MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 77 degrees
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Kathryn Nesbitt Fourth Official: Nima Saghafi
Local TV: KPDX Channel 49 (KPDX TV)
Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst)
English Radio: 970 AM (KUFO)
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Brett Jacobs (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Timbers enter Saturday’s road match against Eastern Conference side Columbus Crew SC following a 2-0 loss against the New York Red Bulls on Sept. 20. Despite the loss, Portland is still in playoff position holding the sixth spot in the Western Conference with five matches remaining on the regular-season schedule. The Timbers have responded well immediately following a loss since the 2013 season, earning an 11-3-9 overall record in the matches directly after a loss. Columbus has registered a 5-1-1 record over its last seven regular- season matches. Head coach Gregg Berhalter’s side is coming off a 2-1 win over D.C. United on Sept. 19 at RFK Stadium. Crew SC entered the week just one point off first place in the Eastern Conference with 47 points through 30 games.
TALK TIMBERS
Hosts Fletcher Johnson talk with Timbers defender Nat Borchers as well as goalkeeping coach Adin Brown. We also get a look at the Timbers next opponent in the Columbus Crew with play-by-play man Dwight Burgess plus hear from MLSsoccer.com's Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle.
LAST MATCH RECAP
The Timbers conceded two goals in the final minutes of the first half and were unable to overcome the deficit in a 2-0 loss against Eastern Conference side New York Red Bulls in front of sellout crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Sept. 20. The loss, Portland’s first home loss since April 12, ended the team’s home unbeaten run at 10 consecutive matches. New York took the lead in the 43rd minute as midfielder Felipe fired a knuckling, long-distance effort that found the back of the net. In first-half stoppage time, defender Damien Perrinelle doubled the Red Bulls’ advantage with a looping header from close range off an assist from midfielder Sacha Kljestan.
LAST TIME VS. COLUMBUS CREW SC
Playing the majority of the match with 10 men, the Timbers battled back from two different one-goal deficits in the second half to earn a 3-3 draw in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,814 fans at Providence Park on May 17, 2014. The result extended Portland’s MLS-club record, home-unbeaten streak to 22 consecutive matches (12-0-10), tying for third place all-time in MLS history. Trailing 2-1 at halftime and playing down a man, the Timbers tied the match on a shot from midfielder Will Johnson in the 80th minute only to see Columbus retake the lead one minute later. Portland notched the game-tying goal in the 85th minute as midfielder Gastón Fernández tallied for the Timbers off assists from midfielder Diego Valeri and forward Fanendo Adi.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Saturday’s match marks the sixth all-time regular-season meeting between Portland and Columbus since 2011 and the first match at MAPFRE Stadium since July 7, 2013.
In their last meeting at MAPFRE Stadium in 2013, Columbus grabbed a 1-0 win over Portland as Crew SC midfielder Bernardo Añor tallied a goal in the fifth minute. Portland played 79 minutes with 10 men after defender Pa Modou Kah was issued a red card in the 11th minute.
The last two regular-season matches between Portland and Columbus have seen the Timbers reduced to 10 men in the first half. Last season, Portland played with 10 men for the final 56 minutes after defender Alvas Powell was issued a straight red card in the 34th minute. The Timbers overcame two one-goal deficits in the match to register a 3-3 draw at Providence Park on May 17, 2014.
REBOUNDING FROM A LOSS
Since the 2013 season, the Timbers have won 11 times in games immediately following a loss. While suffering consecutive losses just three times in those two-plus seasons, the club is an impressive 11-3-9 overall in games directly following a defeat, including four wins this season. The Timbers have only lost consecutive matches once this season (May 16 at Houston; May 23 at Toronto FC).
AGAINST THE EASTERN CONFERENCE
This season the Timbers have earned a 5-4-0 record against teams from the Eastern Conference, including a 2-2-0 record on the road. Portland has earned road wins against Eastern Conference clubs New York City FC (April 19) and Montreal (May 9).
PLAYOFF PICTURE
With five games remaining on Portland’s regular-season schedule, the Timbers enter the week in sixth place in the tight Western Conference standings with 41 points. At the start of the week, Portland trailed fifth-place Sporting Kansas City (44pts) and fourth-place Seattle Sounders FC (45) and sit seven points shy of first-place Vancouver Whitecaps FC (48). Additionally, San Jose (40), Real Salt Lake (38) and Houston (35) are in the MLS Cup Playoffs mix. Houston squared off against Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday.
BLOCK PARTY
Timbers defender Nat Borchers leads the league with 30 blocks this season, which is five more than any other player this season. Since Opta started tracking MLS stats prior to the 2011 season, the record for most blocks in a single MLS season is 33 set by Columbus Crew defender Julius James in 2011.
BALL WINNERS
Timbers defender Alvas Powell ranks first among all MLS players with 240 duels won this season, 40 more than any other player. Opta defines a duel as a 50-50 contest between two players of opposing sides in the match. Along with Powell, midfielder Darlington Nagbe ranks fourth in the league with 180 duels won.
AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS
The Timbers entered the weekend among MLS league leaders in total shots (414, 1st place), blocked shots (117, 1st) and chances created (320, 3rd). Portland ranks first overall in the league with 12 shutouts, while forward Fanendo Adi is tied for ninth overall with 10 goals this season.
24 UNDER 24
Timbers defender Alvas Powell (No. 22) and forward Lucas Melano (No. 19) each were named to the annual MLSsoccer.com “24 Under 24” list which recognizes the best young talent under 24 years of age in MLS. Powell, 21, has made 27 appearances (all starts) for the Timbers during the 2015 season. The Jamaican international defender has logged two goals and three assists in 47 career MLS games with the Timbers since joining the team as a 19-year-old in 2013. Melano, 22, is a recent arrival in MLS, joining Portland on July 17 from Argentina. In just eight career games (5 starts), Melano has registered one goal and one assist.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
With his next assist, midfielder Jack Jewsbury will move into a tie for 10th place overall on the Timbers all-time career assists chart with Timbers Ring of Honor member Jimmy Conway (1978-80). Jewsbury currently sits in 11th place with 15 assists for Portland since 2011.
With his next goal, forward Fanendo Adi will tie the Timbers MLS single-season club record for goals in a season (11), set by midfielder Diego Valeri in 2014. Adi tallied his 10th goal in a 1-0 win against Chicago on Aug. 7 at Providence Park. The single-season club record across all eras is 18 goals scored by Fadi Afash in 2002. Adi’s next goal also will be his 20th career regular-season goal for Portland.
With his next appearance, midfielder Darlington Nagbe will move into a tie for second place on the Timbers all-time appearances list across all eras with USL defender Scot Thompson (156). Nagbe enters Saturday’s match against Columbus with 155 career MLS appearances.
Should he play on Saturday against Columbus, defender Nat Borchers will make the 315th appearance of his MLS career. Borchers, who joined Portland in the offseason, has made 26 appearances (all starts) for the Timbers in 2015.
Midfielder Will Johnson’s next appearance will mark his 190th career MLS game. Johnson has logged 69 career appearances with the Timbers since 2013.
Midfielder Rodney Wallace will make the 155th appearance of his MLS career on Saturday should he play against Crew SC. Wallace has played 115 career games for the Timbers since 2011.
