MLS: Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids Preview

The reigning MLS Cup Champions travel to Colorado to play the #1 seed in the Western Conference in a Fourth of July showdown. The match will be a battle between a productive offense and one of the best defenses this season.

Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids: What to Watch

The Colorado Rapids have everything going for them right now. They are on an 11 game undefeated streak, they have only allowed 11 goals so far this season, and they are about to play their first match with GK Tim Howard on their roster. How could the traveling Portland Timbers hope to beat the Rapids when they are in such good form? They need to defend.

This is easier said than done for the Timbers. They have only a handful of shutouts on the year and they have conceded the 2nd most goals of any team in the MLS (29). They have struggled all year to perform defensively, even though their defense is anchored by the veterans Nat Borchers and Liam Ridgewell. It is more likely that the traveling Timbers will have to outscore the Rapids.

Match Info:

When: Monday July 4, 2016 at 6pm PST
Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, CO)
TV: MLS Live, Altitude, Root Sports NW

The Timbers have 28 goals so far on the season, with 9 coming from Fanendo Adi, 7 coming from Diego Valeri and 4 coming from Jack McInerney. Only NYCFC has more goals scored than them, with 29. On the other hand, Colorado have only scored 19 goals on the season. Jermaine Jones, Kevin Doyle and Luis Solignac are the leading scorers for the Rapids with 3 goals a piece. If they can produce points, the Rapids will be in great shape to get three points at home.

This will be a fast paced, riveting match regardless of the final score. Rapid fans are stoked to welcome GK Tim Howard to Dicks Sporting Goods Park and would love to see him get three points in his inaugural game. Meanwhile, the Timbers are desperately seeking their first win on the road, and would love to do it against the first seed in the West. They will want to carry over their momentum from the dramatic 3-2 win against Houston to help solidify their spot above the line in the West.

This will be the first of three meetings this season for the Timbers and the Rapids and the 14th meeting of the teams since 2011. In the last 4 series match ups, the Timbers have been unbeaten with a 3-0-1 record. The last time we saw the Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids was October 25, 2015 in Portland, where the Timbers won 4-1 to send them to the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. However, the Timbers struggle when they travel to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. In the last 4 matches at Colorado, the Timbers are 1-1-2.

Tomorrow is going to be special for everyone involved. Pablo hopes it ends with the team earning three points.https://t.co/JPEmWsLclx
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 3, 2016

Overall, this game will be a thriller. We will undoubtedly see the Colorado defense make miraculous plays to stop the Timbers’ attack. We will see strength in the midfield and aggressive play from Colorado’s Jermaine Jones and Portland’s Darlington Nagbe and Diego Chara. And with any luck, we will see some fantastic goals from both sides.

Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids: Who to Watch

Lucas Melano, Portland Timbers – The Timbers’ forward has had a rough season until recently, but he’s fast and he creates chances for the Timber. He scored his first goal of the season two weeks ago against Real Salt Lake and then went on to score again in the Timbers’ 3-2 comeback win over the Houston Dynamo. Before the Houston game, head coach Caleb Porter reported that Melano looked like a whole new player after scoring because it looked like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Watch Melano make runs on the sideline and create chances for the Timbers. He’ll be hungry for a 3rd goal in 3 games.

Jermaine Jones, Colorado Rapids – Jones is returning from a frustrating bout of international duty with the US in Copa America. He’ll be looking to find the net to show his age doesn’t stop him from producing.

Darlington Nagbe, Portland Timbers – In the October 25, 2015 rendition of the Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids Nagbe had 2 goals and an assist to help the Timbers beat the Rapids in Providence Park. He’s a playmaker and he will be playing an essential role in helping contain Jermaine Jones and distributing balls for the Portland midfield.

Axel Sjöberg, Colorado Rapids – Sjöberg is huge part of the Colorado defense (literally and figuratively, he’s 6’7”) and he will likely play the critical role of contain Portland giant Fanendo Adi. If he can render Adi useless to the Portland attack, he could almost certainly shore up a win for the Rapids.

Next: NYCFC Paint the City Blue With a 2-0 Win Over the Red Bulls

Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids: Injury Report

Portland Timbers

GK – Adam Kwarasey – still out with a torn ligament in finger sustained on 4/16, he is projected to be out until early July

Colorado Rapids

D – Sean St. Ledger – out with a knee injury
D – Bobby Burling – out with a right knee surgery sustained on 6/7, projected to be out for 5 weeks
M – Dillon Serna is out for right knee surgery, he is projected to be out for 6-8 months and will not return this season

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