MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2015
Kickoff: 4 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.) Forecast: Mostly Cloudy, 59 degrees
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Assistant Referees: Paul Scott, Felisha Mariscal Fourth Official: Baboucarr Jallow
National TV: FOX Sports 1
Talent: John Strong (play-by-play), Alexi Lalas (analyst), Julie Stewart-Binks (reporter)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750AM, 102.9FM) Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 1150AM, 93.5FM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Hozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
Portland enters Sunday’s nationally televised match against 2014 MLS Cup- champion LA Galaxy with a Timbers MLS-club record streak of 394 minutes without conceding a goal, dating back to the final three matches of the 2014 regular-season schedule. Including 2014, the Timbers have registered four straight shutouts, finishing last season with clean sheets against San Jose (Oct. 8), Real Salt Lake (Oct. 17) and on the road at FC Dallas (Oct. 25) before recording a shutout in a scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake in the 2015 season opener on March 7. The Timbers haven’t conceded a goal at Providence Park in MLS regular-season play since Sept. 7, 2014, a span of 365 consecutive minutes.
LAST MATCH RECAP
Kicking off the 2015 season presented by Simple, the Timbers registered a clean sheet, outshooting Western Conference foe Real Salt Lake 18-9 in a scoreless draw in front of a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on March 7. Holding Real Salt Lake without a shot on goal until the 73rd minute, the Timbers recorded their fourth consecutive clean sheet dating back to the final three matches of the 2014 MLS season and extended their run without conceding a goal in regular-season play to a Timbers MLS-record 394 minutes. The Timbers finished with a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal in the match.
LAST TIME VS. LA GALAXY
Despite taking an early lead on the road, the Timbers couldn’t overcome a late second-half surge by host LA Galaxy, conceding two goals inside the final 20 minutes in a 3-1 loss before 20,089 fans at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., on Aug. 2, 2014. Forward Robbie Keane tallied a second-half brace, including a penalty-kick goal in the 85th minute, as Portland sustained its first loss against the Galaxy since 2012, snapping a five-match unbeaten streak against the Western Conference side.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
The Timbers have lost just once against the Galaxy in their last six regular-season meetings, compiling a 2-1-3 record since June 19, 2013. At Providence Park, Portland has earned a 3-1-1 record against the Galaxy, including a current three-game, home unbeaten streak (2-0-1) dating back to July 13, 2013.
The Timbers have outscored the Galaxy, 10-7, in regular-season matches at Providence Park since 2011, including two shutouts (Aug. 3, 2011; Sept. 29, 2013). In the last three games between the two Western Conference sides at Providence Park, the Timbers have earned two wins and a draw, including a dramatic, 1-1 draw on May 11, 2014 – the last time the Galaxy visited Providence Park. After conceding the go-ahead goal to forward Robbie Keane at the start of second-half stoppage time, midfielder Diego Valeri struck with the game-tying goal in the fifth, and final, minute of stoppage time for the latest game-tying goal in Timbers MLS history.
SCOUTING THE GALAXY
The Galaxy enter Sunday’s match following a season-opening, 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire on March 6 at the StubHub Center. Forwards Jose Villarreal and Robbie Keane both tallied goals in the second half as the 2014 MLS Cup champions opened their title defense with a clean sheet. Despite losing midfielder Landon Donovan to retirement at the end of last season, the Galaxy return much of the championship squad and await the arrival of Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard this summer. The Galaxy became the first MLS club to win five league titles, defeating the New England Revolution 2-1 in overtime on Dec. 7. Against the Fire, 11 Galaxy players who earned minutes in the 2014 MLS Cup also saw time against the Fire in the team’s 2015 season-opening win. Head coach Bruce Arena’s starting lineup against the Fire featured 21-year-old forward Villarreal, a Homegrown signing who saw just 19 minutes of regular-season action with the first team in 2014, and goalkeeper Brian Rowe - who made his eighth career MLS start, earning the clean sheet with one save.
SHUTOUT STREAK INTACT
The Timbers are on an MLS-club record streak of 394 minutes without conceding a goal, dating back to the final three matches of the 2014 regular-season schedule. Including 2014, the Timbers have registered four straight shutouts, finishing last season with clean sheets against San Jose (Oct. 8), Real Salt Lake (Oct. 17) and on the road at FC Dallas (Oct. 25) before recording a shutout in a scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake in the 2015 season opener on March 7. The Timbers haven’t conceded a goal at Providence Park in MLS regular-season play since Sept. 7, 2014, a span of 365 consecutive minutes.
OFFENSIVE PRESSURE
Against Real Salt Lake in Week 1 of the MLS regular-season schedule, the Timbers attempted 18 shots, which ranked tied for the most in the league during the opening weekend of the season. Portland’s shooting accuracy, according to Opta, was tied for the highest in the league at 60 percent (10 shots, 6 on goal, 8 blocked shots). Portland also earned a league-high 11 corner kicks against Real Salt Lake. The offensive pressure applied by the Timbers against Real Salt Lake forced the visitors into 65 clearances, according to Opta. Real Salt Lake’s 65 clearances was 13 more than the next closest team during the first week of the season.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Midfielder Diego Chara will move into a tie for ninth-place overall on the Timbers all-time appearances list in his next game. Chara enters Sunday with 118 games played since 2011 - and will tie NASL Timbers defender Graham Day (119) if he sees action on Sunday.
Midfielder/forward Rodney Wallace will make his 90th appearance as a member of the Timbers if he plays on Sunday against the LA Galaxy. Wallace, who joined Portland prior to its inaugural 2011 MLS season, enters Sunday’s match with 128 career MLS appearances (89 with Portland, 39 with D.C. United).
Forward Fanendo Adi’s next goal will mark his 10th career regular-season goal since joining Portland in May 2014. Adi’s next start will be his 20th for the Timbers in MLS (and his 26th overall league appearance).
Midfielder Jack Jewsbury’s next appearance will be the 305th regular-season appearance of his MLS career since 2003. Jewsbury has made 109 league appearances for the Timbers since 2011. Jewsbury ranks sixth all-time among active MLS players and goalkeepers in career league appearances.
HOME COOKING
Portland has compiled a 16-4-15 regular-season mark at Providence Park since 2013, with the team’s four home losses being the second-fewest home losses in MLS over the last two seasons, trailing only the LA Galaxy (3). The Timbers have outscored opponents 63-39 in regular-season home matches at Providence Park since 2013.
ON TARGET
Midfielder Rodney Wallace ended the first week of the regular season with the league lead in shots on goal with four. In Week 1, Wallace was the only MLS player to attempt four or more total shots and put them all on target. Wallace’s four shots on goal was one shy of the Timbers MLS record of five shots on goal set by midfielder Diego Valeri on Sept. 7, 2014, against San Jose.
ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
The Timbers know how to put on a show for national television - combining with opponents for an average of 3.2 goals per game on national broadcasts since the 2011 season.
