The Columbus Crew seek to extend their unbeaten streak to nine in a venue where they’ve never won — while simultaneously dealing with the absences of forward Cucho Hernandez and head coach Wilfried Nancy.

That’s the task for the Crew (10-6-6, 36 points) when they visit the struggling Portland Timbers (5-9-8, 23 points) on Saturday.

The 10-man Crew forged a 1-1 home tie vs. New York City FC on July 8 on a goal by Sean Zawadzki in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but it was costly.

Hernandez (five goals, 10 assists) received two cautions — the first for dissent, the second for a high kick to an opponent’s face — which led to his ejection and a one-game ban. He had a goal contribution in 11 of the previous 12 matches.

Now the Crew, 5-0-3 in the past eight matches, must find a way to get a result in a city where they are 0-3-2 all-time.

“It’s always difficult losing someone like Cucho from the team,” Zawadzki said. “It’s on all of us to continue playing like we’ve been playing, trust each other and stick to the game plan the coaches have put together for us.”

The normally mild-mannered Nancy received a red card for coming onto the field to dispute a call by referee Sergii Boiko. On Tuesday, Nancy had a second match added to his suspension by MLS because he kicked a ball after being shown the card.

Also, fitness/rehab coach Federico Pizzuto received a three-match ban for spraying water on an official.

Portland, 0-2-3 in the past five matches, has problems, as well. Forward Santiago Moreno (team-leading six assists) reportedly asked for a transfer last week and did not travel for “personal reasons” Wednesday when the club visited the Colorado Rapids to play the second half of a match suspended July 4 because of weather.

It ended 0-0, the fourth such scoreline in the past 10 matches (1-4-5) for Portland.

Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese is unsure if Moreno will be available Saturday.

“Our group has a next-man up mentality,” Timbers defender Eric Miller said. “It gives someone an opportunity to play.”

–Field Level Media

FC Dallas strive for their first win in Seattle in over 12 years when they visit the Sounders on Saturday night.

FC Dallas are 0-13-3 in their past 16 matches in Seattle, including the postseason, since winning 1-0 on May 25, 2011.

FC Dallas (8-9-5, 29 points) are coming off a 2-1 road loss against the Colorado Rapids and have dropped two straight games and six of their past eight. Dallas is 2-6-2 over its last 10 matches and is tied for sixth in the Western Conference.

The Sounders (10-8-5, 35 points) reside in third place in the West but have been blanked in six of their past 10 matches (3-4-3). Seattle lost 2-0 at the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday.

Both teams could have some key players back on the field after the conclusion of the U.S. men’s national team’s stay in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The U.S. lost to Panama on Wednesday night.

FC Dallas star Jesus Ferreira, who has 10 goals in MLS play, tied the U.S. record of seven goals in a single Gold Cup. That matched the mark by Soccer Hall of Famer Clint Dempsey (2015), who spent six MLS seasons with Seattle (2013-18).

The Sounders will get Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan back, though coach Brian Schmetzer hasn’t yet committed to playing the star duo on Saturday.

“There is an emotional side to things,” Schmetzer said. “Our team has done OK. The guys who have been here certainly deserve the shot at playing. … I will see how Cristian and Jordan are feeling, both mentally and physically.”

Morris is Seattle’s leading scorer with nine goals in MLS play. The Sounders missed him badly against the Earthquakes when they had just two shots on target.

Dallas dropped to 2-6-3 on the road with last Saturday’s loss to the Rapids. Sam Junqua’s goal in the 18th minute gave Dallas the lead but Colorado recovered to deliver the victory.

Junqua, 26, has two goals in 15 matches in his first season with Dallas.

“I think he’s doing a good job for the team,” Dallas coach Nico Estevez said of Junqua. “He’s getting that confidence to get shots and score goals and that’s something that we like. He’s a player that works really hard and we’re really, really happy that he’s been helping the team.”

–Field Level Media