MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, Aug. 7
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Forecast: Partly cloudy, 71 degrees
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Apolinar Mariscal, Kathryn Nesbitt Fourth Official: Baboucarr Jallow
National TV: ESPN
Talent: Jon Champion (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750 AM, 102.9 FM)
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Timbers venture into Sunday’s match coming off a 2-1 win against C.D. Dragon of El Salvador in their opening group-stage match in the 2016-17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions Leage tournament. Forward Jack McInerney and midfielder Diego Valeri both scored for Portland, with Valeri providing the go-ahead goal in the 90th minute of play as the Timbers recorded their ninth home win in 15 games played in all competitions at Providence Park in 2016. Sunday’s match against Sporting Kansas City marks back-to-back contests between the two teams in league play, with Sporting KC taking a 1-0 win against Portland on July 31. Forward Dom Dwyer leads Sporting Kansas City in goals with 10 finishes so far this season.
LAST MATCH RECAP
In their opening match of the 2016-17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) tournament, the Portland Timbers defeated C.D. Dragon 2-1 before 16,268 fans at Providence Park on Aug. 3. Forward Jack McInerney and midfielder Diego Valeri both tallied goals for Portland.
LAST TIME VS. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
The Portland Timbers fell 1-0 against Sporting Kansas City before 19,098 fans at Children’s Mercy Park on July 31 after conceding to the home side five minutes into the second half. The game against Sporting Kansas City snapped the Timbers’ road shutout streak at 248 minutes, which is the longest the club has gone without conceding a goal on the road since joining MLS in 2011.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Sunday’s match marks the 12th all-time meeting between Portland and Sporting KC, with the two teams meeting nine times in the regular season since 2011. Portland has registered a 2-5-2 regular-season record against Sporting KC, including a mark of 1-3-1 in three games played at Providence Park. In the last five regular-season games, the two teams have combined for three goals in the tightly-contested series, with the Timbers recording two shutouts during that stretch. In their most recent match July 31, 2016, Sporting Kansas City defeated the Timbers 1-0 at Children’s Mercy Park after forward Jacob Peterson scored in the 50th minute of play. Sunday’s nationally televised fixture marks the second and final regular-season match between the two teams in 2016.
SCOUTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Sitting in fourth place in the competitive Western Conference standings, Sporting Kansas City enters Sunday’s match with three wins and two losses in their last five matches, most recently defeating the Timbers 1-0 at Children’s Mercy Park on July 31. So far this season, Sporting Kansas City has compiled a 2-6-3 record on the road this season, compared to an 8-4-1 home record, losing three times and drawing twice in their last five away matches. Forward Dom Dwyer leads the team in goals (10), shots (78) and shots on goal (29), while midfielder Saad Abdul-Salaam leads the team in assists (5).
