The Portland Timbers and Puerto Rico Islanders square off tonight for first place in the USL First Division at PGE Park at 7 p.m. live on FSN. Tonight' match will be broadcast live on 95.5 The Game and through USL Live.
The Portland Timbers U-23s open a doubleheader today at PGE Park with their PDL playoff match against the Seattle Wolves at 2 p.m.
Click here for today's match notes.
Tonight's Starters:
POR:
PR:
Match Preview:
The Portland Timbers return home after four consecutive road matches to play host to the Puerto Rico Islanders in a top-of-the-table clash at PGE Park. Tonight’s match is the third and final regular-season meeting between the two clubs.
The Timbers (9-1-7, 34pts) enter tonight’s match on a USL First Division record 16-game unbeaten streak, breaking the previous mark of 15 games with a 3-0 road win over the Miami FC Blues on July 19. Portland is 9-0-7 since falling to the Vancouver Whitecaps in their season-opening match on April 25.
Portland is unbeaten at home this season (6-0-1) in league play and has won six straight against USL First Division opponents. The Timbers, who rank at the top of the league with 27 goals, have out-scored opponents 16-2 at PGE Park this season.
Earlier this season, the Timbers captured four points from the Islanders during a two-game road trip to Puerto Rico with a win and draw. Forward Mandjou Keita scored his first goal of the season on May 22 to help Portland pull off a 1-1 draw. Two days later, Keita scored his second goal in two games, while defender Mamadou Danso punched the eventual game winner to claim a 2-1 win – the team’s first in Puerto Rico – on May 24. All-time, the Timbers are 6-4-1 against the Islanders, including a 5-1-0 mark at PGE Park.
After sustaining minor head injuries over the weekend, midfielders Ryan Pore and Johan Claesson are listed as questionable for tonight’s match against Puerto Rico.
The Timbers conclude their week with an international exhibition match against English Premier League side Burnley FC on Saturday at 7 p.m., presented by Spirit Mountain Casino. Burnley finishes its week-long, preseason tour of the U.S. against the Timbers as they prepare for the upcoming EPL season against some of the top clubs in the world, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Tickets start at $17 and are available through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
