Yangel Herrera has been ruled out of New York City FC’s Saturday showdown with the Portland Timbers.
The 19-year old picked up an athletic pubalgia injury in Venezuela’s 1-1 draw with Argentina on Tuesday and is considered "day to day" by the medical team.
In happier news, Rodney Wallace will also bolster Patrick Vieira’s options for this game after representing his nation in CONCACAF FIFA World Cup qualifying vs. Mexico.
The Costa Rican has also served his one-game ban for yellow card accumulation.
Meanwhile, Alex Ring is listed as "questionable" after sustaining a toe injury which kept him out of Finland’s game vs. Kosovo in midweek and is in contention to return for his club side at Yankee Stadium.
A late decision will also be taken on David Villa’s adductor irritation also sustained on international duty with Spain last weekend.
Remaining on the sidelines, Miguel Camargo, Maxime Chanot, Mikey Lopez, Ronald Matarrita and Ethan White all will play no part in this game.
On the Portland side of things, Gbenga Arokoyo and Chance Myers are listed as “out” on MLSSoccer.com, while Liam Ridgewell, Fanendo Adi and Jake Gleeson are “questionable”.
NYCFC can cut Toronto’s lead in the Eastern Conference and in the Supporters’ Shield race to three points if results go their way this weekend and potentially open up a nine-point gap on Chicago in third place.
READ: Major Keys to NYCFC vs. Portland Timbers
Injury Report
NYCFC
OUT - Miguel Camargo, Maxime Chanot, Yangel Herrera, Mikey Lopez, Ronald Matarrita, Ethan White
QUESTIONABLE - David Villa, Alex Ring
Portland Timbers
OUT – Gbenga Arokoyo, Chance Myers
QUESTIONABLE – Liam Ridgewell, Fanendo Adi, Jake Gleeson
Key Stats
- This will be the third ever regular season meeting between the two teams, with the road team triumphing in each of the first two games.
- NYCFC are now unbeaten in 10 consecutive home league games (8W-2D). They are approaching the franchise regular season best mark of 11 games (9W-2D), set between June 18, 2016, and April 1, 2017.
- The Timbers have only won once in their last 11 MLS road games (6L-4D), dating back to April 29th. The Timbers have conceded in all 13 of these games, letting in 28 total goals.
- NYCFC leads MLS with 62 yellow cards this year. Sebastian Blanco is second in MLS with 51 fouls conceded this season.
- NYCFC have scored 21 left footed goals this year, tied for the most in MLS. Portland has scored 34 right footed goals this year, the most of any team in MLS.
- R.J. Allen’s assist on Jack Harrison’s winning goal against Sporting Kansas City was his 11th ever in MLS play, and third in his last 5 MLS appearances. It took him 45 regular season appearances to get his first eight assists.
- In 669 minutes with Larrys Mabiala on the field this year, Portland concedes an average of 1.7 goals per 90 minutes played, while in 2,090 minutes without him, that number drops down to 1.4.
- Since the start of the 2014 season, Fanendo Adi has scored 51 regular season goals, the sixth most of any MLS player.
- NYCFC have missed 24 big chances this year, tied with Columbus and New England for the second most of any team in the league (Real Salt Lake leads with 32).
