Preview: Los Angeles Football Club vs. Portland Timbers | MLS is Back Tournament, Group F

2020 MLS is Back Tournament – Group F, Matchday 16
Los Angeles Football Club vs. Portland Timbers
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Thurs., July 23 – 10:30 PM ET

TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TVA Sports; TSN in Canada

STREAMING: ESPN App, TVA Sports App; TSN App in Canada

First place in Group F is on the line when LAFC and the Portland Timbers square off Thursday night.

Both teams already qualified for the Round of 16, but with regular season points, as well as the group's top spot, on the line, there's still plenty to play for in Orlando.

The Timbers enter the night atop the group with maximum points from their previous two matches, while LAFC come into this final group stage match off a stunning and emotional 6-2 El Trafico triumph over the LA Galaxy.

LAFC

LAFC will be riding high into this meeting with the Timbers, following a four-goal second half against the Galaxy. While Atlanta United failed to score once in the tournament without star striker Josef Martinez, LAFC have a tournament-best nine goals, five scored by Diego Rossi, who has taken the role of top scorer in the absence of Carlos Vela. Bradley Wright-Phillips is also back, scoring in back-to-back games. 

Updated team roster

• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Adama Diomande (F) - right foot injury
  • OUT: Adrien Perez (F) - right hamstring strain
  • QUESTIONABLE: Danilo Silva (D) - right hamstring strain
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Portland Timbers

Jeremy Ebobisse has also had himself a strong tournament in Orlando with goals in back-to-back wins that clinched the Timbers' berth in the knockout round. Reaching the Round of 16 was the first goal for Portland, so mission accomplished there. Gio Savarese also suggested he could rotate his squad against LAFC. 

"This tournament in which you want to continue moving forward and have fresh players," Savarese said. "Each round in a sense is a new challenge and it’s not easy really. Rotating the players is very important for us because otherwise it would be very difficult."

• Updated team roster
• Injury Report:
  • OUT: Dairon Asprilla (M) - left knee injury
  • UNAVAILABLE: Andres Flores (M)
• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None

Series Matchup

• LAFC: 2 wins, 8 goals
• Timbers: 1 win, 5 goals
• 1 draw

Officials

• Referee: Drew Fischer
• Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson, Jose da Silva
• 4th Official: Silviu Petrescu
• VAR: Alex Chilowicz