Match details:
Portland Timbers vs San Jose Earthquakes (PT vs SJ)
7:30 AM IST
PT vs SJ Preview:
Portland Timbers are currently in the second position savouring a fine run in the tournament that has seen them winning the last four competitions and stay unbeaten in the last five. A victory for them can catapult the pack ahead of Seattle Sounders if they tend to lose in their respective fixture.
San Jose Earthquakes has so far done a commendable job and has managed to win three games on a trot. In their last bout, they comfortably bested Vancouver Whitecaps by a comprehensive margin of 3-0. Unfortunately the points table hasn’t really been kind to them, keeping them cemented to the seventh position, seven points adrift of their opposition for the next game.
Portland Timbers will be walking into this fixture on the back of a stunning victory against Los Angeles Galaxy that saw them claiming a goal-fest as they walked out with a winning margin of 6-3.
PT vs SJ : Head to head:
Portland Timbers have dictated proceedings between these two sides as the two teams have played 28 matches with the Timbers winning 14 of them. San Jose have only managed to wring out five victories while nine games between these two have ended in a stalemate.
Probable Teams:
Portland Timbers:
Steve Clark; Jorge Villafana, Dario Zuparic, Larrys Mubiala, Chris Duvall; Erik Williamson, Diego Chara; Cristhian Paredes, Diego Valeri, Marvin Loria; Jeremy Ebobisse
San Jose Earthquakes:
Daniel Vega; Marcos Lopez, Florian Jungwirth, Tanner Beason, Nick Lima; Judson, Tommy Thompson; Jackson Yueill Valeri Qazaishvili, Andres Rios; Cristian Espinoza
Picks to consider:
Jeremy Ebobisse has been in the thick of affairs with a blazing display of football in the last few games and his hunger for goals will drive him to command the attacking armada of the Timbers.
Andres Rios has been in goals for the last few games, despite occasionally missing out on them. However, his instinct in shaping the team’s attacking unit will be crucial for today’s game.
Captaincy Choices:
1. Andres Rios
2. Diego Valeri
Fantasy Prediction:
Portland Timbers will be the favourites to seal this game considering their recent form in front of the goal and their last outing against San Jose that saw the Earthquakes being razed like skittles in front of a fully operational bull-dozer.
