Both PTFC clubs are coming off shutout wins and will look to continue their success with afternoon matches this weekend at Providence Park. First up are the Portland Timbers, who will welcome the LA Galaxy when the clubs square off in a nationally-televised match on Saturday (12:30pm PT, ABC).
On Sunday, Portland Thorns FC will take on its Cascadian rival, OL Reign, in the club's second match of the regular season (3pm PT, CBS Sports Network).
What's on tap for Timbers
LA has had an impressive start to the season with a 4-1-0 record. Forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernández has led the way with a league-leading seven goals.
What's on tap for Thorns
While Thorns FC and OL Reign are meeting for the first time in the 2021 regular season, the two sides did square off earlier this year in the Challenge Cup. On April 21 at Providence Park, Portland beat the Reign, 2-0, with goals from Lindsay Horan and Simone Charley.
Timbers Opponent Connections
Galaxy defender Jorge Villafaña returns to Portland after being traded to LA in the offseason. Villafaña played 102 regular season matches for the Timbers over two stints with the club.
Thorns Opponent Connections
In the teams' last five meetings at Providence Park, Thorns FC have outscored OL by an 11-to-four margin, with Portland securing four wins in that span.
#StatMan randomness
- In LA's first-ever MLS match, current Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese scored a goal. Current Galaxy assistant coach Dan Calichman was on the field as a Galaxy defender for Savarese's goal in that 1996 match.
- In Thorns FC's six matches at Providence Park in 2020 and 2021, Portland has scored 17 goals while conceding just three.
- Saturday's match will be the second time that the Timbers have played a match on May 22 in MLS play. In 2016, the Timbers defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps, 4-2, with current Timbers players Diego Valeri and Dairon Asprilla both scoring on penalty kicks.
Five numbers to know
15In 2020, the Timbers scored 15 goals against the Galaxy. The 15 goals are four more than any other MLS team has scored against an opponent in a single season since 2010.
5Thorns FC is coming off a resounding 5-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars. Portland's five-goal margin of victory was the largest margin of victory by an NWSL side in all competitions in the last two seasons.
100In Portland's victory over the Earthquakes, Dairon Asprilla made his 100th regular season appearance for the Timbers. Asprilla is the 10th different MLS player to hit the century mark for Portland.
50Christine Sinclair added to her storied career with her 50th NWSL regular season goal in Portland's last match. Sinclair is the third NWSL player to hit 50 goals scored, joining Sam Kerr and Lynn Williams.
4After his goal vs San Jose, Yimmi Chara has now scored four goals in all competitions for the Timbers in 2021. The four goals match the Colombian's output from 2020.
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