Whitecaps FC-Timbers Preview

On the heels of a defeat against their archrivals, the Timbers will not have time to sulk as they prepare to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps, who handed Portland a heartbreaking loss earlier this season.

The Timbers hope home-field advantage can tip the scales in their favor Saturday night when they host the Whitecaps at Providence Park.

Portland (2-3-3) lost to Pacific Northwest foe Seattle 1-0 on Sunday for its second road defeat of the season. The first came against its other Cascadia Cup rival, Vancouver (5-3-1), as the Whitecaps scored in the 90th minute of a 2-1 victory on March 28.

The Timbers outshot the Whitecaps 15-13 and controlled 66 percent of the possession, yet still lost as seldom-used Robert Earnshaw netted the game-winner in one of his two appearances this season.

"We are very frustrated with the outcome of the game," Portland's Fanendo Adi said following that defeat. "Today's not about the better team that won. The better team lost."

Even with the loss, the Timbers have largely dominated the Whitecaps in 12 all-time MLS meetings, going 6-2-4. They trounced Vancouver 3-0 in Portland on Sept. 20 behind a two-goal game from Adi.

Adi, who also scored in this season's meeting with the Whitecaps, leads the Timbers with three goals.

"We're definitely hungry to play this team," Portland defender Nat Borchers said. "The last (time) we played them we lost, and we felt like we deserved better. It's going to be the small details in this game for us, because we know we're going to bring the energy, the passion and the possession."

Vancouver also enters Saturday's meeting off a defeat after falling to D.C. 2-1 on April 25. It was the second home loss in five games for the Whitecaps, who are 3-1-0 on the road.

Goalkeeper David Ousted expects elements of both settings to come into play in Portland.

"It's a great place to play," Ousted told the Whitecaps' official website. "Seeing our 'Caps fans, always down there strong and in numbers, makes it a great experience. It's always something I'm looking forward to."

Matias Laba was sent off in last week's loss and will miss Saturday's game with suspension. Laba is one of five Whitecaps, including Ousted, to play in all nine games.

"He does all the nitty, gritty jobs as well as anyone in the league," coach Carl Robinson said. "I'm not just saying this, but I wouldn't swap him for anyone in this league, because I think he's fantastic at what he does."

Octavio Rivero, who has attempted a league-high 33 shots, came into Friday's action tied with Columbus' Kei Kamara atop the MLS with five goals.

Whitecaps defender Diego Rodriguez is unlikely to play due to a quad injury.