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

Securing a fourth straight win will be the objective for Portland Timbers when they play host to Colorado Rapids at the Providence Park on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the away side make the trip to Oregon aiming to end a barren run of form which has seen them lose six of their last seven matches across all competitions.

Match preview

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Portland Timbers made it three victories in a row as they saw off the threat of San Jose Earthquakes when the teams faced off on Thursday.

Miles Joseph's men put themselves in firm control of the clash thanks to strikes from Cristhian Paredes and Evander before Matthew Hoppe halved the deficit right on the hour mark.

Consequently, the Timbers have moved up to eighth in the Western Conference of the MLS table, one point adrift in the battle for the final automatic playoff berth.

On the horizon is the challenge of an opposing outfit against whom the last six meetings have been split evenly into two wins apiece and as many stalemates.

Currently on a run of five wins in six home matches leading up to Sunday's contest, the hosts will need to continue their dominance on home turf as they look to nail down a place in the postseason.

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Colorado Rapids failed to make it consecutive league wins for the first time this term thanks to a 2-1 defeat to Seattle Sounders at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Thursday.

Robin Fraser's men left themselves with too much work to do after conceding to Leo Chu and Albert Rusnak after which Cole Bassett pulled one back.

With 22 points from 28 games, the Pids remain rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference standings and are a whopping 11 points of Los Angeles Galaxy, who are directly in front of them.

Having been beaten in each of their last nine matches on the road, Sunday's visitors now prepare for what is set to be another daunting assignment away from home.

Team News

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David Ayala, Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Eryk Williamson are all sidelined with knee injuries and none will play any part for Portland Timbers here.

Midfielder Evander has found the back of the net in six of his last nine appearances for the home side, making him one to keep an eye on.

American duo Aboubacar Keita and William Yarbrough are both ruled out through injury, while Alex Gersbach also remained unavailable for selection.

Thirty-year-old Jack Price has not featured since March due to an Achilles tendon problem, which will keep him out of Sunday's clash as well.

Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:

Bingham; Mosquera, McGraw, Zuparic, Bravo; Paredes, Acosta; Moreno, Evander, Blanco; Boli

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:

Ilic; Rosenberry, Bombito, Maxso, Gutman; Ronan, Tavares; Cabral, Bassett, Harris; Navarro

We say: Portland Timbers 3-1 Colorado Rapids

Colorado Rapids have been abysmal away from home all-season long, and it is hard to see them coming away from this one with a positive result. We are tipping Portland Timbers to run out comfortable winners come the end of the 90 minutes.

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