three, with two draws.
- Both meetings between the teams at PPL Park have ended in scoreless draws. The lone meeting between the teams a year ago was also a draw, a 1-1 result at Providence Park.
REFEREE: Jose Carlos Rivero. AR1 (bench): Peter Balciunas; AR2 (opposite): Kevin Klinger; 4th: Alex Chilowicz
MLS Career: 48 games; FC/gm: 27.2; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 12; pens: 22
DOWNLOAD FULL GAME GUIDE (PDF)
SUSPENDED: PHI: Eric Ayuk Mbu (through July 12)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: PHI: Maurice Edu … POR: Alvas Powell
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: PHI: Vincent Nogueira, Sheanon Williams … POR: Liam Ridgewell, Diego Chara
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: PHI: Andre Blake (Jamaica, CONCACAF Gold Cup) … POR: Alvas Powell (Jamaica, CONCACAF Gold Cup)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (5 meetings): Union 0 wins, 2 goals … Timbers 2 wins, 5 goals … Ties 3
AT PHILADELPHIA (2 meetings): Union 0 wins, 2 goals … Timbers 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 2
LAST YEAR (MLS) 3/8: POR 1, PHI 1 (Fernandez 94+ -- McInerney 64)
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- Union have never defeated the Timbers. In five meetings all-time, Portland has won three, with two draws.
- Both meetings between the teams at PPL Park have ended in scoreless draws. The lone meeting between the teams a year ago was also a draw, a 1-1 result at Providence Park.
- Coaches record: Caleb Porter vs. PHI: P2 W0 L0 D2 … Jim Curtin vs. POR: first game
Related Content:
Marquez cementing spot at center back for Union
Timbers captain Johnson turns down Canada to focus on club
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
