Portland Timbers at Sporting Kansas City Match Thread [5:30]

The Portland Timbers are on the road today for the first time in the 2015 MLS season and they are set to take on the new arrivals in the Western Conference: Sporting Kansas City. Of course, for SKC this is really a return to the West, the conference they abandoned in 2005 when Real Salt Lake and the ill-fated Chivas USA joined the league.

This is a matchup between two win-less teams, each hoping to prove that they are contenders in a conference that once again looks like it will be packed to capacity with quality sides.

Previews

Match Preview: "With Diego Valeri and Will Johnson out injured, the Timbers have been forced to change things up, playing two direct attacking players on the wings in Dairon Asprilla and Rodney Wallace, while giving Darlington Nagbe free reign over the center of the pitch. Nagbe, who looked good in the Timbers' first match and great in their second, has been at the heart of the Timbers' best chances to day, including both goals against LA on Sunday."

Preview Interview: "This is a team that has six new starters, a not-in-form Zusi, a rusty Ike Opara and a new system from the past few years. It's going to take some time for the players to gel and for them to get into full form. I believe that this team will get progressively better as the season goes on, given the amount of talent on this team."

Graphic Preview

Match Information

Watch it on: ROOT Sports

Kickoff: 5:30 pm pacific at Sporting Park in Kansas City, KA

Portland Timbers: 0-0-2, 7th place in the Western Conference

Sporting Kansas City: 0-1-1, 10th place in the Western Conference