After an impressive 2-1 victory in Montreal Saturday, the Portland Timbers are again on the road this week with a Saturday night clash with the Houston Dynamo (5:30 pm PT, KPTV). Portland has had past success in Houston with the Timbers being the first away side ever to take points at the Dynamo's BBVA Compass Stadium. Here are five numbers to know for #HOUvPOR in the latest Quick Strikes by Simple.
12 In the midst of a three-match road trip, Portland is looking to continue its impressive road form. Since Caleb Porter's debut as Portland's manager in 2013, the Timbers have only 12 losses of in 39 away matches. In fact, the 12 losses are three fewer than the next closest team in MLS.
0.8 To go along with their two-plus seasons of success away from Providence Park, the Timbers have been able to deny their hosts at goal at a better rate than in seasons past. For the 2015 season, Portland is currently conceding 0.8 goals per away match. That total is half a goal less than when the club finished with the second stingiest road defense in the league in 2013, when the Timbers conceded an average of 1.3 goals per match.
22 With his goal Saturday, Diego Valeri has upped his MLS career goal-scoring total to 22 in his 66 matches with Portland. Valeri continues his way up the Timbers record book and is one of four players in club history with at least 20 goals and 20 assists. The playmaker sits alongside NASL legends Clyde Best, Dale Mitchell, and John Bain in Portland's 20-20 club.
10,042 During Portland's 2-1 victory over the Montreal Impact Saturday, Rodney Wallace became just the third Costa Rican-born player to surpass 10,000 minutes played in MLS joining Gonzalo Segares and Leonardo Gonzalez. The 2014 MLS Comeback Player of the Year also notched his second assist of the season in the match, helping to set up Valeri's game-winning goal.
2 Ten games into his first season with Portland, Nat Borchers has already surpassed his scoring total from each of his last two seasons with two goals this year. The defender is one of three centerbacks with multiple goals this season, joining Ike Opara and Jeff Larentowicz.
