Timbers 2 - 1 Rapids
Final
  for this game

Rapids hope for home success against Timbers

May 29, 2015 - 5:53 PM Commerce City, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - The Colorado Rapids eye a second straight win at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday when the club hosts the Portland Timbers.

The Rapids put an end to their MLS-record home winless streak last weekend with a 1-0 triumph over Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the club's first victory on home soil in 12 games.

And after a 1-0 setback at Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday, the Rapids will hope a return to DSG Park will yield three more points.

Marco Pappa scored the lone goal for the Sounders on Wednesday in the 15th minute as the Rapids played a very cautious first half.

Head coach Pablo Mastroeni's team came out of their shell in the second half and pressed for an equalizer, but the coach was disappointed with his team's last of aggressiveness in the opening 45 minutes.

"I think it was a game of two halves. The mentality was almost too respectful in the first half. The second half was much brighter, the thought to go forward was more aggressive," Mastroeni said. "The guys were much more positive with their passing. They created some good exchanges higher up the field. Guys took it upon themselves to take responsibility for every pass and attack the game the right way."

Portland was also in action on Wednesday night, but the Timbers will come into Saturday's match following a 1-0 triumph over D.C. United thanks to a goal in the fifth minute from Max Urruti.

The result snapped a two-match losing streak for the Timbers, and it was a result that was desperately needed according to Portland midfielder Will Johnson.

"We needed it badly. We need to get going in the right direction, quickly," said Johnson, who returned to the lineup for the first time this season after suffering a broken leg late last year. "We spoke a lot about urgency this week, and I think that's what you saw at the start of the game."

If the Timbers are going to continue to collect results, the club must find a way to be more effective in front of goal with Portland managing to score more than one goal just once in its last eight games.

Portland will also try to do something the club has yet to do in its brief time in MLS and that to win a game at Colorado.

In six all-time meetings between the Rapids and Timbers at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Portland owns a 0-4-2 mark against Colorado.






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