September 30, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Inter Miami CF News Release
Inter Miami CF (9W-5D-12L, 32 points) will face the Portland Timbers (13W-4D-10L, 43 points) on the road on Sunday, Oct. 3. The matchup at Providence Park is set to kick off at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Where to Watch
The match will be broadcast live nationally on FS1 and FOX Deportes. Fans worldwide can follow live updates including video highlights and stats on the Club’s App. Download and Register your Profile here: https://www.intermiamicf.com/en/club/app.
Historic Night for Inter Miami and Lewis Morgan
Inter Miami will continue its road trip this weekend when it visits the West Coast to take on the Portland Timbers on Sunday. The Club will be looking to bounce back following three consecutive defeats, with the team narrowly falling 1-0 against Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 29 in its last outing. Despite the result, it was a historic night for Inter Miami, as the team played its 50th competitive match in Club history. Scottish winger Lewis Morgan also achieved a significant milestone against Atlanta, as he recorded his 50th appearance for Inter Miami by being named in the starting XI; to date, he has started in all 50 matches in Club history.
First Matchup Against Portland
Inter Miami has only lost twice in its past six road matches ahead of its visit to Portland, recording two wins and two draws as well. Sunday’s fixture will be the first matchup in Club history against the Portland Timbers.
Familiar Faces
The match may also feature reunions between former teammates or familiar rivals for Inter Miami and Portland players. A host of reunions may be on the cards for Inter Miami’s Argentine crew, with Nicolás Figal, Leandro González Pirez, Federico Higuaín, Gonzalo Higuaín and Julián Carranza all possibly taking on familiar rivals or a former teammate.
Defender Figal previously faced Portland left back Claudio Bravo in an Argentine top-flight game in Dec. 2019 while playing for Club Atlético Independiente; Bravo was a Club Atlético Banfield player at the time. Fellow center back LGP previously matched up against Portland’s Josecarlos Van Rankin in a Liga MX game in Jan. 2020, with LGP’s Club Tijuana defeating Van Rankin’s Santos Laguna 2-1. Midfielder Federico Higuaín, meanwhile, may once again clash with Portland’s Diego Valeri and Sebastián Blanco, who he faced previously in Argentina’s first division. Federico Higuaín played six matches against Valeri and Club Atlético Lanús at between 2006 and 2012 during his spells with Club Atlético Nueva Chicago, Club Atlético Independiente and Club Atlético Colón, and he faced Blanco and Lanús twice between 2008 and 2010 while playing for Club Atlético Independiente and Godoy Cruz. Gonzalo Higuaín may also face a familiar rival, as he previously took on Portland’s Dario Zuparic in a Serie A game in the 2016-17 season, with Higuaín’s Juventus winning 3-0 against Zuparic and Pescara. Conversely, Carranza may meet up with a former teammate, as he previously shared the pitch 32 times with Bravo while playing for Club Atlético Banfield between 2017 and 2019, and in an international friendly with Argentina’s U-23 side.
Furthermore, Mexican international Rodolfo Pizarro may once again take on Yimmi Chará, Felipe Mora and Van Rankin. Pizarro faced Chará on three occasions in Liga MX fixtures between 2015 and 2017, with Pizarro a C.F. Pachuca and C.D. Guadalajara player at the time, and Chará representing C.F. Monterrey and Dorados de Sinaloa. Pizarro has encountered Mora six times – five times in Liga MX games between 2017 and 2019 during his stints at Guadalajara and Monterrey, facing Mora when he played for Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM – and once in an international friendly in 2019 in which Pizarro and Mexico beat Mora’s Chile 3-1. Pizarro also met Van Rankin in Liga MX action in the past, facing each other nine times during Pizarro’s spells at Pachuca and Guadalajara and Van Rankin’s time with Pumas UNAM. Additionally, Pizarro and Van Rankin played three matches together for Mexico’s U-23 side in the 2015 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Championship in which Pizarro was named to the tournament’s Best XI.
Additionally, defender/midfielder Christian Makoun may face fellow countryman Pablo Bonilla, who he shared time with on the pitch 13 times while playing for Venezuela’s U-20 side between 2018 and 2019.
Lastly, Blaise Matuidi may face Larrys Mabiala and Christian Paredes once again. Matuidi played Mabiala and OGC Nice four times in Ligue 1 action during his days as a AS Saint-Étienne player between 2009 and 2011, while Matuidi and Paredes clashed in an international friendly in 2017 in which Matuidi and France topped Paraguay 5-0.
Portlands Timbers’ Record in 2021
Portland enters the fixture after defeating LAFC 1-2 on the road in the team’s last match. In 2021, Portland has recorded 13 wins, four draws and 10 losses, with striker Mora, who has bagged 11 goals and dished out four assists, leading the side this campaign.
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