MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2015
Kickoff: 4 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Yankee Stadium (New York City, N.Y.) Forecast: 62 degrees, partly cloudy
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Craig Lowry, Brian Poeschel Fourth Official: Jose Carlos Rivero
National TV: FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes (Spanish)
Talent: John Strong (play-by-play), Alexi Lalas (analyst), Katie Witham (sideline)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750AM, 102.9FM)
Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
Sunday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between the Timbers and MLS expansion side New York City FC and Portland’s second consecutive against game against an MLS expansion team. Prior to Sunday’s match, the Timbers played host to new MLS side Orlando City SC on April 12 at Providence Park, sustaining a 2-0 loss at home. The Timbers enter Sunday’s game with an 8-2-5 overall record following a loss since 2013. New York City FC played the Philadelphia Union to a 1-1 draw on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC is winless in three consecutive games (0-2-1) as head coach Jason Kreis’ side lost 1-0 against Sporting Kansas City at home (March 28) and suffered a 2-1 road loss against Philadelphia on April 11. NYCFC kicked off its inaugural campaign with a three-game unbeaten streak from March 8-21.
LAST MATCH RECAP
The Timbers conceded a goal in each half – including a late penalty kick – in a 2-0 loss against MLS-expansion side Orlando City SC in front of sellout crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on April 12. The loss, Portland’s first home loss of the season, ended the team’s home unbeaten run at seven consecutive matches, dating back to last season. Despite finishing with an 18-14 advantage in shots, including a 4-3 edge in shots on goal, Portland conceded the opening goal in the 30th minute and Orlando City added an 85th-minute penalty kick.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Sunday’s match at Yankee Stadium marks the first-ever meeting between the Timbers and MLS-expansion side New York City FC. The match also marks the first match for the Timbers to be played in New York City during the team’s MLS era. Sunday’s match marks just the second-ever match for the Timbers in New York City during the team’s 40-year history. While Portland made several trips to face the New York Cosmos during the NASL era and the New York Red Bulls in MLS, only one previous road match was played in New York City. The Timbers faced off against the New York Cosmos on July 16, 1975, at Downing Stadium on Randalls Island in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Other road matches against New York City-based NASL and MLS sides have taken place at the Meadowlands and Red Bull Arena, both located in New Jersey.
SCOUTING NEW YORK CITY FC
One of two MLS expansion teams entering the league in 2015 (along with Orlando City SC), New York City FC is jointly owned by City Football Group (owners of English Premier League side Manchester City) and Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees. Playing their home matches at Yankee Stadium in New York City, NYCFC conceded a late goal in the second half of a 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union on Thursday, ahead of facing the Timbers on Sunday. Highlighting head coach Jason Kreis’ squad is former Spanish international star David Villa. The forward leads NYCFC with two goals and one assist in five appearances (all starts). The 33-year-old helped Spain win the 2010 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2008 European Championship. Alongside Villa is U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Mix Diskerud (1 goal), while former Real Salt Lake midfielder Ned Grabavoy has registered two assists and second-year forward Patrick Mullins has tallied one goal.
SPREAD THE LOVE
Entering the week, the Timbers have had an array of contributors on the offensive end with nine different players having either a goal or an assist for the club. No other team in MLS has as many, with six teams tied for the second-most with eight. Leading the way is forward Fanendo Adi, who has three goals and one assist for the Timbers.
REBOUNDING FROM A LOSS
Since the 2013 season, the Timbers have won eight times in games immediately following a loss. While suffering consecutive losses just twice in those two-plus seasons, the club is an impressive 8-2-5 overall in games directly following a defeat, including a recent 3-1 victory over FC Dallas on April 4 (which followed a 2-1 loss at Vancouver on March 28).
TACKLES
Entering the week, Timbers defender Alvas Powell ranks second among all players in MLS with 25 tackles. A Jamaican international, Powell has played all 90 minutes in each of Portland’s first six matches.
CONSISTENCY
The Timbers have had five players play every minute of the club’s matches so far this season. No other team in MLS has had as many players play every minute of their team’s matches in 2015. Liam Ridgewell, Adam Kwarasey, Nat Borchers, Alvas Powell and Darlington Nagbe have each gone the full 90 in Portland’s six matches (540 minutes).
HITTING THE ROAD
The Timbers will look to continue their past success on the road as they will play five of their next six matches away from home, including three matches at Eastern Conference opponents. Last year, Portland compiled a 7-6-4 mark on the road. Starting with Sunday’s match, Portland will travel a minimum of 17,776 miles (calculated using direct air distance) in 35 days for MLS regular-season matches. Portland travels to face New York City FC, Seattle, Montreal, Houston and Toronto FC in its next five road games.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
Defender Nat Borchers will make his 295th career MLS appearance should he play on Sunday against New York City FC. Borchers has started each of Portland’s first six regular-season matches in 2015.
Midfielder Jack Jewsbury’s next start will mark the 250th of his MLS career. Jewsbury reached the 300 career appearances milestone during the 2014 season and has appeared in five games (3 starts) for Portland this season.
Forward Maximiliano Urruti’s next start will mark his 20th career start for the Timbers. Urruti has appeared in six matches (3 starts) this season and scored 10 goals in 30 games (12 starts) for Portland last season.
Midfielder/forward Rodney Wallace is moving closer to the 10,000 minutes played milestone for his MLS career. The 26-year-old enters Saturday’s match with 9,883 minutes played, including 6,694 of those minutes with the Timbers since 2011. Wallace needs just 117 more minutes to reach the milestone.
ON THE ROAD IN THE EAST
Over the last two seasons, the Timbers have an impressive 4-2-4 record when visiting Eastern Conference foes. In those 10 matches, Portland has notched multiple goals in six games.
PUSHING THROUGH THE FOULS
Portland ranks first overall in the league in dribbles completed (66), according to Opta. The stat tracks moments when an individual player successfully dribbles around an opponent while retaining possession. Midfielder Darlington Nagbe (20) and defender Alvas Powell (15) rank second and third, respectively, in the league behind FC Dallas’ Fabian Castillo (23). Highlighting the stat is the fact that the Timbers are the most fouled team in MLS (98). Nagbe has been fouled 19 times (fourth-most in MLS), while forward Fanendo Adi ranks sixth in the league, suffering 14 fouls.
APPLYING PRESSURE
Showcasing the team’s ability to get forward during games, the Timbers rank second in MLS in chances created (56). Midfielder Darlington Nagbe ranks tied for first in the league in chances created by an individual player (15). The Timbers are tied for second in MLS with 33 corner kicks, while also placing second among all teams with 28 shots on goal. Portland also ranks third among league leaders in total shots (78).
