Today the Portland Timbers are in Ohio, set to take on Columbus Crew SC as they continue their seemingly ill-fated season-opening road trip. This afternoon’s match marks the first time that the Timbers will face off against Caleb Porter, who is now managing the Crew after his sudden departure from the Timbers and subsequent year out of the professional coaching ranks.
Nonetheless, after several remarkable refereeing decisions and the Timbers’ usual defensive lapses cost the team a point in Dallas last weekend, the Timbers are set to take on a Crew side that have been nearly impossible to break down so far in 2019, giving up just five goals in their opening seven matches of the season — twelve less than the Timbers have in their six games.