Skip to content

Timbers-Rapids Preview

The race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference may only come down to two teams if the Colorado Rapids continue to slide, and that would be just fine with the Portland Timbers.

Visiting Portland looks to increase its postseason chances by handing Colorado an eighth straight defeat Saturday night.

The Timbers (8-8-11) haven't played their best either lately, going 1-1-2 after a 3-all draw with San Jose on Sunday. Kalif Alhassan scored in the 86th minute to salvage the tie, marking the third time this season they've failed to win when scoring at least three goals.

Coach Caleb Porter was impressed with how his club was able to respond from a two-goal deficit to get a result, though.

"There are not many teams in the league that would be able to come back, to pull that out," Porter said. "Those things can't get lost in the shuffle of the craziness of the way this game played out and ultimately the disappointment in the fact that we got a draw instead of a win."

Portland ranks third in MLS in goals scored with 47, but it also has allowed 46 - tied for the fourth-most with Colorado.

"We haven't had problems scoring goals all year," midfielder Will Johnson said. "It's just that we sit here and feel that we've scored some good goals and gave up some bad ones."

The Timbers sit two points behind Vancouver for the fifth and final playoff spot in the West, with Colorado five points behind the Timbers.

The Rapids (8-13-6) haven't earned a point since beating Chivas USA on July 25 and saw their losing streak reach a franchise record with last Friday's 6-0 rout at the hands of Los Angeles.

It marked the worst defeat in Colorado history and was tied for the second-worst margin all-time in MLS. It was the first time the Rapids allowed at least six goals since 2004 and further crippled their chances of reaching the postseason.

"It's a learning experience. It's one game at the end of the day," forward Edson Buddle said. "First-year players, second-year players are a little bit harder on themselves right now, but I'm here to let them know that it's not the end of the road. We have tomorrow and next week to get better."

Colorado goalkeeper Joe Nasco also made some dubious history. Just 33 seconds into the match, he grabbed the ankles of the Galaxy's Alan Gordon in the box and was handed a red card, automatically suspending him for this contest.

Nasco's ejection was the quickest in MLS history.

"Everything of the planning goes down the tubes and it's about survival at that point," coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "You're down a goal, you're down a man 30 seconds into a game and now you're just trying to stay in it, stay organized."

The Rapids beat Portland at home 2-0 on March 22, but the Timbers won for the third time in four meetings with a 2-1 victory July 18.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox