Two struggling sides try to get back on track when Minnesota United host the Portland Timbers on Saturday.
After collecting 11 points in its first five games of the season, Minnesota (5-7-6, 21 points) has mustered just 10 in its past 13 MLS contests, going 2-7-4 over that stretch. Only Inter Miami has collected fewer points in the same span.
The Loons are 4-0-1 all time as the hosts against the Timbers (5-8-7, 22 points). All but one of those outings have resulted in the two clubs combining for an offensive outburst, with 22 total goals scored, including eight in a 4-4 draw between the sides last July.
However, it’s been a struggle for Minnesota on its home pitch this season, going 1-1-5 in seven games.
“I’ve said this before, I think our performances have warranted a bigger points total than we’ve got,” Minnesota coach Adrian Heath said. “The one constant has been our home form hasn’t been what it normally is. We have to change, and if we do, we give ourselves a really good opportunity of making it five playoffs on the trot.”
After coming off the bench in his first two appearances of the season, Emanuel Reynoso made his first start since his return last Saturday in a 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake. Since the midfielder joined the club in September 2020, Minnesota has averaged 1.6 points and 1.5 goals per game when he’s been a part of the starting 11 and one point and 0.9 goals per game when he doesn’t.
The Timbers hit the road for two games, looking to improve on their 1-5-4 record as the visitors. After visiting Minnesota, they’ll have little time to recover with another match in Colorado on Tuesday.
Portland captured its lone road win back on April 29 in St. Louis and is 0-1-3 in the four road matches since.
Overall, the Timbers have won just once in their past eight games (1-3-4).
“We’ve got to keep on pushing forward,” coach Giovanni Savarese said after a 1-1 draw against New York City FC on June 24. “We’ve got to stay positive. We’re going to stay in the mindset that we have to continue to work and go in the right direction and try to make sure that we continue to push — because what I see on the field has been very good. The results, disaster.”
The Timbers will be without star midfielder Evander after he was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount for slapping NYCFC forward Matias Pellegrini in the 93rd minute. Evander is tied with Franck Boli for the team lead with five goals. Dairon Asprilla, who is injured, and Juan Mosquera are next with a pair of goals each. No one else has more than one.
–Field Level Media
