Portland Timbers: 5 must-watch matches in 2020 Season

PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 06: Portland Timbers players, Sebastián Blanco (10), Larrys Mabiala (33), and Dairon Asprilla (27), lift their slab trophies during the MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Portland Timbers on October 06, 2019, at Providence Park in Portland, OR. (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 06: Portland Timbers players, Sebastián Blanco (10), Larrys Mabiala (33), and Dairon Asprilla (27), lift their slab trophies during the MLS match between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Portland Timbers on October 06, 2019, at Providence Park in Portland, OR. (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
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PORTLAND, OR – SEPTEMBER 24: Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter salutes the crowd moments after the Orlando City SC match with the Portland Timbers FC on September 24, 2017 at Providence Park in Portland, OR (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR – SEPTEMBER 24: Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter salutes the crowd moments after the Orlando City SC match with the Portland Timbers FC on September 24, 2017 at Providence Park in Portland, OR (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

Portland Timbers Vs Columbus Crew

Providence Park; Wednesday, July 1st, 7:30 PM

Make sure to take your scarf and jersey to work with you so you can change on the way to this midweek game as July 1st, 2020 not only recognizes the one-year anniversary of Providence Park’s grand reopening; it will also be former head coach Caleb Porter’s first game back on the sidelines in Portland since his departure back in 2017.

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Porter’s contributions to the Timbers organization during his time as head coach, which includes two first-place finishes in the Western Conference, competitive play against rival club Seattle Sounders and of course the 2015 MLS Cup win, is instrumental to the team’s foundation in MLS.

But his departure from the club over two years ago is still a bit of a mystery, especially after having such success. Nevertheless, now he’s back in the Rose City coaching the very team he won that 2015 MLS Cup against, the Columbus Crew. Porter will not be the only who returns, with Darlington Nagbe also in tow in central midfield.

Porter is looking to take the club back to the success they once enjoyed in the 2000s, and he’s got a new roster that includes Argentine attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan coming over from Tigres UANL for a club-record $7 Million fee. Both teams will be looking for a place in the playoffs, and with the added atmosphere of Porter and Nagbe’s return, this could be a terrific evening.