Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes: How to Watch, Preview, Match Chat [8:00]

The Portland Timbers will take on the San Jose Earthquakes tonight at sun-drenched Providence Park as the two teams look to make their way through the pack in the Western Conference. With a top three spot withing reach for the Timbers and a push back above the red line on the table for San Jose, both teams will be looking for the win in today's match.

Preview

Match Preview: "With the midfield in flux there are a number of different possibilities for both the Timbers' attacking and holding midfielders. Up top, the Timbers will likely see Valeri with some combination of Nagbe, Wallace, and Fernandez in the XI. The Earthquakes are a much more solidly constructed team than the gutted version of the Seattle Sounders that the Timbers took apart last week, so expect a less buccaneering approach from the Timbers in the attack."

"While the Earthquakes are still behind the Timbers in the standings, they are still very much a part of the densely packed group competing for the playoff spots in the Western Conference, a fact that can mostly be attributed to their defensive performances so far this season. Only having allowed 16 goals in 16 games, the 'Quakes are tied for the third best defense in the league on goals allowed per game, behind only Seattle and the Vancouver Whitecaps."

Match Information

Watch it on: ESPN2

Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. PT at Providence Park in Portland, OR

Portland Timbers: 8-6-4, 5th place in the Western Conference

San Jose Earthquakes: 7-5-4, 7th place in the Western Conference