Portland Timbers at Houston Dynamo: How to watch, preview, match chat [5:30]

The Portland Timbers are back on the road and headed to Texas where they will take on the downward-spiraling Houston Dynamo. The Timbers seem to have fully pulled out of their recent run of bad form, taking seven points from their last three matches, and could catapult themselves back toward the top of the West with three points from this evening’s match.

The Dynamo have taken just one point from their last eight matches, getting outscored 6-15 in that period. Included in Houston’s winless streak was their first match up of the year against the Timbers: a 2-1 road loss that saw Fanendo Adi substituted on for his final appearance with the Timbers before being sold to upcoming expansion side (and current USL Club) FC Cincinnati. There are pieces of a good team to be found on the Dynamo roster, but injuries and squad rotation have made them hard to identify this year.

The Timbers, meanwhile, are at the start of another three game week and may yet again find themselves in need of spot minutes from players outside their first choice XI. While that might have previously brought to mind questions about the situation at forward behind Samuel Armenteros, things seem to be looking up for the Timbers’ attack with youngster Jeremy Ebobisse showing off his prowess with a well taken goal against the Rapids.

As always, three points this weekend could see the Timbers enter into next week in as high as third place, while a loss could move the side back within striking distance of those teams trying to move above the red line.

Preview

Storylines: “The question will be: Does Gio start him again or does Armenteros get his starting job back? Look at it this way: Armenteros has gone ice cold and could use a confidence boost and maybe a goal or two against Houston might do the trick.”

Stop by the Rose City Forecast to make your predictions about today’s match.

Match Information

Watch it on: FOX 12 Plus (KPDX)

Where: BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, TX

When: September 15th at 5:30 p.m. PT

Portland Timbers: 12-7-8, 5th place in the Western Conference, beat Colorado Rapids 2-0

Houston Dynamo: 7-13-7, 10th place in the Western Conference, lost 4-2 at FC Dallas