Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 28
Providence Park — Portland
Sept. 8 — 10:30 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

The Portland Timbers will try to move back up the Western Conference table, and off the playoff line, when they host a rested Colorado Rapids team that has lost their last two games by a combined 8-0.

The Timbers are coming off a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution, while the Rapids had a Week 27 bye and haven’t played since a 6-0 Rocky Mountain Cup defeat to Real Salt Lake.

This is the second meeting this season, with the Timbers pulling out a 3-2 victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on May 26. Samuel Armenteros struck for a brace and Diego Valeri added a goal for Portland, while the Rapids benefitted from a Julio Cascante own goal and Yannick Boli netted a late penalty kick.

Portland Timbers

Portland (11-7-8) moved back ahead of the playoff line by rallying for a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.

Scott Caldwell opened the scoring for the hosts in the 58th minute, but Lawrence Olum leveled in the 70th minute, redirecting a flicked on David Guzman corner kick.

“The guys gave everything, especially in the second half,” Giovanni Savarese said. “I thought we were solid in the first half, but in the second half, we gave everything we had in order to be able to at least get a point.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Sebastian Blanco
International duty: M - Andres Flores, M - David Guzman, D - Alvas Powell
Injury Report: OUT: D - Roy Miller (right thigh injury), GK - Jake Gleeson; QUESTIONABLE: GK - Jeff Attinella

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-2-1, right to left)
GK: Steve Clark — Zarek Valentin, Larrys Mabiala, Julio Cascante, Jorge Villafana — Diego Chara, Lawrence Olum, Andy Polo — Lucas Melano, Diego Valeri — Samuel Armenteros

Colorado Rapids

The Rapids (6-14-6) have had plenty of time to lick their wounds from a 6-0 loss to Real Salt Lake two weeks ago.

However, they take on the Timbers a shorthanded squad, without standout Kellyn Acosta, who is with the US national team, as well as suspended Niki Jackson and Bismark Boateng, who were sent off in that Rocky Mountain Cup defeat.

“Everyone is so hungry to get back in to Saturday,” Anthony Hudson said. “I think the confidence is still high. As tough as it was on Saturday, and it was incredibly touch for everyone, I think the lads still believed that leading up to that game we had a run of games there where we were playing the right way, we were confident, we were doing the right things, the team were working well together. We want to build on that.”

Suspended: F - Niki Jackson, M - Bismark Boateng
Suspended after next caution: D - Kortne Ford, F - Jack McBean, D - Danny Wilson
International duty: M - Kellyn Acosta, D - Sam Vines
Injury Report: OUT: D - Axel Sjoberg (knee injury); QUESTIONABLE: M - Sam Nicholson (back injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Tim Howard — Kortne Ford, Danny Wilson, Tommy Smith, Edgar Castillo — Enzo Martinez, Jack Price, Johan Blomberg — Jack McBean, Giles Barnes, Dillon Serna

All-Time Series

Overall: Portland Timbers 9 wins, 25 goals … Colorado Rapids 7 wins, 25 goals … 3 draws
At Portland: Timbers 7 wins, 14 goals … Rapids 1 win, 4 goals … 0 draws
Last meeting at Portland: Portland Timbers 2, Colorado Rapids 1 (Aug. 23, 2017)