Red Bulls travel to Portland for key tilt for both clubs

The New York Red Bulls' trek through the Pacific Northwest continues Wednesday when they face the Portland Timbers at Providence Park in a critical game for both teams.

New York (12-13-5, 41 points) is coming off a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Sounders on Sunday afternoon in a game in which they trailed 2-0, rallied to draw even and gave up an own goal in the 83rd minute and another in stoppage time. It was the Red Bulls' third consecutive loss and left them in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

While the Red Bulls remain in playoff position and three points from a win Wednesday wouldn't move them up in the standings, a win would put some added distance between New York and the teams fighting to get into the playoffs.

New York is currently one point ahead of New England but only four points from being out of the playoff picture.

The Red Bulls' three substitutions on Sunday were because of injuries, and they could be short-handed on Wednesday.

"We came on the road trip for points, and we'll go after Portland," Red Bulls coach Chris Armas told reporters after the game. "We continue to look hard at how to tidy up things defensively."

As important a match as this is for New York, it could be even more so for the Timbers, who hold the seventh and final playoff spot in the West. Portland (13-12-4) is actually tied on points with FC Dallas at 43 but holds the first tiebreaker -- total wins. A loss could do tremendous damage to the Timbers' playoff hopes, but a win could leave them as high as fourth place in the conference by the time Wednesday is over.

The game will be the eighth in the Timbers' 10-game homestand born out of the team not playing at home until June because of stadium remodeling. But the spruced-up home stadium has not been the fortress they'd hoped for. Portland is 4-3 in the first seven games of the homestand, and the Timbers' four losses at home this season are their most since 2012.

The most recent loss was a frustrating 1-0 defeat to D.C. United on Sunday -- on an own goal in the first half. The Timbers also played that game without leading goal scorer Brian Fernandez (stomach illness) and top midfielder Sebastian Blanco (leg injury).

The Timbers hope to get both back in time for Wednesday's game.

"You have to forget about it and start to focus on the next one," defender Jorge Villafana told the MLS website. "It's a quick turnaround and we still have the opportunity to get those points that we need to climb up the table."

--Field Level Media