Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo | MLS Match Preview

Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo, August 21, 2015

PORTLAND TIMBERS vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
PROVIDENCE PARK, Portland, Ore.
August 21, 2015 (WEEK 25, MLS Game #247)

11 p.m. ET (UniMás)

Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo | MLS Match Preview - //league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/image_nodes/2015/08/draftkings-140x60.png

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The Portland Timbers and Houston Dynamo meet for the third time this season in a crucial match for both clubs playoff ambitions when they face off on Viernes de Fútbol at Providence Park. The Timbers come in off back-to-back 1-0 victories, last on the road against Real Salt Lake, to move into fourth place in the Western Conference – just four points off the top spot. The Dynamo remain on the road following their 2-0 loss at the New England Revolution that left them in seventh place in the West, four points back of the final playoff placing.


  • The Timbers won their second consecutive game by a 1-0 scoreline and recorded a third consecutive shutout, defeating Real Salt Lake in dramatic fashion Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. Nat Borchers scored the winning goal five minutes into stoppage time, the latest goal scored in the club’s MLS history.
  • The Dynamo had their three-game undefeated run put to an end, dropping a 2-0 decision at the New England Revolution on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium.
  • The teams are meeting for the third time this season, splitting the first two. Will Bruin scored a pair of goals and Giles Barnes added a third as the Dynamo eased to a 3-1 victory May 16 at BBVA Compass Stadium; Maximiliano Urruti and Gastón Fernández scored on either side of halftime to lead the Timbers to a 2-0 win June 20 at Providence Park.
  • The Timbers have won twice in seven meetings all-time in the series, winning the last two meetings at Providence Park. The Dynamo have won two of the four meetings all-time in Houston, with two draws.


DOWNLOAD FULL GAME GUIDE (PDF)

REFEREE: Ricardo Salazar. AR1 (bench): Mike Kampmeinert; AR2 (opposite): Eduardo Mariscal; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal MLS Career: 208 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 2.6; R: 58; pens: 70


SUSPENDED: none


WARNINGS
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: POR:
Liam Ridgewell, Alvas Powell • HOU: Ricardo Clark, Kofi Sarkodie, Jermaine Taylor, Raul Rodriguez, Sheanon Williams
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: POR: Diego Chara, Rodney Wallace • HOU: Giles Barnes, Tyler Deric, Luis Garrido, David Horst
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none


HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (7 meetings):
Timbers 2 wins, 7 goals • Dynamo 3 wins, 8 goals • Ties 2
AT PORTLAND (3 meetings): Timbers 2 wins, 4 goals • Dynamo 1 win, 2 goals • Ties 0


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Houston Dynamo forward Erick Torres "anxious" for first start, but ready to go
Houston Dynamo sign midfielder Christian Lucatero as club's seventh Homegrown Player
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