Four wins in a row have the Portland Timbers in the top half of MLS’ Western Conference standings. On the horizon, however, one of the few teams higher in the table is about to make their first visit to Providence Park. Come noon on Saturday, Los Angeles FC will get their first taste of Rose City soccer (12pm PT, FOX).
In LAFC’s early success, though, the Timbers find an opportunity, one similar to the one that arrived three weeks ago. Then, an undefeated New York City FC showed up to face a team that had just won its first game in six, and while some may have foreseen a Timbers breakthrough, nobody would have reasonably predicted a 3-0 result.