Sporting KC v Portland Timbers: Preview, Predictions, Stats and Roster Changes

Sporting KC v Portland Timbers

When: Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 7:30 PM CT (Kickoff 7:38)

Where: Children’s Mercy Park

How to Watch/Stream: Bally Sports KC Plus (regionally) | Bally Sports Midwest Plus (regionally) |

ESPN+ (out of market or over VPN locally)

How to Listen: Sports Radio 810 WHB | La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish)

Sporting Kansas City return home on Wednesday after yet another win away from home, this time over rivals FC Dallas. They are 4-0-1 on the road in their last five outings. Their last road loss? The Portland Timbers on June 19th. This midweek matchup brings a chance at revenge.

The Timbers have been sliding down the table since these teams last met. They are 3-5-1 since that game, include a 2-6 shellacking at the hands of the Seattle Sounders on Sunday. They battled back from 0-2 down to level the score before completely collapsing at home.

That is Portland’s safe space as on the road they are an abysmal 1-6-1. The one bit of solace they have is SKC could be better at home, as they are just 5-1-3 in 2021.

Wednesday, and basically all games going forward, will be important for Kansas City when it comes to the trophy chases they are on. They sit six points back of the New England Revolution (with a game in hand) in the Supporter’s Shield race and they are just one point up on the Seattle Sounders for first place in the West. For the record, Portland are in the seventh and final playoff spot but are 14 (!) points behind SKC.

Portland’s Recent Form

As mentioned, the Timbers are struggling.

• July 24th @ Minnesota United - 1-2 Loss
• July 30th @ LA Galaxy - 1-4 Loss
• August 4th vs. San Jose Earthquakes - 1-1 Draw
• August 7th vs. Real Salt Lake - 3-2 Win
• August 15th vs. Seattle Sounders - 2-6 Loss

Portland had back-to-back wins over FC Dallas and LAFC before these five games, but those were at home. Their only road win is way back on May 15th against the Quakes.

What’s changed for Portland since these teams first met?

Since the teams played in mid-June, Portland have made one addition and one subtraction. To see all their moves from prior to that game, head back to our original preview.

IN: The Timbers added a Young Money player (U-22 Initiative) signing in Santiago Moreno from Columbian side America de Cali. He has yet to appear for the team, but appears to be primarily a winger who could potentially play at some of the other attacking roles.

OUT: Portland traded away striker Jeremey Ebobise to the Earthquakes for a boatload of General Allocation Money (GAM). Gio Savarese had been mostly playing Ebobise out of position, so this may be a rare trade that is good for both teams. He helps SJ and the GAM he brought helps Portland squeeze more players into their budget.

Injuries/Availability*

Sporting KC

OUT - Felipe Hernandez (personal reasons), Nicolas Isimat-Mirin (hamstring), Jaylin Lindsey (hamstring)

QUESTIONABLE - Khiry Shelton (abdomen)

*This has been updated by the official injury report.

Portland

OUT - Ismaila Jome (left Achilles tendon surgery), Jeff Attinella (season ending right rectus femoris surgery), Andy Polo (season ending right quad and knee surgery)

QUESTIONABLE - Eryk Williamson (health & safety protocols), Niezgoda (left ACL surgery)

With the updates Clark came off the injury report and Niezgoda returned, despite subbing on late last game.

Stats

Sporting KC

GOALS: Daniel Salloi (11), Alan Pulido (8), Gadi Kinda (4), Johnny Russell (3), Gianluca Busio, Jaylin Lindsey (2), Ilie Sanchez, Felipe Hernandez, Khiry Shelton, Cam Duke, Luis Martins (1)

ASSISTS: Daniel Salloi (6), Johnny Russell, Khiry Shelton (5), Graham Zusi (4), Gianluca Busio, Gadi Kinda (3), Felipe Hernandez, Alan Pulido (2), Andreu Fontas, Luis Martins, Jaylin Lindsey (1)

Portland

GOALS: Felipe Mora (6), Dairon Asprilla, Jeremy Ebobise (4), Yimmi Chara, Marvin Loria, Diego Valeri (2), five with one (1)

ASSISTS: Loria (4), Y. Chara, Mora, Valeri, Josecarlos Van Rankin (3), Asprilla, Sebastian Blanco, Bill Tuiloma, Eryk Williamson (2), five with one (1)

Starting XI Predictions

Look for this closer to the game in it’s own story, as always.

Score Predictions

With it being the sixth of seven games in 22 days, Sporting KC could be wearing down. But some strategic rotation against the Colorado Rapids and Club Leon should leave them fit enough to beat just about anyone. Despite all their absences, injuries and now players being sold, they are one of the best teams in the league. Going into the season I wouldn’t have ever predicted it. But now it’ll be a disappointment if they can’t keep it going.

SKC are 3-1-3 all-time against the Timbers at CMP so another win feels very possible. I’m not completely sold on the defense and if they can sure that up, they may be unbeatable. But I’m super sold on the offense, which trails only the Revolution in goals scored (and they’ve played one less game). You have to win your home games and you have to try to keep pace with the Revs (and ahead of the Sounders).

3-2 Sporting KC Win

What do you think? Predictions in the comments are welcome. Let’s chat about it.

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