Austin FC will look to get their first win at Q2 Stadium on Thursday as the Portland Timbers come to town to take on the Verde & Black. It will be a quick turnaround for both teams as Austin are coming off a scoreless draw against Columbus Crew SC on Sunday; Portland also played over the weekend. Austin will be taking aim at Portland’s place above the playoff line with the Timbers sitting in seventh place in the Western Conference.
Austin FC Outlook
Two home games, two shutouts for ATXFC as they held the Crew to a scoreless draw on Sunday. The match was a repeat result from Austin’s first home match when they also played the San Jose Earthquakes to a scoreless draw.
Austin outpossessed (57% - 43%) and outshot (17 - 15) the MLS Cup champions in front of a sellout crowd, but failed to come up with the all-important goal to capture the first home win in Club history. Cecilio Dominguez, Jared Stroud and Diego Fagundez all provided some punch in the attack as they each fired off three shots.
Hector Jimenez returned to the starting lineup in place of the injured Nick Lima and played all 90 minutes. The versatile defender led the team with .38 expected assists, getting forward from his right back position. Daniel Pereira also returned from injury, coming on as a substitute in the second half.
Brad Stuver continues to be the story of the season as the 30-year-old goalkeeper was again spectacular. Stuver made another six saves, as he earned another clean sheet at home.
Portland Outlook
The Timbers are another team that dealt with the Concacaf Champions League to start the season, bowing out in the quarterfinals to Club America. Giovanni Savarese’s team has dealt with injuries all season -- not unlike Austin -- and that remains the case as they travel to Texas.
Sebastian Blanco -- the MLS is Back Tournament Player of the Tournament -- is just returning from a torn ACL suffered last summer. He is joined on the injured list by fellow attackers Marvin Loria, Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Andy Polo.
Those aren’t the only players who will be missing the match for Portland. The Timbers have two players competing in Copa America with winger Yimmi Chara playing for Colombia and striker Felipe Mora competing with Chile.
Portland is coming off a 1-0 home loss to Minnesota United FC that saw them drop to 4W-5L-1D on the season. They currently sit in seventh place due to a tiebreaker over Real Salt Lake.
Probable Portland Lineup
(4-3-2-1, R-L) - GK: Steve Clark; Josecarlos Van Rankin, Larrys Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Bill Tuiloma, Renzo Zambrano; Eryk Williamson, Diego Valeri; Jeremy Ebobisse
