MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017
Kickoff: 4 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Talen Energy Stadium (Chester, Pa.)
Forecast: Partly cloudy, 52 degrees
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Kyle Longville Fourth Official: Jorge Gonzalez
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), Jack Jewsbury (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Portland Timbers will travel to face the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday, April 8. Beginning at 4 p.m. (Pacific), the match against Philadelphia will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with local radio broad- casts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish). Saturday’s match marks the eighth regular-season game between the two teams since 2011, with Portland winning 2-1 at Providence Park in the most recent fixture between the two clubs on Sept. 17, 2016. The Union enter Saturday’s match on a two-game losing streak, falling to Orlando City SC and D.C. United 2-1. Forward C.J. Sapong leads the team in goals scored, with the forward scoring three goals in four games played (1 start).
LAST MATCH RECAP
The Portland Timbers battled the New England Revolution to a 1-1 draw before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on April 2. Diego Valeri scored the Timbers goal early in the first half, with the midfielder recording his fifth league goal in five games played this season.
LAST TIME VS. PHILADELPHIA
The Portland Timbers defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-1 before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on Sept. 17, tying their club record for MLS home wins in a single season (11).
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Saturday’s match marks the eighth regular-season meeting between Portland and Philadelphia since the Timbers entered MLS in 2011, with the Timbers leading the regular-season series (3-1-3). In three games played in Chester, Pa., Portland has only lost once in three games played, drawing twice at Talen Energy Stadium. Overall, the Timbers have only lost once to their Eastern Conference counterparts. In the only meeting between the two teams last season, Portland took a 2-1 win at Providence Park, with forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder Diego Valeri each scoring in the win. Historically, the teams have not had high-scoring matches, with both teams combining for a 1.9 goals per game in seven games played.
SCOUTING PHILADELPHIA
The Philadelphia Union enter Saturday’s match on a two-game losing streak, falling to Orlando City SC 2-1 on March 18 and D.C. United 2-1 on April 1. Through four games played, the Union have tied twice and lost twice, producing two points through the first four weeks of the 2017 season. Forward C.J. Sapong leads the team in goals scored, with three goals in four games played (1 start). Led by head coach Jim Curtis, Philadelphia has added several players in the offseason, including defender Oguchi Onyewu and English forward Jay Simpson.
