COLUMBUS CREW SC vs PORTLAND TIMBERS
MAPFRE STADIUM, Columbus, Ohio
September 26, 2015 (WEEK 30, MLS Game #301)
7:30 p.m. ET (TWC-OH; KPDX)
A critical match in the playoff picture in both conferences is ahead when Columbus Crew SC play host to the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening at Mapfre Stadium. Crew SC are holding down second place in the Eastern Conference and a potential bye for the knockout round, winning a second consecutive game on their travels last weekend with a 2-1win at D.C. United. The Timbers are holding onto sixth place in the West and the final playoff position by just a single point, their winless run extended to four games with a 2-0 home loss to the New York Red Bulls last Sunday.
- Kei Kamara scored his league-leading 21st goal – his third goal in the last four matches – as Crew SC won their second consecutive match in a 2-1 victory at D.C. United on Saturday evening. The 21-goal campaign is tied for 11th-most in a single season in MLS history.
- The Timbers saw their winless run extended to four games with a second consecutive shutout, falling 2-0 to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday afternoon at Providence Park.
- The Crew have won both meetings all-time in Columbus, both by 1-0 scorelines, including a victory in the last matchup there in 2013.
- The teams have played to two successive draws in Portland, including a 3-3 draw there last May 17 in the only meeting between the teams. The Timbers won 1-0 at home in 2011 in the first encounter ever between the clubs.
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REFEREE: Silviu Petrescu. AR1 (bench): Craig Lowry; AR2 (opposite): Kathryn Nesbitt; 4th: Nima Saghafi
MLS Career: 104 games; FC/gm: 27.5; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 14; pens: 21
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: CLB: Kei Kamara … POR: Alvas Powell
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: CLB: Federico Higuain, Kevan George, Hector Jimenez, Emanuel Pogatetz, Justin Meram, Tony Tchani, Chris Klute … POR: Diego Chara, Rodney Wallace, Diego Valeri, Lucas Melano
DISABLED LIST: CLB: Sagi Lev-Ari
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (5 meetings): Crew SC 2 wins, 5 goals … Timbers 1 win, 4 goals … Ties 2
AT COLUMBUS (2 meetings): Crew SC 2 wins, 2 goals … Timbers 0 wins, 0 goals … Ties 0
LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/17: POR 3, CLB 3 (Urruti 5; Johnson 80; Fernandez 85 – Higuain 14, 50+; Finlay 81)
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- The Crew have won both meetings all-time in Columbus, both by 1-0 scorelines, including a victory in the last matchup there in 2013.
- The teams have played to two successive draws in Portland, including a 3-3 draw there last May 17 in the only meeting between the teams. The Timbers won 1-0 at home in 2011 in the first encounter ever between the clubs.
- Coaches record: Gregg Berhalter vs. POR: P1 W0 L0 D1 … Caleb Porter vs. CLB: P2 W0 L1 D1
Related Content:
Crew SC's Kamara looks to write name in record books
Porter says Timbers lacked rythm in loss to RBNY
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
