MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Oct. 14, 2020
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy, Utah)
Forecast: Clear, 60 degrees
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Adam Garner, Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth Official: Allen Chapman
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
Local TV: ROOT SPORTS
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst), Nat Borchers (analyst)
English Radio: 750 The Game
Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Joe Sleven (analyst), Fletcher Johnson (host)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
LAST TIME OUT
The Portland Timbers recorded their fifth consecutive win, extending their unbeaten streak to six games, with a 3-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at Providence Park on Oct. 11. Jaroslaw Niezgoda notched his first career brace for Portland in a six-minute span to begin the second half, while Diego Chara registered a pair of assists.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Wednesday’s contest marks the 25th MLS regular-season meeting between Portland and Real Salt Lake dating back to April 30, 2011, with the Timbers leading the series against RSL 9-7-8. Notably, Portland is unbeaten five consecutive league matches against RSL dating back to Oct. 6, 2018, outscoring the opposition 14-6 in those matches. Jeremy Ebobisse has tallied one goal and three assists in seven regular-season appearances (4 starts) against RSL. In 18 career starts against Real Salt Lake, Diego Valeri has tallied four goals and six assists.
TIMBERS AWAY FROM PROVIDENCE PARK IN 2020
In 12 matches played across all competitions away from Providence Park in 2020, the Portland Timbers hold a record of 8-1-3, outscoring the opposition 31-18. The Timbers finished undefeated (5-0-2) at the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, Fla., while they’re 3-1-1 in five regular-season matches on the road during the 2020 campaign. Notably, Jeremy Ebobisse has tallied a team-leading eight goals scored across all competitions away from Providence Park in 2020, while Diego Valeri ranks second on the team with five goals scored away from home.
TIMBERS’ POTENT OFFENSE
In 16 regular-season matches during the 2020 campaign, the Portland Timbers rank second in MLS in goals scored (36), behind only LAFC (38). As a team, Port- land ranks first in the league in headed goals (9), and second in assists (35) be- hind only Seattle Sounders FC (37). The Timbers are the only team in MLS with four players with five or more goals (Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Felipe Mora, Jeremy Ebobisse, Diego Valeri) and the only team in MLS with three players with seven or more goals (Mora, Ebobisse, Valeri).
CHILEAN STRIKER IN FORM
Felipe Mora scored a goal for a third consecutive match after tallying a goal off the bench in a 3-0 win over San Jose on Oct. 11. Dating back to a 4-4 draw against Real Salt Lake on Aug. 29, Felipe Mora has tallied seven goals and an assist in nine appearances (5 starts) for the Timbers. Mora has scored in three consecutive games twice this season, joining Gyasi Zardes as the only MLS players with multiple three-game scoring streaks in 2020. Notably, Mora leads the team with three goals scored in league play as a substitute.
JEREMY ‘BEST XI’ EBOBISSE
In 16 appearances (9 starts) during the 2020 regular-season campaign, Jeremy Ebobisse has registered seven goals and two assists. Notably, Ebobisse set a new club record by making his 73rd consecutive appearance across all com- petitions for the Timbers after coming on as a substitute in a 3-0 win over San Jose on Oct. 11. Since the start of the 2019 MLS regular season, Ebobisse ranks first amongst all MLS players in headed goals (8), with Kei Kamara and Zlatan Ibrahimovic ranking tied for second (7). In his third season with the Timbers in 2019, Ebobisse, 23, finished tied for first on the team with 11 goals and was the only player on the roster to appear in all 34 league games. Notably, Ebobisse was one of four Timbers players to be named to the MLS is Back Tournament Best XI.
TIMBERS RUN OF FORM
In their last eight matches played dating back to a 2-1 win on the road over Seattle Sounders FC on Sept. 6, Portland holds a record of 6-1-1. During that stretch, the Timbers lead MLS in goals scored (22) and rank second behind only the Philadelphia Union (+13) in goal differential (+12). Notably, the Timbers have had five different players score three or more goals (Yimmi Chara, Jeremy Ebobisse, Felipe Mora, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Diego Valeri) dating back to Sept. 6; the only team in MLS with that figure. Additionally, Mora is tied for the league-lead in goals scored (5) dating back to Sept. 6.
