MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Nov. 8, 2020
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Banc of California Stadium (Los Angeles)
Forecast: Partly cloudy, 60 degrees
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Diego Blas
Fourth Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
National TV: FS1
Talent: John Strong (play-by-play), Stu Holden (analyst)
English Radio: 750 The Game
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Nat Borchers (analyst), Fletcher Johnson (host)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
LAST TIME OUT
The Portland Timbers conceded a late second-half goal, falling 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids in their regular-season home finale at Providence Park on Nov. 4.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Sunday’s match marks the 10th meeting across all competitions between Portland and LAFC. The last time the two teams played one another, the Timbers and LAFC played to a 1-1 draw at Providence Park on Oct. 18. The two teams have played three times in 2020, with Portland trailing the season series 0-1-2. The first meeting between the Timbers and LAFC in 2020 occurred at the MLS is Back Tournament, as the two sides played to a 2-2 draw on July 23 during the group stage. Notably, in six matches played against LAFC across all competitions, Jeremy Ebobisse has tallied five goals and an assist.
JORGE VILLAFAÑA HITS 100 GAME MILESTONE
Jorge Villafaña tallied his fifth assist in league play this season in a 1-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Nov. 1. Notably, Villafaña became the ninth Timbers player to make 100 MLS regular-season appearances for the club in the win over Vancouver. Villafaña’s five assists equal a personal best set in 2015 and in 2019 with the Timbers. Notably, Villafaña’s five assists ranks first amongst all MLS defenders during the regular season. In 22 appearances (20 starts) across all competitions for the Timbers in 2020, Villafaña has tallied five assists.
TIMBERS RUN OF FORM SINCE BLANCO WENT DOWN
In their last 14 matches played dating back to a 2-1 win on the road over Seattle Sounders FC on Sept. 6, Portland holds a record of 8-3-3. During that stretch, the Timbers rank first in MLS in goals scored (31), rank tied for second in the league in games won (8) and rank second behind only Philadelphia (+19) in goal differential (+14). The Timbers have had three different players score five or more goals (Jeremy Ebobisse, Felipe Mora, Jaroslaw Niezgoda) dating back to Sept. 6; the only team in MLS with that figure. Additionally, Eryk Williamson has tallied three goals, while Yimmi Chara and Diego Valeri have both tallied four goals dating back to Sept. 6. Notably, Yimmi Chara leads the league in assists (7) dating back to Sept. 6.
TIMBERS’ POTENT OFFENSE
In 22 regular-season matches during the 2020 campaign, the Portland Timbers rank second in MLS in goals scored (45) and lead the league in assists (46). As a team, Portland ranks first in the league in headed goals (12). The Timbers are one of two teams in MLS with two players with eight or more goals scored (Jeremy Ebobisse, Diego Valeri), and the only team in MLS with four players that have scored seven or more goals scored (Ebobisse, Felipe Mora, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Valeri).
DEPTH ON DISPLAY
Across all competitions in 2020, 28 players have appeared in at least one match for Portland, while 14 different players have scored at least one goal and 15 different players have recorded at least one assist. Andy Polo tallied his first goal in league play in 2020, while Pablo Bonilla tallied his first career assist for the Timbers in the 5-2 win over the LA Galaxy on Oct. 28 at Providence Park. In total 19 players featured across seven games in the MLS is Back Tournament for the Timbers, and 15 of those 19 players appeared in at least three games during the tournament.
MLS’ NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE MAKING HISTORY
Against the LA Galaxy on Oct. 28, Yimmi Chara tallied four assists and earned a penalty, becoming the first player in MLS history to achieve that feat in a single match. Notably, Chara’s four assists are tied for the most assists in a single game in MLS history, joining Carlos Valderrama, Chris Henderson, Dwayne De Rosario, Landon Donovan, and Lee Nguyen as the only players to achieve the feat. In 20 appearances (11 starts) for the Timbers in regular-season play in 2020, Chara has tallied four goals and eight assists. Chara’s eight assists ranks tied for fifth in the league in 2020.
