MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, July 31
Kickoff: 11 a.m. (Pacific)
Location: Children’s Mercy Park
Forecast: Rainy, 80 degrees
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Assistant Referees: Peter Balciunas, Cameron Blanchard Fourth Official: Sorin Stoica
National TV: FOX
Talent: John Strong (play-by-play), Stuart Holden (analyst), Julie Stewart-Binks (reporter)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750 AM, 102.9 FM)
Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Timbers venture into Sunday’s match coming off a 2-1 loss against the LA Galaxy at Providence Park on July 23, marking the team’s first loss in league play in 10 games (May 15-July 17) and only their third home loss in 12 games played at Providence Park in 2016. Sunday’s match marks the 11th all-time meeting between Portland and Sporting KC, with the two teams meeting eight times in the regular season since 2011. Portland has registered a 2-4-2 regular-season record against Sporting KC, including a mark of 1-1-1 in three games played in Kansas City, Kan. Sporting Kansas City enter Sunday’s match with two wins and two losses in their last four league matches. Forward Dom Dwyer leads the team in goals with 10 finishes so far this season.
LAST MATCH RECAP
The Portland Timbers surrendered a pair of goals in the first half and were unable to overcome the deficit, falling 2-1 to the LA Galaxy before 21,144 fans at Providence Park on July 23. The result marked the Timbers first loss in league play since May 15 as it snapped a nine-game unbeaten run. Additionally, the game marked only the second time the Timbers lost to the Galaxy at home in eight games played since 2011, with Portland producing a 2-1-2 record dating back to the 2013 campaign.
LAST TIME VS. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Despite controlling a majority of the possession and registering a 17-8 advantage in shots, the Timbers conceded a goal late in the second half in a 1-0 loss against Western Conference side Sporting Kansas City in front of a sellout crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Oct. 3. Sporting KC grabbed the lead in the 83rd minute as forward Krisztian Nemeth dribbled into the box, placing a low, hard shot into the bottom-left corner of the goal.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Sunday’s match marks the 11th all-time meeting between Portland and Sporting KC, with the two teams meeting eight times in the regular season since 2011. Portland has registered a 2-4-2 regular-season record against Sporting KC, including a mark of 1-1-1 in three games played in Kansas City, Kan. In the last four regular-season games, the two teams have combined for two goals in the tightly-contested series, with the Timbers recording two shutouts during that stretch. In their most recent match on Oct. 29, 2015, the Timbers advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals with a dramatic, 7-6 win on penalty kicks against Sporting Kansas City in the Knockout Round of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.
SCOUTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Sitting in fourth place in the competitive Western Conference standings, Sporting Kansas City enter Sunday’s match with two wins and two losses in their last four matches, most recently defeating Seattle Sounders FC 3-0 at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday, July 24. So far this season, Sporting Kansas City has compiled a 7-4-1 record at Children’s Mercy Park, winning its last four home matches. Sporting Kansas City’s last loss at home took place on May 27, with the team suffering a 1-0 defeat to D.C. United after sustaining a 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on May 21. Forward Dom Dwyer leads the team in goals (10).
