The Portland Timbers will put their MLS franchise-best four-game winning streak – five games across all competitions – on the line at a place that has not been kind to them in the past on Wednesday, when they take on the LA Galaxy at StubHub Center (8pm PT; ESPN2).
The Timbers have never beaten the Galaxy in Carson, suffering four losses and two ties in six regular season matches against the five-time MLS Cup champions at StubHub Center. However, since the 2013 season, the Timbers have only lost once to LA in six overall matches between the two teams (2-1-4). With LA coming off a 5-1 home rout of the Philadelphia Union last Saturday though, the Galaxy are at a point in their season when they typically improve their form.
“They typically ease into the season, and at the end of the year they hit their stride,” Timbers head coach Caleb Porter told media at training this week following their 2-0 victory Saturday over the Houston Dynamo. “Their rhythm and timing in how they go about a season, you could write books on it. [LA head coach Bruce] Arena is the most experienced, winning coach in the league.”
Wednesday’s contest really is a matchup of two of the league’s hottest teams.
Following a 4-0 loss to Orlando City SC on May 17, the Galaxy – who Porter called “the best team in the league” – have won four of their last seven games across all competitions, posting a 4-1-2 record in that span. The Timbers, meanwhile, bounced back from the league’s second worst points-per-game average following a 1-0 loss to Toronto FC on May 23 to post their current winning streak and are now tied for third with LA in the West.
The Timbers know if they want to compete at the top of the table for the remainder of the year, the Galaxy will be right there with them for the duration.
“This game on Wednesday is crucial because it’s a team we’re battling for there in the middle of the mix, and we want to make sure we keep moving in the right direction,” Timbers veteran Jack Jewsbury said. “We can’t be content with where we’re at, so we have to make sure that everybody is ready.”
The game also marks the beginning of an especially challenging stretch for the Timbers. Taking into account the Houston game, the Timbers will play five games in a two-week period, with all five matches – including Sunday's Cascadia Cup home match against the Seattle Sounders, presented by Tillamook – coming against Western Conference foes.
The congested schedule will likely force Porter into some lineup rotation, something he’s eminently familiar with, having started 17 different players during the team’s five-game winning run in all competitions.
“Slowly but surely we’ve creeped up the table and we’ve gotten results, and we’ve played very well, and we’ve done it with different guys, and we’re in a good spot,” Porter said. “But if we start losing a bunch of games, then now we’re not going to be in a good spot. The West is brutal.”
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
