LAFC vs. Portland Timbers | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 11
LAFC vs. Portland Timbers
Banc of California Stadium – Los Angeles
September 13 – 11:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: YouTube TV [LA region only], EstrellaTV 62, ROOT Sports NW

LAFC will be hoping a return to Banc of California Stadium can help lift them out of their worst slump in club history as they take on a Portland Timbers team dealing with a season-ending knee injury to Sebastian Blanco.

LAFC (3W-4L-3D) are looking to reverse course after consecutive 3-0 defeats, most recently at Real Salt Lake Wednesday night, while the Timbers (4W-3L-2D) are coming off an emotional 2-1 win at Seattle, but they lost Blanco in the process.  

The teams played to a 2-2 draw at the MLS is Back Tournament in July, with Jeremy Ebobisse scoring an equalizer in the 81st minute after goals by Bradley Wright-Phillips and Mark-Anthony Kaye four minutes apart in the first half gave LAFC the lead. 

LAFC

LAFC's struggles continued Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium with a 3-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake. It's now four losses in the last five games and a team that was the record-breaking Supporters' Shield winners last year is now clinging to the playoff line in the Western Conference. They'll welcome back Kaye from suspension, but key midfield cog Eduard Atuesta and talisman Carlos Vela remain out through injury.

But Atuesta has progressed to the point Bob Bradley is considering his inclusion perhaps as soon as Sunday.

"Eduard has been back in some limited training,” Bradley said via virtual press conference Saturday afternoon. “He's not ready to start and we're still discussing whether we will have him in our 20 to perhaps be able to give us a little bit if needed, but I'm very pleased with what I've seen with his progress in the last few days."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Carlos Vela (F) - Grade 2 MLS sprain
  • OUT: Danilo Silva (D) - undisclosed injury
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Portland Timbers

What should have been a night of celebration, of revenge for a bitter home defeat to their Cascadia rivals when Felipe Mora scored the late winner Sunday night, turned somber when it was revealed Blanco would be lost for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. The MVP of the MLS is Back Tournament was in the midst of the best run of form in MLS. 

"It’s a big loss," head coach Gio Savarese told media on a virtual press conference Friday. "It’s a loss we cannot replace. We’re not looking for someone to replace him."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Dairon Asprilla (M) - left knee injury
  • OUT: Blake Bodily (M) - right thigh injury
  • OUT: Andrés Flores (M) - right thigh injury
  • OUT: Sebastian Blanco (M) - right ACL injury
  • QUESTIONABLE: Larrys Mabiala (D) - right thigh injury
• Suspended: Diego Chara (M)
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup at LAFC

• LAFC: 1 win, 4 goals
• Timbers: 0 wins, 1 goal
• 1 draw

Officials

• Referee: Jair Marrufo
• Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Jason White
• 4th Official: Victor Rivas
• VAR: Alejandro Mariscal