On Wednesday, the Portland Timbers host Nashville SC in a MLS Western Conference fixture. Portland is seventh in the conference table at 7-10-6 on 31 points with a goal difference of +4. Portland battled on the road Saturday to a 4-4 draw with Minnesota United. Sebastian Blanco scored a brace for Portland with goals in the first minute and 50th minute, while Jaroslaw Niezgoda scored in the 53rd minute. Portland's tying goal was an own goal by Minnesota.
Portland has two wins and three draws in its last five matches in the MLS and over that span has scored 12 goals and conceded eight. Jaroslaw Niezgoda is the leading goal scorer for Portland with eight while Bill Tuiloma and Dairon Asprilla have each scored five. Sebastian Blanco is the leader in assists with six, while Eryk Williamson and Santiago Moreno each have four.
Nashville is sixth in the conference table at 8-8-7 on 32 points with a goal difference of 0. Nashville was held at home to a 1-1 draw by the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. Nashville took an early lead with a goal by Teal Bunbury in the 17th minute and held that lead until the 87th minute when Vancouver's Javain Brown scored an equalizer and Nashville had to share the spoils.
Nashville has one win, two draws and two losses in its most recent five matches in the MLS and over that span has scored five goals and conceded eight. Nashville has been held to one goal in each of its last five matches. Hany Mukhtar is the leading goal scorer for Nashville with 12, while C.J. Sapong has scored five. Randall Leal and Sapong are the leaders in assists with four each.
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Portland Timbers +105