MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Sunday, May 1, 2016
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Forecast: Sunny, 72 degrees
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Adam Garner, Jeremy Hanson Fourth Official: Baboucarr Jallow
National TV: ESPN
Talent: Adrian Healey (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst), Monica Gonzalez (reporter)
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
Sunday’s contest marks the seventh regular-season meeting between Portland and Toronto since 2011. At home, the Timbers are unbeaten against Toronto, securing four points in two games played (1-0-1). The most recent match between both teams at Providence Park took place on Sept. 7, 2013, featuring a 4-0 win for the Timbers, who scored four times in the second half.
Toronto enters Sunday’s match coming off a 2-0 win over Montreal Impact on April 23. Forward Sebastian Giovinco, who scored both goals in the win over Montreal, leads the team in goals (6), shots (37) and shots on goal (12). Former Timbers midfielder Will Johnson leads the team in assists (3).
LAST MATCH RECAP
The Timbers battled the New England Revolution to a 1-1 draw on April 27, earning a hard-fought road point at Gillette Stadium and extending their unbeaten run against New England to four games, dating back to the 2013 MLS campaign. One of four MLS teams to record a goal in each game this season, the Timbers opened the scoring in the 64th minute when midfielder Darlington Nagbe drifted a cross toward the back post for midfielder Jack Barmby, whose first-time volley bounced into the back of the net.
LAST TIME VS. TORONTO FC
Despite a strong second-half performance, the Portland Timbers could not overcome an early goal against the run of play in a 1-0 road loss against Toronto FC in front of 23,569 fans at BMO Field on May 23. Following an early effort from inside the penalty box by Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri that was saved, Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco provided the game’s only goal.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Sunday’s match marks the seventh all-time meeting between Portland and Toronto FC and the third between the two sides at Providence Park since the 2011 MLS campaign. In both games played at Providence Park, Portland are unbeaten against the Canadian-based club, registering a 6-2 advantage in goals scored with a win and a draw.
In their most recent match against Toronto at Providence Park, held on Sept. 7, 2013, the Timbers scored four goals in the second half to defeat Toronto 4-0 as four different players found the back of the net for Portland. Overall, nine different players have scored for the Timbers against Toronto FC in the all-time series.
SCOUTING TORONTO FC
Since suffering consecutive losses to Sporting Kansas City (March 20) and the Colorado Rapids (April 2), Toronto FC are unbeaten in their last three matches, drawing the New England Revolution 1-1, while producing a 1-0 win over D.C. United and a 2-0 victory over the Montreal Impact during that span. Forward Sebastian Giovinco leads the team in goals (6), shots (37) and shots on goal (12).
Led by head coach Greg Vanney, Toronto FC acquired six players during the offseason, including former Timbers midfielder Will Johnson, defender Steven Beitashour and goalkeeper Clint Irwin. Collectively, all three players have played over 400 MLS regular-season games
FINAL THIRD SUCCESS
Portland midfielder Diego Valeri ranks fifth in MLS for chances created from open play (15). Timbers forward Fanendo Adi also joins Valeri in the top 10, ranking sixth with 12 chances created from open play, according to Opta.
FACING TORONTO
Since entering the league in 2011, the Timbers have had nine different players score against Toronto in six games played. Additionally, the Timbers have produced multi-goal games in four of those six matches.
Timbers midfielders Ned Grabavoy and Jack Jewsbury both rank in the top 20 among active players for games played against Toronto FC, with both players featuring 13 times against Toronto.
DEFENSIVE EFFORT
Entering Sunday’s match, the Timbers rank fourth in MLS for tackles made (184), trailing NYCFC (203), FC Dallas (192) and D.C. United (186).
Additionally, Timbers midfielder Diego Chara leads the team and MLS in tackles made (36) and successful tackles (28) in 2016, winning 77 percent of his tackles through eight games played.
After adding three tackles to his tally during a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution on April 27, Chara now has 577 overall tackles in league play, since joining Portland in 2011, ranking second in MLS among active players. Seattle Sounders FC defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso ranks as the only player to record more tackles than Chara, sitting in first place with 633 tackles recorded since the 2011 campaign.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The Portland Timbers have compiled a 26-8-21 regular-season mark at Providence Park since 2013, with the team’s seven home losses being the second-fewest in MLS over the last three seasons, trailing only the LA Galaxy (4).
FINISHING TOUCH
The Timbers rank fifth in MLS for goals scored (12) through the first eight games of the season, only trailing LA Galaxy (17), FC Dallas (15), the Houston Dynamo (13), Orlando City SC (13). Following a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution on April 27, which featured midfielder Jack Barmby scoring his first goal in MLS, the Timbers have not received goals from five different players so far this season, with Fanendo Adi, Jack McInerney, Darren Mattocks and Diego Valeri each recording a goal leading up to Wednesday’s fixture.
CLUTCH FACTOR
Through eight games played, the Timbers lead the league in goals scored in the second half (11). After scoring four goals in the second half during their last two matches, the Timbers now average 1.57 goals overall in the final 45 minutes of play.
AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS
After recording a brace in a 3-1 win against San Jose on April 16, Timbers forward Fanendo Adi moved into a tie for second place in MLS for goals (6), while ranking second for game-winning goals (2).
Becoming the only player during Portland’s MLS era to deliver a brace after coming on as a substitute, Adi notched his second goal against the Earthquakes in the ninth minute of stoppage time in the second half, surpassing Nat Borchers’ game-winning finish in the 95th minute against Real Salt Lake on Aug. 15, 2015, as the latest goal in a MLS regular-season match in team history.
Adi’s finish also signified the second-latest stoppage-time goal in MLS history, behind only Dominic Oduro’s goal for the Houston Dynamo in the 100th minute of play on Sept. 25, 2010.
Additionally, Portland midfielder Diego Valeri ranks fourth in MLS for shots taken (31), trailing only David Villa (40), Sebastian Giovinco (37) and Fabian Espindola (32).
UPCOMING MILESTONES
With his next assist, midfielder Diego Chara will move into a tie for 13th place for assists with Brian Gant (1977-1982) and Stuart Lee (1980-1982) across all eras (since 1975).
With his next assist, midfielder Jack Jewsbury will rank 11th across all eras (since 1975) in Timbers history.
Since joining MLS in 2014, Fanendo Adi has recorded 17 goals at home in league play. With his next finish at Providence Park, Adi will move into the top 30 in MLS for goals scored at home among active players.
Defender Jermaine Taylor is 30 minutes shy of 9,500 minutes played in MLS.
