The Portland Timbers have a hard task ahead of them today as they take on the recently rejuvenated LA Galaxy in the two team's third match up of the season. Having drawn both at home and in LA so far this year, both teams will be looking for the tie-breaker today.
For the Timbers, a win or a tie moves them closer to a playoff spot, something of which they are now within striking distance, while for the Galaxy a win will legitimize them as one of the contenders in the league and confirm that Monday's 3-0 drubbing of the Seattle Sounders was no fluke victory.
Here is all the information that you need for today's match:
Previews
Match Preview: "The Timbers' attack, which has been the team's strong point this year and is among the most prolific in the league, is also the Timbers' biggest question going into this match. In recent matches the Timbers have alternated Fanendo Adi and Maximiliano Urruti as the team's lone forward at the top of the formation. Against the Impact Urruti got the start, bagging his eighth goal of the season and generally combining well along the ground with Gaston Fernandez, Darlington Nagbe, and Diego Valeri. Adi, however, gives the Timbers an aerial presence like nobody else on the team and, when given the ball, is capable of making things happen on his own, even if he does not play as well with others as Urruti."
Preview Interview: "The LA Galaxy team on national TV routing the Seattle Sounders was really making its MLS debut. It's the first time in months the three DPs have been on the field together and this new goal poaching version of Gyasi Zardes is a fairly recent discovery. Seattle had a fairly significant late scratch on the back line, and the result was an attack which took advantage of every Seattle mistake and gave the Sounders few chances to get back into the match."
General Information
Watch it on: NBC
Kick off: 11:30 AM PT at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA
Portland Timbers: 6-6-9, 7th place in the Western Conference
LA Galaxy: 8-4-6, 3rd place in the Western Conference