Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo | 2019 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2019 MLS Regular Season — Week 16
Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo
Providence Park — Portland
June 22 - 11:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada

After mixed results in the U.S. Open Cup, the Portland Timbers and Houston Dynamo resume MLS play when the Western Conference rivals clash at Providence Park Saturday night.

Portland (4-7-2) are hoping momentum from a decisive 4-0 win over the LA Galaxy in the USOC Round of 16 carries over to Saturday night. After an own goal by Perry Kitchen, Brian Fernandez doubled the Timbers' lead in the 34th minute. Sebastian Blanco made it 3-0 just three minutes later and Jorge Moreira closed out the scoring in the 82nd minute as Portland clinched a quarterfinal berth for the second consecutive year.

Dreams of an Open Cup title repeat were dashed for the Dynamo (7-3-3) when they were ousted at home by Minnesota United, 3-2, in the Round of 16 Tuesday night. Houston came out firing and had a 2-0 lead on goals by Ronaldo Peña and Tomas Martinez inside the opening 37 minutes. Darwin Quintero struck for a second-half brace to level for the Loons before Mason Toye struck for the 89th-minute winner.

This is the second league meeting this season with the Dynamo and Timbers playing to a 1-1 draw at BBVA Stadium on May 15 with Fernandez leveling on his debut after Mauro Manotas put La Naranja in front four minutes from halftime.

Portland Timbers

Injury Report:
- OUT: Bill Tuiloma (D) - right thigh injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Kendall McIntosh (GK) - left thigh injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Zarek Valentin (D)- left thigh injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: Andres Flores (M), Andy Polo (M)

Houston Dynamo

Injury Report:
- OUT: Eric Bird (M) - hip injury
- OUT: Memo Rodriguez (M) - left hamstring
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: Darwin Cerén (M), Romell Quioto (M), Alberth Elis (M), Maynor Figueroa (D)