Whitecaps at Timbers
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Providence Park.
TV/radio: ESPN, cable Channel 35 / AM 750.
Tickets: A few tickets remained Saturday afternoon.
Records: Portland (3-6-3) is ninth in the Western Conference with 12 points from 12 games. Vancouver (6-5-2) is third in the Western Conference with 20 points from 13 games.
Timbers Notes: The Timbers will try to put an end to a three-match skid that started with a 2-1 loss at Vancouver on May 7. This is the longest string of losses Timbers coach Caleb Porter has ever experienced as a coach or player at any level. Uncertain is the status of forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder Diego Chara. Adi (hamstring) left last weekend’s match against New York City FC moments after scoring his eighth goal of the season. Chara (toe) did not play last week. Injuries have been a factor in the Timbers struggles as 10 players who factor in regular lineup choices have missed 40 man games, including, this match, with injury. That number will rise to 41 or 42 id Adi or Chara can’t play against Vancouver. … Defensively, the Timbers have yet to shut out an opponent and recently have struggled to protect their own goal in the second half of games. On the flip side, the Timbers have scored in every game, but have scored more than one goal only three times and more than two goals only once. … Porter calculates the Timbers must win 12 of their 22 remaining matches to finish in the top six in the West and qualify for the playoffs. … Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe (United States) and defender Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica) have been named to their national team rosters for the upcoming Copa America Centenario.
Whitecaps notes: The Whitecaps won three in a row beginning with their May 7 second-half comeback to beat Portland. Kekuta Manneh, who missed the May 7 match, is coming off scoring twice and adding an assist in a 4-3 win at Toronto. The speedy attacker figures to test a Timbers defense that is still seeking consistency because injuries have prevented using a consistent lineup among the back six. Manneh and Beaverton native Erik Hurtado proved to be a dangerous pair in Toronto. … Pedro Morales (five goals, three assists) continues to be a key player in the Whitecaps attack. Right back Fraser Aird is suspended for this match. … With wins over Portland and Seattle, Vancouver has six points in the Cascadia Cup competition.
