With a trip to MLS Cup on the line, the Portland Timbers will take on Sporting Kansas City Thursday night at Children's Mercy Park (6:30pm PT, ESPN | Presented by Oregon Lottery) in the second leg of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Western Conference Championship. Here are five numbers to know for #SKCvPOR in a special playoff edition of Quick Strikes.
17 In four playoff games so far in 2018, Diego Valeri has created 17 chances, according to Opta. That is the most in a single postseason for any MLS player since Valeri had 20 chances created in 2015.
6Jeff Attinella has now started six playoff games for the Timbers, tying the club record for most career postseason starts by a Timbers goalkeeper. Attinella joins Matt Napoleon, who started six playoff games for Portland during the team's USL era in 2001 and 2002.
14/15Midfielder Diego Charaand defender Zarek Valentin and are the top two players this postseason for most tackles by any MLS player. Chara leads the way with 15 tackles in his 390 minutes of action while Valentin is next at 14 tackles in his 287 minutes.
13 With two goals this postseason, Sebastián Blanco is up to 13 goals this year across all competitions. Blanco's 13 goals lead the Timbers in 2018, one more than Valeri.
8 Dating back to when he was head coach of the New York Cosmos in the NASL, Giovanni Savarese has eight wins in his 12 playoff games as a professional manager. Savarese has made the league semifinals or further in all six seasons he has been a head coach.
