Portland, OR – The Los Angeles Galaxy will have an opportunity to take maximum points from the Portland Timbers this season when the two clubs meet at Jeld-Wen Field on Saturday.
Bruce Arena's side picked up its first win of the season with a 3-1 defeat of the Timbers on April 14. It went on to edge the Rose City club once more with a 1-0 victory on June 17. Both wins came at The Home Depot Center.
Now, the Galaxy head to the Pacific Northwest looking to preserve their perfect record against the Timbers this season.
"It's certainly going to be a big week for us," Robbie Keane said after team training Thursday. "These are the games where you need your whole squad of players to come together. It's important everybody's ready."
Los Angeles follows up its meeting with Portland with crucial Western Conference matches against Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Chivas USA, but Jeld-Wen awaits the Galaxy for their third meeting with the Timbers this term.
The Timbers have endured a sub par season to this point given the club's expectations of challenging for a playoff spot. Portland finds itself second from bottom in the West with 19 points on the season, just three points clear of last-place FC Dallas.
With that in mind, the front office relieved John Spencer of his coaching duties earlier in the week.
"It's a difficult thing for them to process," Landon Donovan said of Portland's coaching vacancy. "But that team plays well at home. No matter who's coaching, they're going to be ready to play at home."
Portland's recent home contest yielded a surprise result as the Timbers claimed a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.
If a home win against the best side in MLS was attainable for the Rose City club, then three points against the reigning champions may not be out of the question.
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