Timbers face tough test at Colorado

The Portland Timbers will put a run of five MLS games without a loss to the test on Monday against the league’s best.

The Timbers (6-6-5, 23 points) visit the Colorado Rapids (9-2-5, 32 points) for a 6 p.m. match (TV on ROOT Sports).

Both teams are coming off mid-week losses in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Portland fell 1-0 to the L.A. Galaxy while Colorado lost 2-1 to FC Dallas in a match that went 120 minutes and ended a Rapids run of 12 matches unbeaten.

For Colorado, this match marks the return of midfielder Jermaine Jones from U.S. national team duty and the debut of veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard. Howard is returning to MLS after 13 seasons in the English Premier League, the last 10 with Everton. He played with the New York/New Jersey Metrostars in MLS before heading to England.

The 37-year-old Howard has played 108 games for the United States national team.

Colorado has built its strong first half to the season on a defense that has allowed a league-best 11 goals through 16 games.

The Timbers, by contrast, have allowed 29 goals in their first 17 games. Portland’s 28 goals scored is tied for second most in the league. Portland is unbeaten in its last five league games (3 wins, 2 draws) after rallying last Sunday for a 3-2 win over Houston.

Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe returned from his time with the U.S. national team and played the entire match in Wednesday’s Cup loss to the Galaxy.

The Timbers next visit the Red Bulls in New Jersey on Sunday before returning for three home matches over 11 days in mid July.