Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy Match Thread [8:00 pm]

The Portland Timbers will take on the LA Galaxy for the second time this year. The first time the two sides met was at the StubHub Center (formerly Home Depot Center) in Los Angeles (or somewhere near by) and the team managed to earn a well deserved nil-nil draw there. Tonight, however, the Timbers will play on their home turf at Jeld-Wen Field giving them a solid advantage to earn three needed points over their Western Conference rival.

Here's the breakdown:

General Information

Watch it on: NBC Sports

Kick off: 8:00 pm at Jeld-Wen Field.

Portland Timbers: 30 points in the Western Conference.

LA Galaxy: 30 points in the Western Conference.

Starting Lineups

Portland Timbers: Ricketts, Jewsbury (c), Jean-Baptiste, Danso, Harrington, Chara, Nagbe, Zemanski, Valeri, R. Johnson, Alhassan

LA Galaxy: Cudicini; Franklin, Gonzalez, DeLaGarza, Dunivant; Jimenez, Juninho, Sarvas, Rogers; Keane, Zardes

Final Thoughts

Last week's loss to the Columbus Crew came at a bad time for the Timbers. Real Salt Lake, the LA Galaxy, Vancouver Whitecaps and the Colorado Rapids all used the opportunity to gain ground on or further distance themselves from the Timbers. With tonight's game, the Timbers have the chance to leap over LA once again to regain the third spot, possibly second place if FC Dallas draws with Real Salt Lake. But with Frederic Piquionne's status currently unknown, Will Johnson out due to stomach illness, and Rodney Wallace still away on national team duty, there's a chance that the Timbers will have trouble combating the likes of Omar Gonzalez and Robbie Keane.