MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2020
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Orlando, Fla.) Forecast: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson, Jose Da Silva Fourth Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Alex Chilowicz
NATIONAL TV: ESPN2
Talent: Jon Champion (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst), Stefano Fusaro (sideline reporter)
English Radio: 750 The Game
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Nat Borchers (analyst), Judah Newby (host)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Timbers close out Group F play in the MLS is Back Tournament on Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), squaring off against Los Angeles FC at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The match will feature a national broadcast on ESPN2, with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
Thursday’s match marks the fifth regular-season meeting between the Timbers and LAFC in MLS league play, with Portland trailing the series 1-2-1. In the last meeting between two clubs, the Timbers eliminated LAFC in the quarterfinal round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Banc of California Stadium on July 10, 2019 behind the game-winning goal from Jeremy Ebobisse and a shutout from Steve Clark. Notably, the Timbers are one of five teams in MLS to defeat LAFC at Banc of California Stadium (28-5-12) across all competitions dating back to the beginning of the 2018 campaign.
In two matches played during the MLS is Back Tournament, Los Angeles FC holds a 1-0-1 record (9 GF, 5 GA) and has qualified for the Knockout Round of the tournament. LAFC forward Diego Rossi leads the league with six goals scored and notably tallied four goals against the LA Galaxy on July 18.
SCOUTING LAFC
Thursday’s match marks the seventh meeting all-time across all competitions between the Timbers and Los Angeles FC, with Portland trailing the series 2-3-1. Against LAFC away from Portland across all competitions, the Timbers have re- corded four points, holding a record of 1-2-1. In two regular-season starts against LAFC, Portland midfielder Cristhian Paredes has tallied two goals and an assist. Portland forward Jeremy Ebobisse tallied the game-winning goal against LAFC in the quarterfinal round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on July 10, 2019, in the last meeting between the two sides.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Thursday’s match marks the seventh meeting all-time across all competitions between the Timbers and Los Angeles FC, with Portland trailing the series 2-3-1. Against LAFC away from Portland across all competitions, the Timbers have recorded four points, holding a record of 1-2-1. In the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, Cristhian Paredes tallied a brace in the Timbers’ 2-1 win over LAFC at Providence Park on May 19, 2018. Portland forward Jeremy Ebobisse tallied the game-winning goal against LAFC in the quarterfinal round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on July 10, 2019, in the last meeting between the two sides.
VALERI CLOSING IN ON 80 GOALS/80 ASSISTS CLUB
With his game-winning goal against the Houston Dynamo on July 18, Diego Valeri now sits at 79 goals and 82 assists in 215 appearances (206 starts) in league play since joining the Timbers in 2013. Valeri needs one more goal to reach 80-plus goals and 80-plus assists for his career in regular-season play. Landon Donovan (145 goals, 136 assists) and Jaime Moreno (133 goals, 102 assists) are the only players in MLS history to reach 80-plus goals and 80-plus assists in their career during the regular season.
ERYK WILLIAMSON MAKING NOISE
Timbers midfielder Eryk Williamson tallied his first career assist for the club in a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on July 18. Williamson has made two starts during the MLS is Back Tournament, ranking tied for third on the team in chances created from open play. Williamson ranks second on the team in dribbles attempted (9), fourth in interceptions (5) and third in passing accuracy in the opposition’s half (87%).
DIEGO ‘LA SONRISA’ CHARA
Portland midfielder Diego Chara is the club’s all-time leader in games played (266), games started (263) and minutes played (23,316) during the MLS regular season. Chara ranks second all-time in league history in fouls committed (647) and second all-time in yellow cards (82). Since making his debut with Portland on April 23, 2011, Chara leads all MLS players in tackles (909) and tackles won (716) in league play according to Opta stats.
JEBO HITTING HIS STRIDE
Timbers forward Jeremy Ebobisse scored the opening goal, his second of the 2020 campaign, for Portland in a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on July 18 in the MLS is Back Tournament. In his third season with the Timbers in 2019, Ebobisse, 23, finished tied for first on the team with 11 goals and was the only player on the roster to appear in all 34 league games. Across all competitions, Ebobisse registered 12 goals and two assists across 39 appearances (30 starts) in 2019. Notably, Ebobisse was one of three players in MLS aged 22 or younger with 11 or more goals scored in league play last year. Additionally, Ebobisse has played in 57 consecutive matches across all competitions, dating back to Sept. 8, 2018, when he scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids.
SEBA BLANCO AT A GLANCE
After registering an assist against the Houston Dynamo on July 18, Sebastián Blanco has now tallied 30 goals and 34 assists in 112 appearances (106 starts) for the Timbers across all competitions. In 35 appearances (34 starts) for Portland across all competitions in 2019, Blanco tallied seven goals and 13 assists. Since entering MLS in 2017, Blanco ranks second in league play in chances created from open play (197) behind only NYCFC’s Maximiliano Moralez (202). Notably, Blanco’s 76 chances created from open play ranked tied for second in league play in 2019.
STEVE CLARK IN THE ZONE
Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark made three saves in a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on July 18, helping improve the club’s record to 3-1-0 in four matches played in 2020. In his second season with the Timbers in 2019, Clark finished the regular season with a career-best goals-against average of 1.04, while tallying 84 saves, six shutouts and posting a record of 13-6-5. Notably, Clark was named the Supporters’ Player of the Year for the 2019 campaign.
