Two clubs in the Western Conference of MLS will do battle today in a league match between Chivas USA and the Portland Timbers. The first-division clash scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET will be held at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles and can be live streamed here.
After finally returning to the win column on Saturday—this after a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls—the Portland Timbers return to action tonight in hopes of building a momentous streak. With a quick turnaround, however, head coach Caleb Porter is being mindful of his rotations. He's just not being silent with his criticisms of the league schedule.
"It is what it is, but it [the schedule] is challenging," Porter in a Tuesday phone interview with Dan Itel (via MLS's official website). "For me, it's obviously something that needs to be looked at in the future, because we're playing two league games and we're playing two league teams that are completely fresh, and we've traveled clear across the country back and forth."
"I really looked at this trip, even though it's challenging, as a positive to build our depth, grow our group and even create some more chemistry and spirit because we traveled 23 guys, and we're all together for a week, and it gives us more time for almost like in-season bonding," he added.
"I really looked at it as an opportunity to come together."
Will Portland come closer together and surge closer to the top of the Western Conference standings with a win in Los Angeles tonight? Tell us @SportsWN
Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: Dominating the central part of the midfield, Portland's Diego Chara continues to display his defensive prowess in 2014. The 28-year-old enters today averaging five tackles, 2.1 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per match this season.
Chivas USA's Projected Lineup (4-5-1): Kennedy; Lochhead, Burling, Bocanegra, Avila; Barrera, Pelletieri, Alvarez, Minda, Rosales; Torres
Portland Timbers' Projected Lineup (4-3-3): Weber; Harrington, Kah, Paparatto, Jewsbury; Johnson, Chara, Valeri; Zakuani, Fernandez, Nagbe
Standings
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
New England Revolution |
12 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
23 |
|||
|
2 |
Sporting Kansas City |
13 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
19 |
13 |
6 |
19 |
|||
|
3 |
DC United |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
17 |
14 |
3 |
18 |
|||
|
4 |
Houston Dynamo |
14 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
16 |
24 |
-8 |
17 |
|||
|
5 |
Columbus Crew |
12 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
15 |
14 |
1 |
16 |
|||
|
6 |
New York Red Bulls |
14 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
20 |
22 |
-2 |
15 |
|||
|
7 |
Toronto FC |
9 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
11 |
11 |
0 |
13 |
|||
|
8 |
Chicago Fire |
11 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
19 |
21 |
-2 |
12 |
|||
|
9 |
Philadelphia Union |
14 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
16 |
24 |
-8 |
11 |
|||
|
10 |
Impact Montreal |
11 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
9 |
22 |
-13 |
7 |
|
Rnk |
Team |
MP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
+/- |
Pts |
|||
|
1 |
Seattle Sounders |
13 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
25 |
21 |
4 |
26 |
|||
|
2 |
Real Salt Lake |
12 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
23 |
13 |
10 |
24 |
|||
|
3 |
FC Dallas |
14 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
22 |
22 |
0 |
18 |
|||
|
4 |
Colorado Rapids |
12 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
16 |
15 |
1 |
18 |
|||
|
5 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
11 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
18 |
14 |
4 |
17 |
|||
|
6 |
LA Galaxy |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
9 |
5 |
15 |
|||
|
7 |
Portland Timbers |
12 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
18 |
20 |
-2 |
13 |
|||
|
8 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
11 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
12 |
1 |
13 |
|||
|
9 |
Chivas USA |
11 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
20 |
-7 |
10 |
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