For the second time this season, the Portland Timbers will match up with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, but this time Portland will battle its Canadian rival in the Rose City. The Timbers will look to avenge their 2-1 away defeat on March 30 when they take on the 'Caps Saturday (7:30pm PT, ROOT SPORTS). Here are five numbers to know for #PORvVAN in the latest Quick Strikes by Simple.
81 Saturday will be the 81st competitive match between the Timbers and the Whitecaps. The club’s first matched up in Portland’s expansion NASL season of 1975 when Barry Powell and Tony Betts scored en route to a 2-0 Timbers victory at Vancouver’s Empire Stadium.
14 Dating back to the USL era, Portland is on an impressive run of form against Vancouver, having scored in 14 consecutive matches. That is the longest such streak in the history of the rivalry for either side.
10+ In 2014, seven players finished the MLS season with double digit goals and assists. Two of those players include Vancouver’s Pedro Morales and Portland’s Diego Valeri. Valeri made his return to the gameday 18 in last weekend’s match with Seattle.
295 With his start against Seattle, Nat Borchers moved into 15th place all-time for MLS games started with 295. The veteran defender is tied with current D.C. United defender Bobby Boswell and former MLS Cup MVP Jaime Moreno.
18Darlington Nagbe finished the month of April with 18 successful dribbles. A successful dribble is defined as when a player beats a defender while retaining possession. Overall, Nagbe is second in MLS with 30 total in 2015
