Timbers-Galaxy Preview
Portland's resounding victory at Los Angeles last season not only marked its first ever at StubHub Center, it provided a confidence that propelled it to its first MLS Cup championship.
The Timbers are hoping another win there will help them end the struggles that have plagued the start of their title defense.
The Galaxy aren't putting much stock into last year's defeat, and they'll likely have Giovani Dos Santos back in the lineup for Sunday night's rematch.
Portland didn't lose for the final two months of 2015, culminating with a victory over Columbus in the MLS Cup championship game Dec. 6. The second match in that stretch was a 5-2 victory Oct. 18 at Los Angeles, which at the time was viewed as a favorite to win the Western Conference.
The Timbers handled the Galaxy easily after going 0-5-2 at StubHub Center prior to that, and they also snapped a five-game overall winless streak in the series.
Portland (1-2-1), though, has struggled to start this season and has been without center back Liam Ridgewell for the last three because of a hamstring injury. It fell 4-1 at Orlando City last Sunday, and coach Caleb Porter is planning to make some changes.
The most likely possibility is that Chris Klute replaces midfielder Jack Barmby in the starting lineup as the Timbers begin a stretch of three games in seven days.
"A couple results could change things quickly, and we have an opportunity the next week to change our position in the table with a couple results," Porter, who is 13-3-10 after a loss with Portland, told the team's official website. "That's our mindset right now."
Beating Los Angeles again would be a good start, but the Timbers aren't expecting to score five goals during a 25-minute span as they did in last year's meeting.
"Very different teams, very different game," midfielder Diego Valeri said. "We have to be aggressive against them and just perform that day because they need points too and this is an important part of the season, even though it's early."
The Galaxy (2-1-1) have gotten off to a better start despite a rash of injuries. Robbie Keane is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, Dos Santos has been out the last three with a left leg problem and Steven Gerrard has been battling a calf injury that kept him out of last Saturday's scoreless draw with Vancouver.
Coach Bruce Arena said he expects Dos Santos to return, but Gerrard likely will remain out. No matter who is on the field, Arena isn't worried about what happened last year against the Timbers.
"Obviously they won the MLS Cup last year and return a good nucleus," Arena told the team's official website. "They've had injuries to start the season, as have we. They're obviously going to be ready to play coming off a defeat last week, so it's going to be a tough game."
His players aren't looking back either after posting their first clean sheet of the season against the Whitecaps.
"That was last year. I don't need something in the past to motivate me," midfielder Gyasi Zardes said about the last meeting with the Timbers. "I'm motivated day in and day out."