Rapids Hope To Dunk Timbers

Timbers try to keep their playoff hopes from getting all wet

4th place versus 5th place in the West tomorrow as the Rapids head to the Rose City to face the Timbers.    A big game for playoff possibilities, the winner will start to think about seeding rather than just making it in.  As an additional bonus its a nationally televised game on the NBC Sports Network.  Game time is listed as 8pm so kickoff will be right around 8:30 after the pre-game show.The Denver watch party is at the British Bulldog.

Injury Report:

OUT: DF Davy Armstrong (R ACL surgery); DF Kory Kindle (sports hernia)
QUESTIONABLE: DF Diego Calderon (R knee surgery)

Disciplinary Report:
SUSPENDED: MF Nathan Sturgis (yellow card accumulation)
SUSPENDED AFTER ONE YELLOW; DF Shane O'Neill; MF Dillon Powers
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOWS: MF Hendry Thomas

Ineligible:

FW Charles Eloundou - Still waiting on International Transfer Certificate

Injury reports haven't been updated since last week but I haven't heard of any changes.  Portland is down 4 players and had 4 more players questionable last week.  We may see Buddle not in the starting XI, or playing at all, due to the turf in Portland as well.  My guess on the XI:

Torres will be back in the XI certainly, and I think we see Rivero and Brown as well.  The midfield is a question mark though as without Sturgis we could see LaBrocca or Harris.  

Key To Look For: Diego Valeri.  Portland is a different team when he's allowed to control the game compared to when he's taken out of it.  Keeping him contained will be key.

Prediction: 1-1 draw, goal by Torres.  Torres has to score eventually, right?  I think the Rapids manage to squeeze a point out of this but Portland is a hard place to play, we shouldn't expect more than that.