The Portland Timbers play their first match in the CONCACAF Champions League tonight as they travel to take on Guyanese champions Alpha United. Far from home, the Timbers will run out a side comprised primarily of bench players and reserves tonight with every hope of taking the full three points.
Previews
Match Preview: "Although the holding midfielder position will determine the set-up of the Timbers, it is their attacking players who will determine their fate tonight. Players like Zakuani, Nanchoff, and Alhassan are all on the fringes of Porter's usual game-day 18 and should be looking to prove that they belong on the pitch, getting the substitute minutes that will be even harder to come by now that Wallace has returned to the fold and Porter has determined just how to use Gaston Fernandez."
Preview Interview: "Alpha score for fun in the Super League but this is because the quality of defences they face are so poor. I thought The Hammer were unfortunate not to register a goal against Olimpia - they did have several good opportunities - but they paid the price for squandering them. Gregory Richardson is expected to partner Kithson Bain up top and the pair do have goals in them, the former is an ex-Colorado Rapids and Puerto Rico Islanders player. His left foot packs a punch but he requires service, something that was rather infrequent in the group opener."
Match Information
Watch it on: Fox Soccer Plus
Kickoff: 5:00 PM PT at Providence Stadium in Providence, Guyana
Portland Timbers: 0-0-0 in CCL play, 1st place in the MLS Western Conference in 2013
Alpha United: 0-1-0 in CCL play, 1st place overall in the GFF National Super League in 2013-14