Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 3 points to go: La Blanco, Jeremy Ibobisi on fire, positioning in the playoff

Still undefeated from the international break and heavily focused on the MLS Cup playoffs, the Portland Timbers host the San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Providence Park (TV on Fox 12 Plus). It’s a crucial match in a tight Western Conference, and there will be plenty of other storylines as well.

Oregonian/OregonLive has three points to watch in the Portland v San Jose game:

1. Blanco Commentary

After receiving a yellow card for a late interception in the Timbers’ 1-1 draw against Vancouver in the last game, midfielder Sebastian Blanco will be suspended for Saturday’s game against San Jose for accumulating a yellow card. Blanco will be the only first-team player missing on Saturday, so that’s an added advantage for Portland. But he remains the most important player in the Timbers team.

In his absence, Eric Williamson – who is back in the middle of the Timbers midfield after missing a game due to a yellow card pile-up – will need to put it up a notch. Williamson has proven to be an assisting machine in recent weeks, facilitating much of what Portland does in attack. The team will need a solid effort from Williamson to defeat the earthquakes.

2. Jibo on fire

Having been traded from the Timbers to Earthquakes last season, forward Jeremy Ebobisse will return for the second time to Providence Park since the trade on Saturday. Timbers fans have often lamented Ibobisi’s departure, especially because he has scored 11 goals in 20 early seasons with San Jose.

11 goals tied for third in Major League Soccer and would lead the Timbers by a significant margin if he were still with the club. Expect plenty of lingering sentiment from Ebobisse—and plenty of cheers from faithful Timbers who wish his continued existence—when he hits the field in Portland.

3. Sufficient graphics

Even if it kept an undefeated streak alive, Portland wouldn’t be satisfied with splitting a point with modest earthquakes. The Timbers (6-6-9, 27 points) have enjoyed several draws by accepting at home this season, and a three-point lead will be vital if they are to position themselves as a playoff. Winning – and hopefully convincing – is the ultimate goal.

Three points could lift the Timbers to fifth in the Western standings by the end of the weekend. A draw or loss creates an opportunity for Vancouver, Seattle or Houston to overtake Portland, and it’s an opportunity they can’t afford. Every match grows more important at this point in the season, and this is especially true for the middle woods (but which climb quickly).

Editor’s Note: The original version of this story on Saturday referred to it as the first game Jeremy Ibobisi played in Portland since trading with San Jose. It was actually his second, with his first appearing on October 27, 2021. Oregonian/Oregon Live regrets the mistake.

– Ryan Clark, rclarke@oregonian.com

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.BizWebsite: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos