Timbers Matchday: vs. Alpha United

Alpha United at Timbers

Kickoff: 7 p.m. today at Providence Park.

TV: Fox Sports 1 (cable Channel 408/723).

Radio: None.

Tickets: timbers.com or 503-553-5555. Prices for this match range from $15 to $50.

CCL Group 5 standings — Portland 2-0-0, CD Olimpia 2-1-0, Alpha United 0-3-0. Group winner advances to 2015 CCL quarterfinals.

Timbers — A win — which based on results to date this should be for Portland — will put the Timbers in good shape to advance to next spring’s CCL quarterfinals. A win means Portland could lose by one goal on Oct. 21 when it travels to Honduras to close out group play against CD Olimpia. The goal differential in this match will only come into play if the Timbers lose 4-2 at CD Olimpia because away goals in head-to-head matches would first be used should the Timbers and Olimpia finish tied atop the group standings.

As he did last Tuesday against Olimpia, expect Caleb Porter to rest most of the players who started Saturday’s MLS match against Vancouver (Diego Valeri, Fanendo Adi were named to the MLS Team of the Week, as was Porter). The Timbers travel to Toronto for a Saturday MLS match. Will Johnson, who played against Olimpia, is unlikely to play against Alpha United. Kalif Alhassan was injured against Olimpia and will not play today.

Alpha United — The team from Guyana is winless and has been outscored 11-1 in CCL group play, including 4-1 on Aug. 19 when Portland visited Providence, Guyana. Alpha United qualified for the CCL by winning its group of a Caribbean Football Union tournament.