The Timbers open the second half of the season Saturday with a visit to the San Jose Earthquakes; kickoff is 7:30 p.m. PT.
After back-to-back results, the Portland Timbers step into the second half of the 2023 MLS regular season above the playoff line. Entering Matchday 18, just six points separate places 3-11 in a cutthroat Western Conference.
The Timbers (5-7-5, 20pts) visit the San Jose Earthquakes (7-5-5, 26pts) on Saturday at PayPal Park; kickoff is 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) on MLS Season Pass.
Saturday's match is the first between the two clubs in 2023, and 32nd all-time in MLS regular-season play. History between these clubs date back to the original NASL era, but the Timbers hold a 16-6-9 record in MLS play against their Northern California counterparts.
Both clubs will be missing some key pieces due to national team duty. For Portland, goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic, who missed the FC Dallas game, is currently with the Slovenia National Team and will remain out. Defender Juan David Mosquera will be out with the Colombian National Team in Spain.
Here are key facts to know ahead of Saturday’s matchup.
8
San Jose is currently 6-0-2 at PayPal Park this season. Their eight games undefeated at home are good for second-best in the league.
+13
Since taking the helm in 2018, head coach Gio Savarese has a mark of 8-2-2 against the Earthquakes. In that stretch of 12 matches, Portland has outscored San Jose 25-12, a +13 goal differential, and have tallied at least one goal in 11 out of 12 of those matches.
3
After only allowing five shots and one shot on goal to Seattle on June 3, Portland held FC Dallas to five shots and two shots on goal last weekend - just three total shots on goal over the last two matches. No team in MLS has allowed fewer total shots on goal than the Timbers since June 3.
>1.5g
Of the 15 MLS matches played between both clubs in San Jose, the final score has reflected two or more goals scored in 13 of them. In those 13 matches, there has been a shutout result in only four of them, meaning both clubs tend find the back of the net when facing one another at PayPal Park.
1.93
Cristhian Paredes leads the Timbers in chances created in open play per 90 (1.93) this season. He has played nearly half of the team’s minutes this season (792 of 1,530), and with him on the field the Timbers have scored 16 of their 20 goals this season. Additionally, he had led the team in both total duels won and tackles over the last two games, with a total of 23 duels won and eight tackles.
