MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Monday, July 4
Kickoff: 6 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, Colo.)
Forecast: 79 degrees, Clear
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Assistant Referees: Michael Kampmeinert, Cameron Blanchard
Fourth Official: Daniel Radford
National TV: ROOT SPORTS
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst), Samantha Yarock (reporter)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750 AM, 102.9 FM)
Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Brett Jacobs (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
Entering Monday’s match, the Timbers are unbeaten in their last five matches in league play (3-0-2), with Portland’s last MLS loss occurring on May 15. During that stretch, the Timbers have scored 11 goals, while also earning two shutouts. Most recently, Portland erased a two-goal deficit to defeat the Houston Dynamo 3-2 at Providence Park, marking the first time in club history (since 1975) the Timbers have erased a two-goal deficit to win in regulation. Monday’s game marks the 14th meeting between Portland Colorado since 2011. Portland enters the match unbeaten in its last four regular-season games (3-0-1) against the Rapids. Colorado is led by midfielder Jermaine Jones and forward Luis Solignac, who are ranked tied for first on the team in goals (3) and assists (2).
LAST MATCH RECAP
The Portland Timbers were eliminated from the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 29, falling 1-0 to the LA Galaxy in the Round of 16 before 18,164 fans at Providence Park.
LAST TIME VS. COLORADO RAPIDS
The Timbers secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and a spot in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs as midfielder Darlington Nagbe tallied two goals and one assist to help lead Portland to a 4-1 win against the Colorado Rapids in front of 21,144 fans on Oct. 25 at Providence Park.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
The match between the Timbers and Colorado Rapids marks the 14th meeting in the all-time MLS series. Portland enters the match unbeaten in its last four regular-season games (3-0-1) against Colorado and has lost just once against the Western Conference side in league play since March 30, 2013. Monday’s match marks the first of three meetings between the two clubs during the 2016 regular season, with both teams set to meet again on Oct. 1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park before concluding the 2016 regular-season series on Oct. 16 at Providence Park. In their last four matches at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the Timbers have lost on one occasion, producing a 1-1-2 record and six goals during that stretch.
SCOUTING COLORADO
The Rapids enter Monday’s contest after playing 120 minutes in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, June 29, falling 2-1 to Western Conference foes FC Dallas. The result against Dallas marked Colorado’s first loss in their last 13 games across all competitions, with the Rapids sitting in first place in the Western Conference. Led by head coach Pablo Mastroeni, the Rapids acquired 14 players ahead of the 2016 MLS campaign, including U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard and midfielder Jermaine Jones. The rapids are led by Jones and forward Luis Solignac, who are ranked tied for first on the team in goals (3) and assists (2). Forward Kevin Doyle, who joined the Rapids from Wolverhampton Wanderers as a Designated Player in 2015, ranks second on the team in goals with three finishes in 11 starts.
