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Earthquakes-Timbers Preview

The Portland Timbers easily could blame their poor start on a bevy of injuries that has left them short-handed, but the reigning MLS Cup champions aren't about to use that excuse.

Instead, coach Caleb Porter is challenging his healthy players to step up, especially with one of the most prolific scorers in league history coming to town.

Chris Wondolowski looks to move closer to the all-time lead while trying to help the San Jose Earthquakes win in Portland for the first time Saturday night.

Portland beat Columbus in a rematch of last year's MLS Cup final to open the season but is 0-3-2 since after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to FC Dallas. Standout midfielder Darlington Nagbe sat out that contest after spraining his ankle in Sunday's draw at Los Angeles, and his status for this contest is unclear.

Defenders Liam Ridgewell (hamstring) and Andy Thoma (knee), and midfielders Ben Zemanski (groin) and Dairon Asprilla (foot) also are on the mend. Porter isn't sure what kind of lineup he'll have against the Earthquakes, but he's more concerned about his club bouncing back after allowing each goal in the first 29 minutes Wednesday.

"I've got to look at everything - lineup, system, personnel," Porter said. "We can't overreact, obviously it's one game, but the pattern of us giving up goals needs to change. That performance in the first half is not something that's going to happen again on my watch and I apologize to the fans.

"No one cares (about) the reasons, the excuses. It's all about getting results and getting the job done. You build a team to have depth, to manage injuries.''

The Timbers are 4-0-3 at home all-time against San Jose (3-1-2), but Wondolowski will be out to help change that. He scored in a 2-1 victory over Portland on March 13 that snapped a five-match winless streak in the series and gave the Earthquakes only their second victory ever over the Timbers.

Wondolowski moved into a fourth-place tie with Ante Razov on the league's all-time scoring list in Wednesday's 2-0 win over New York. His goal in the 55th minute marked his fifth of the season.

"He didn't score a goal in preseason and everybody was worried about him, and I just said, 'No, (I'm not) because he just has such a short memory and wants to score all the time,'" coach Dominic Kinnear said. "He wants to do well. He makes good runs, and that's the main thing, is that he doesn't stop believing he's going to get a chance."

Wondolowski has 114 career goals, now only trailing Jaime Moreno (133), Jeff Cunningham (134) and Landon Donovan (144).

"It's pretty cool just to be mentioned with some of those names," Wondolowski said. "It's one of those things I think is going to sink in later."

Wondolowski has seven goals in 11 career matches against the Timbers and scored twice in his last game in Portland, a 3-all draw Sept. 7, 2014. He sat out San Jose's last two visits to Portland, both Timbers victories.

The Earthquakes hope striker Chad Barrett can make his season debut after sitting out with a groin injury. Midfielder Anibal Godoy also could play after missing the last three with a knee issue.

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