Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Preseason, How to Watch, Preview, Match Chat [7:30]

The Portland Timbers finish off their slate of home preseason matches tonight in the final match of the 2017 Rose City Invitational as they take on the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The match will mark the first full-game action for the Timbers’ fist team team as most of the side will play the full ninety minutes. And, with the start of the season rapidly approaching, the Timbers will have their first choice XI on the pitch against Vancouver with one notable exception: winger Sebastian Blanco will miss out on today’s match while in Argentina to finalize his family’s move to the US.

The Timbers are still building up their match fitness, but what we see in tonight’s match is a window to what we should expect in March when the season begins in earnest.

Match Preview

“No matter who the Timbers are facing, the priority will have to be on putting forward a comprehensive defensive performance while still getting the attacking output that the team has seen in recent matches. The loss of Blanco for the match will make things difficult for the side, but a strong defensive showing here will go a long way toward assuaging the fears of a fan base who were let down by last year’s abysmal, worst-in-the-West goals against record.”

Match Information

Watch it on: Streaming on Timbers.com

When: Wednesday, February 15th at 7:30 p.m. PT

Where: Providence Park in Portland, OR

Portland Timbers: Finished 7th in the Western Conference in 2016

Vancouver Whitecaps: Finished 8th in the Western Conference in 2016