DC United vs. Portland Timbers | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

D.C. United vs. Portland Timbers
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 25
Audi Field — Washington, D.C.
August 15 - 8 pm ET
WATCH: TVAS, ESPN+

After a dramatic much-needed win Sunday night, D.C. United look to make it three straight wins at Audi Field when they welcome the Portland Timbers to the nation’s capital Wednesday night.

While D.C. United is coming in off a high of a 3-2 win over Orlando City SC, the Timbers saw their 15-game unbeaten streak snapped with a 2-1 home loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Portland have won four of the eight all-time meetings between the two sides (2L-2D), including a 4-0 win in Portland last October, per Opta.

D.C. United

D.C. United (5-9-6) inched closer to exiting the Eastern Conference basement, and still have played three fewer games than anyone else in the East, following a 3-2 win over Orlando at Audi Field Sunday night.

Luciano Acosta struck for a hat trick, including the winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time when he latched onto a cross by Wayne Rooney, who also assisted on Acosta’s first goal which came in first-half stoppage time. Rooney also made a game-saving tackle at midfield with goalkeeper David Ousted pushed forward on an attacking corner kick to set up Acosta’s winner.

“It was a bizarre game and an extremely entertaining match in so many ways,” D.C. head coach Ben Olsen said. “When we step back from the emotion of the game, we made mistakes in moments that almost let crucial points slip away against a team that are a little down on their luck and were also down a man. To not get three [points] tonight would have been a tough blow. We found a way and that’s really all that matters.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Chris Durkin
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Taylor Kemp (labrum surgery), D - Nick DeLeon (knee injury), D - Jalen Robinson (MCL sprain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4-1, right to left)
GK: David Ousted — Oniel Fisher, Kofi Opare, Steve Birnbaum, Joseph Mora — Russell Canouse — Zoltan Stieber, Paul Arriola, Luciano Acosta, Yamil Asad — Wayne Rooney

Notes: On Sunday, Acosta became the first MLS player since at least 2010 to score a hat trick while recording at least 83 touches in a match. He finished Sunday’s game with 118 touches. … D.C. United have earned wins in three of their last six MLS matches (2L-1D), matching their total from their previous 21 games (12L-6D).

Portland Timbers

Portland (10-4-7) suffered a first defeat since April 8, falling to Cascadia rival Vancouver, 2-1, at Providence Park Saturday night.

The Timbers dug themselves a two-goal hole on first-half goals by Kei Kamara in the 14th minute and Cristian Techera two minutes from halftime. Diego Valeri gave the hosts a lifeline from the penalty spot in the 71st minute, but their effort for a late equalizer fell just short.

“Of course you don’t want to lose. You want to win every match, especially at home,” Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese said. “But also you have to know that at some time, or some moment, a defeat is going to come. I think the most important part is how we react to this defeat. That will make the character of the team that we are.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Modou Jadama (left thigh) D - Roy Miller (right thigh); QUESTIONABLE: M - Eryk Williamson (left thigh), F - Samuel Armenteros (right thigh), GK - Jake Gleeson (right thigh), D - Liam Ridgewell (right thigh)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Jeff Attinella — Alvas Powell, Larrys Mabiala, Julio Cascante, Zarek Valentin — Diego Chara, David Guzman, Sebastian Blanco, Diego Valeri — Dairon Asprilla, Andy Polo

Notes: Valeri has already tallied 10 assists this season, just four short of the team’s MLS record of 14 he set in 2014. … The Timbers saw their 15-match undefeated run in MLS play come to an end in their 2-1 loss to Vancouver last weekend. They are, however, unbeaten in their last five league games on the road (3W-2D), their longest regular season run since 2014.

All-Time Series

Overall: D.C. United 2 wins, 9 goals … Portland Timbers 4 wins, 14 goals … 2 draws
At D.C.: D.C. United 1 win, 3 goals … Timbers 1 win, 3 goals … 1 draw
Last meeting at D.C.: D.C. United 2, Portland Timbers 0 (August 13, 2016)