Major League Soccer
Portland
Feb 25, 2024 3.30am
4
1
HT : 4 0
FT Providence Park
Colorado
  • Eryk Williamson 9' goal
  • Antony 14' goal
  • Antony 29' goal
  • Cristhian Paredes 45' yellowcard
  • Kamal Miller 49' yellowcard
  • Samuel Vines 45'+5' goal
  • yellowcard Moise Bombito 45'+3'
  • goal Calvin Harris 55'
  • yellowcard Andreas Maxso 59'
  • yellowcard Djordje Mihailovic 74'

Preview: Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids - prediction, team news, lineups

By | , Last updated:

Portland vs. Colorado - prediction, team news, lineups
© Reuters

Portland Timbers welcome Colorado Rapids to Providence Park on Saturday evening on the opening weekend of the new MLS season.

Both sides did not make it into the Western Conference playoffs last season, with the visitors finishing at the bottom while the hosts missed out by a point.

Match preview

© Reuters

Portland missed out on the playoffs by one point last season after losing to Houston Dynamo on a night they needed to win.

Last season was a generally poor one for the Timbers, who also could not go past the round of 32 in the US Open Cup.

With a new season on the horizon, the Timbers will hope to emulate their 2015 performance when they went all the way to become MLS champions for the only time in their history.

Last season was the first time Portland failed to make the playoffs in six seasons, after winning the Western Conference playoffs for the third time as recently as 2021.

Asides winning the Western Conference playoffs in 2015, 2018 and 2021, while they also topped the Western Conference in 2013 and 2017.

After taking over the job in November 2023, Manager Phil Neville will hope to return Portland to the playoffs in the 2024 season.

The MLS pre-season was not a solid one for Neville's side, who lost twice in four matches, winning once and drawing one.

However, they will look to kick off the regular season with a win against a side they have dominated on home soil, picking up 10 wins from 14 meetings at Providence Park.

© Reuters

Colorado Rapids had another season to forget, finishing bottom of the Western Conference and 28th out of 29th overall.

The Pids also failed to go beyond the round of 16 in the US Open Cup, in a season they won just five competitive matches.

Colorado will be looking to end a 14-year wait for an MLS Cup crown, as despite topping the Western Conference as recently as 2021, their only overall success came in 2010.

New manager Chris Armas, who was appointed in November 2023, is yet to take charge of a competitive game, but they had a decent preseason, recording three wins from six encounters while losing two and drawing one.

Portland Timbers Major League Soccer form:


Portland Timbers form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L

Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:

Colorado Rapids form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L

Team News

© Reuters

Portland midfielder Marvin Loria is out long term with an ACL injury, and is expected to be out for between four and five months.

Left back Claudio Bravo also had a right knee operation and is not expected back until late April.

The addition of one of MLS' top goalkeepers in Maxime Crepeau and centre back Kamal Miller will bring some extra defensive solidity to the Timbers.

Colorado Rapids have a clean bill of health heading into their season opener, leaving Armas with a wealth of options.

The Rapids have added defensive midfielder Lamine Diack, experienced goalkeeper Zack Steffen and re-acquired left back Sam Vines, to add some defensive solidity.

Djordje Mihailovic and Omir Fernandez also arrived to add some attacking bite to the side.

Portland Timbers possible starting lineup: Crepeau; E. Miller, K. Miller, McGraw, Mosquera; Williamson, Chara; Moreno, Evander, Antony; Mora

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup: Steffen; Rosenberry, Bombito, Maxso, Vines; Diack, Ronan; Cabral, Bassett, Mihailovic; Navarro

We say: Portland Timbers 2-1 Colorado Rapids

Portland have dominated this fixture on home soil and we expect the energy of the home crowd to push them to victory once again in their first game of the season.

Both sides will want a positive start to get their campaign underway, but the hosts will have more incentive to edge the game in the end.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by

POLL
Who will win Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Portland and Colorado?
Portland Timbers 67%
Draw 11%
Colorado Rapids 22%
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