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Timbers attempt to regroup ahead of Galaxy clash

Jul 12, 2013 - 10:35 PM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - The Portland Timbers will embark on a quest to produce another lengthy unbeaten streak when it welcomes the Los Angeles Galaxy to Jeld-Wen Field on Saturday.

Portland suffered just its second league loss of the season last time out, falling to the Columbus Crew, 1-0, at Crew Stadium on Sunday.

The loss saw the club's 15-game unbeaten run come to end, but the bigger disappointment stemmed from a spurned opportunity to advance to second place in the Western Conference.

"I don't really think about the streak or that we lost the streak - I don't think any of the guys were thinking about it," said Timbers striker Darlington Nagbe. "We're just mad that we didn't get the win and the chance to move up in the table."

A win would've seen the Timbers improve to 33 points on the season, but the defeat leaves the club level with Los Angeles on 30 apiece.

The Galaxy enter the weekend having won their last two matches, both of which came on their home turf.

But Los Angeles has not fared nearly as well on the road in recent months, failing to pick up a single point from its last four games away from the StubHub Center, though the Galaxy did earn a 1-0 win over Chivas USA on June 23 as the designated road team.

The Galaxy's discouraging road form could take another hit given the fast- paced style of play that the Timbers has been known to feature at Jeld-Wen, but Robbie Rogers believes that his side will be prepared to match Portland's energy.

"You have to match the same amount of energy because they're going to pressure us like crazy, so you have to do the same back to them," Rogers told the club's official website. "That's my opinion, so we'll see what the coaches decide, but I think you need to match that energy."

Todd Dunivant echoed Rogers' sentiments, drawing upon a thrilling 5-3 Galaxy victory at Jeld-Wen last season as evidence to support the club's need to play with vigor.

"We know in their building that they like to high press. There's a lot of energy with the crowd, it's a smaller field, it's on turf, so things happen really quickly there," the Galaxy defender told the club's official website. "There are a lot of factors that we have to be ready for. Last year, we handled it very well and got a good win, but the year before, it was the complete opposite. We have to be ready, no doubt about it."