New York City FC will be without two players on their second-ever trip to the Rose City.
Kwame Awuah and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi are both missing for this latest road trip, as NYCFC look to stay unbeaten through eight MLS games.
READ:Major Keys to NYCFC at Portland
Awuah’s knee injury rules him out of contention of this clash, while Tajouri-Shradi is out with a hamstring injury sustained at Atlanta last weekend.
The forward, who has four goals in seven appearances for the Boys in Blue, took to Instagram earlier in the week to allay supporters’ fears, insisting that he’ll back on the field soon and that it’s not a serious injury.
City were boosted by the returns of Alex Ring and David Villa last time out, as they earned a point at the Mercedes Benz Stadium thanks to a 2-2 draw.
According to MLSSoccer.com, the Timbers will be missing Roy Miller and David Guzman, while Vytas is rated as questionable.
Injury Report
NYCFC
OUT – Kwame Awuah, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi
Portland
OUT – Roy Miller, David Guzman
QUESTIONABLE – Vytas
Match Stats
- This will be the fourth ever meeting between the two teams, and the road team has won the three previous meetings. Portland (2W) took last year’s meeting, 1-0, on September 9th.
- Portland’s 3-2 win over Minnesota last weekend was just their second in their last seven regular season games (3L-2D), dating back to last year. The Timbers have not kept a clean sheet in any of those seven games, allowing 2.1 goals per game on average.
- City are unbeaten in eight consecutive MLS games overall (5W-3D), which is the longest run in franchise history. Additionally, they have scored in a franchise-record 10 consecutive league road games (4W-1L-5D).
- Alvas Powell scored and assisted against Minnesota last weekend, just his second time in 101 regular season appearances scoring and assisting in the same game.
- Following his goal last weekend, David Villa has now put away 18 of the 21 penalties he has taken in MLS play (including the postseason).
- Portland’s 2.0 expected goals against per game is the third highest in the league, while NYCFC’s 1.4 expected goals against is the seventh lowest in the league.
- Sean Johnson enters this weekend leading or tied for the league lead in starts (seven), saves (28), saves on shots outside the box (14) and touches among keepers (367).
- Diego Valeri had a goal and four key passes against Minnesota last weekend, his 14th regular season MLS game with a goal and at least four key passes. Federico Higuaín (16) is the only player with more such regular season games since Valeri joined the league prior to the 2013 season.
