The Timbers ended a five-match winless run against Colorado (D3 L2) with a 1-0 road victory in last season’s playoffs. The win was only Portland’s third victory in Colorado (D4 L7, including playoffs) and just its second clean sheet (0-0 draw in 2016).
Colorado’s scoreless draw with Charlotte on Saturday extended its regular season home unbeaten run to a team record 20 games (W11 D9), the seventh-longest such run in MLS history. The Rapids did lose at home to Portland in last season’s Conference Semifinals.
The Timbers have played consecutive scoreless draws for the third time in the club’s MLS history and the first since July 2016. Only one team in MLS history has played three straight goalless matches: Colorado in its first three games of the 2015 season.
Gyasi Zardes made his Rapids debut on Saturday after being acquired in a trade from Columbus late last week. Zardes has scored 54 regular season goals since 2018, when he first joined the Crew, third-most in MLS and more than any other American in that time.
Portland has won seven of its last 12 away matches (D2 L3, including playoffs), including losing only one of its last six on the road (W3 D2). The Timbers had recorded just one win its previous 13 away matches (D4 L8) dating back to October 2020.
