The Portland Timbers are down bad right now. They just lost 6-2 to the Seattle Sounders, which is just about the last team that Portland would ever want to lose to. As our own Sam Svilar described it, giant multi-goal losses have become an all-too-common problem for the Timbers, who have significantly more losses by three goals or more than any MLS team this year.

So only naturally, the Timbers have to follow up a match that was ... let’s just say difficult ... with a grueling road trip where they face off against five teams that have already beaten them this season. What could possibly go wrong?

Okay, we’re getting too negative here. It can be easy to get too doom and gloom, especially when your next opponent is a sterling squad like Sporting Kansas City. But desperate teams can generate impressive results, and if the Timbers are anything right now, they’re desperate. We’ll just have to wait and see how desperate they are.

Game Info

Location: Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, MO

Time: 5:30 p.m. Pacific

Watch: FOX 12 PLUS, ESPN+

Radio: 750 The Game & LA GranD 93.5 FM-1150 AM

Pregame Reading

Sam Svilar breaks down what has been a serious problem for the Timbers.

Starting Lineups

Portland Timbers:

Sporting Kansas City: