The Timbers carry a 21-game unbeaten streak into tonight's match against the Rochester Rhinos at 4:35 p.m. (Pacific). Listen to tonight's match on 95.5 The Game or watch in on USL Live. Catch live updates through Twitter.
Click here for tonight's match notes.
Tonight's Starters
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Match Preview
The Portland Timbers carry a USL First Division record 21-game unbeaten streak into tonight’s contest with the Rochester Rhinos at Marina Auto Stadium. Tonight’s game is the second meeting of the season between the two sides and concludes Portland’s final multiple-game road trip of the season.
The Timbers (12-1-9, 45pts) currently sit at the top of the USL First Division table. In a congested top half of the standings, the Timbers are just one point ahead of the Charleston Battery (44pts) in second place and only three points above the Carolina RailHawks (42pts) in third. The RailHawks visit the Vancouver Whitecaps tonight at 7 p.m. (Pacific) at Swangard Stadium.
Tonight’s matchup ends a stretch of five games in 15 days for the Timbers to start the month of August. Portland is 3-0-1 over their first four games of the month and has out-scored opponents, 6-2. Led by goalkeeper Steve Cronin, the backline has logged two clean sheets over the last four fixtures.
Portland captured its third straight win with a 1-0 result over the Montreal Impact Wednesday. Midfielder Ryan Pore tallied in his fourth consecutive match to lift the Timbers to victory. It was his second game-winning goal in the past three games. Cronin recorded two saves to pick up his eighth shutout on the campaign and the team’s 11th overall.
The Timbers and Rhinos play the second game of a three-game season series. Tonight’s match is the Timbers only visit to Rochester during the 2009 regular season. In the previous meeting on May 14, Portland used a strike by midfielder Brian Farber and a 90th minute penalty-kick goal by Pore to capture a 2-1 win over the Rhinos at PGE Park. Defender Stephen Keel was fouled inside the box to set up the game-winning goal. The Timbers are 2-8-2 all-time against the Rhinos and are winless (0-5-1) in Rochester since 2001. Portland’s lone point in Rochester came on June 17, 2006, in a 2-2 draw. The Timbers and Rhinos end the season series Sept. 3 back in Portland at PGE Park.
Midfielder Johan Claesson will not be available for tonight’s match due to a minor injury he sustained against the Charleston Battery on Aug. 8; he did not travel on the road trip. The Timbers also are without defender Cameron Knowles, who sustained a lower right leg fracture on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season.
The Timbers return home on Aug. 22 to play host to the Miami FC Blues at PGE Park at 7 p.m. The first 2,000 kids 12 and under receive a Timbers replica jersey courtesy of Fred Meyer.
