The last place Portland Timbers are still in search of three points today as they welcome D.C. United to Providence Park. The Timbers have yet to beat United in Portland since joining MLS, but a victory over United still seems like a real possibility despite the difference in the standings between the two teams.
The Timbers enter into this game following two road performances that the team can draw on: a 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, the Timbers' best performance in Utah since 2011, and last weekend's draw against the Houston Dynamo, the Timbers' first road point of the season. The team's offense has continued to sputter, particularly in comparison to the heights of last season, but the defense has looked solid outside of a single breakdown each game.
The Timbers, with a complete performance or a little bit of luck, have every chance of finally getting a notch in the wins column today.
Here is all the information that you need for today's match:
Previews
Match Preview: "The United side that we see this year will have little resemblance to the lineup that Timbers fans saw last season, although they are still helmed by Ben Olsen. The wholesale changes made to D.C. over the offseason, combined with a smattering of injuries, will leave United with only three of the players that the Timbers faced in last season's 2-0 road win on the pitch tomorrow."
Preview Interview: "In the recent tradition of D.C. United forwards, Johnson has actually performed well at many of the unnoticed things that forwards need to do, like hold-up play and pulling defenders out of position. And he got his first points of the season against FC Dallas, pulling wide and swinging a nice cross for Fabian Espindola to put away. But the goalscoring touch just hasn't been there yet."
Match Information
Watch it on: ROOT Sports
Kick off: 7:30 at Providence Park
Portland Timbers: 0-3-5, last place in the Western Conference
D.C. United: 3-2-2, 3rd place in the Eastern Conference