Portland Timbers @ Colorado Rapids Match Thread [3:00 pm]

The Portland Timbers will take on the Colorado Rapids today at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. It's not only a chance for them to bring home three points from the road, but also to rid themselves of their road game reputation and mentality. We saw them go to Seattle and barely eke out a draw in the final minutes of the game and that was for a rivalry game. In Colorado, where in previous years they might as well have played without a back line, they have a unique opportunity to humble a team that's had no trouble scoring on them in the past.

Here's all the information you need:

General Information

Watch it on: ROOT SPORTS

Kick off: 3:00 pm at Dick's Sporting Goods Park

Colorado Rapids: 1 point in the Western Conference

Portland Timbers: 2 points in the Western Conference

Starting Line Ups

Portland Timbers: Donovan Ricketts; Ben Zemanski, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, David Horst, Michael Harrington; Diego Chara, Jack Jewsbury, Will Johnson (C); Diego Valeri, Ryan Johnson, Darlington Nagbe

Colorado Rapids: Irwin, Mullan, Wynne, O'Neill, Klute, Thomas, LaBrocca, Powers, Cascio, Buddle, Brown.

Final Thoughts

The Timbers have had a serious problem so far this season giving up early goals and needing to come back from behind. In some ways it's the exact opposite of what we grew accustomed to in 2011 and 2012. Back then the team would often play hard for 75 minutes and falter in the last 15. This season, however, it seems as if the team has trouble organizing itself and getting prepared within the first 20 minutes only to come roaring back in the second half. It's not something I would quite consider a trend yet, but it's bordering on worrying. Let's hope they're able to start a bit differently today.