Miami FC continues its road trip on the west coast as they face the Portland Timbers on Saturday, July 10 at PGE Park in the first match of a brief, west-coast road swing before returning to South Florida. Game time is set to begin at 10 p.m. EST. 

It will be the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season after the Blues defeated the Timbers at Lockhart Stadium in a 1-0 victory on June 12. 

"Portland is a strong team that has great fan support at home," Miami FC head coach Victor Pastora said. "We respect them, but we are also very confident about our ability to play well and get a good result there." 

Saturday’s game will be the first of three games to be played during a week-long period for Miami FC, culminating in a match against the Puerto Rico Islanders at home on Saturday, July 17 at Lockhart Stadium. Game time for that match is set for 7:30 p.m.

SCOUTING PORTLAND

The Timbers fought to a scoreless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps at home on July 3. Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin recorded one save during the match to secure his sixth shutout of the season. 

But his performance was matched by Whitecap goalkeeper Jay Nolly, who made seven saves in the match to keep the Timbers off the scoreboard. 

The draw helped the Timbers reach the 20-point plateau, placing them in a tie with the NSC Minnesota Stars for third place in the USL Conference.

When the Timbers came down to South Florida last month, Ryan Pore was the league’s leading goal scorer and nearly a month later he still leads the league in goals with nine on the season. The Portland midfielder is by far the most dangerous offensive threat on the roster, having scored nine of the team’s 13 goals so far this season with four other players splitting a goal each to round out the offensive production.

Portland is near the bottom in goal production this season, having only scored more goals than AC St. Louis, but they have also managed to keep opposing teams from scoring as well, having allowed the second fewest number of goals this season (10).

The Timbers are 2-2-1 in their last five regular season matches and have not allowed a goal since June 17 in a 1-0 loss to NSC Minnesota. 

LAST TIME OUT

Miami FC also earned a draw in its last match, a 1-1 decision against the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies after nearly a two-hour delay caused by inclement weather. 

The Blues had applied pressure for the better part of the first half, as Christian Gomez rifled a couple shots on goal that went on goal, but were turned away by Rowdies goalkeeper Daryl Sattler.

The Rowdies finally broke the stalemate in the 82nd minute when Jeremy Christie, coming back from his World Cup stint with the New Zealand national team, fired a shot from 25 yards out that beat Miami FC goalkeeper Caleb Patterson to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.

In the waning moments of regulation, Euzebio Neto delivered a corner kick that found connected with Edward Santeliz, who headed the ball into the net for his first goal of the season and to tie the game at 1-1 in the 90th minute of play.

MIAMI TWICE

Midfielder Christian Gomez and forward Paulo Jr. are looking to take their offensive production and cause some damage during their brief stay on the west coast. 

Paulo Jr. has continued to climb the league leader boards with a team-high six goals on the season and is third in the league in that category while Gomez has four goals and is tied for eighth as they continue to prove that they are one of the top dual-threats in the league. 

Gomez is tied for fifth in the league in points with 11 while tied for second place in assists with three. He only trails Martin Nash of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who has five.

Paulo Jr. has 14 points and is in sole possession of third place in that category among the league leaders.