2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 24
LAFC vs. Portland Timbers
Banc of California Stadium – Los Angeles
November 8 – 6:30 PM ET
TV: FS1, FOX Deportes
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada
Diego Rossi can wrap up the 2020 Golden Boot presented by AT&T award when LAFC host the Portland Timbers on Decision Day presented by AT&T at Banc of California Stadium Sunday.
Rossi's stoppage-time goal in a 3-2 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday was his league-leading 14th of the season, three more than his closest competitors. LAFC (9W-8L-4D) are sixth in the Western Conference and will be looking to rebound from that defeat and perhaps improve their playoff positioning, while the Timbers (11W-6L-5D) fell from their perch atop the West following a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids Wednesday. Portland would clinch the top spot with a win over LAFC and a Sporting KC loss or draw against Real Salt Lake.
- Playoff scenarios:How Decision Day could impact the playoff field
- What's at stake: Key races to watch for during Decision Day's 13 games
- Playoff schedule:Match schedule, dates, times and TV details
The teams are meeting for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting, LAFC’s Christian Torres became the fifth-youngest player to score in MLS history, at 16 years, 186 days, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw Oct. 18 at Providence Park. In the previous meetings, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Mark-Anthony Kaye each had a goal and an assist as LAFC took a 4-2 win Sept. 13 at Banc of California Stadium. The teams shared the points in a 2-2 draw in the final group game on July 23 for both teams in the MLS is Back Tournament.
LAFC
LAFC got off to a strong start when Latif Blessing put the visitors in front 1-0 in the 23rd minute, but the Earthquakes erupted for three consecutive goals before Rossi's stoppage-time goal. The loss snapped a three-match unbeaten streak and was a step backward for LAFC after consecutive victories.
“This was not our best game, no doubt about that," Bob Bradley said after the game. "The rhythm of the game when you play [San Jose] is always a little bit different. I thought we adjusted after the first half and had more control, but all in all it was still not as good as we liked.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Andy Najar (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Adrien Perez (F) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Mohamed El-Munir (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Adrien Perez (F) - undisclosed injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Jordan Harvey (D), Jose Cifuentes (M)
- International duty: None
Portland Timbers
The Timbers entered their penultimate match of the regular season in first place in the West, but finished the night in second place following a 1-0 loss to the Rapids. Colorado clinched a playoff berth with the victory while Portland suffered defeat for only the second time in their last 14 games.
“Right now, we have to analyze this match, look at some things, look at the guys, we tried to make some rotations today in order to make sure that we utilize the players in the best possible way," Giovanni Savarese said after the match. "It’s also good for some players to get minutes, because we’re going to need everybody, and now we will prepare for LAFC, which is our final match and another difficult game that we have to try to give everything we have in order to get three points.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Sebastian Blanco (M) - right ACL injury
- OUT: Julio Cascante (D) - left ankle injury
- OUT: Jaroslaw Niezgoda (F) - left ACL tear
- QUESTIONABLE: Blake Bodily (M) - right thigh injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Jeremy Ebobisse (F) - concussion
- QUESTIONABLE: Dairon Asprilla (M) - left knee injury
- Suspended: Diego Chara (M)
- Suspended after next caution: Eryk Williamson (M), Pablo Bonilla (D)
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at LAFC
- LAFC: 2 wins, 8 goals
- Timbers: 0 wins, 3 goals
- 1 draw
Officials
- Referee: Alan Kelly
- Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Diego Blas
- 4th Official: Victor Rivas
- VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
