Minnesota United at Portland Timbers

When: 9:30 p.m. CT Saturday
Where: Providence Park
Stream: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500 ESPN
Weather: 77 degrees, mostly cloudy, 6 mph south wind
Betting line: Portland minus-120; draw plus-295; MNUFC plus-260

Form: MNUFC (8-6-5, 29 points) finds Portland (7-7-6, 27 points) on its heels in the Western Conference standings. That’s because, in part, the Loons have lost three straight matches and Portland has won two consecutive.

Flashback: The Loons scored two second-half goals to come back and beat Portland 2-1 in St. Paul on May 18. But the biggest takeaway was a first-half skirmish between Jonathan Rodriguez and some Loons. It prompted DJ Taylor to say the Timbers “like to fight and get dirty.”

Stat: MNUFC has managed 0.6 expected goals or less in four of the last six games. They have scored only one actual goal in those four, but they have scored three apiece in the other two. It’s been more famine than feast for the Loons attack recently.

Absences: Dayne St. Clair, Tani Oluwaseyi, Carlos Harvey and Alejandro Bran (international duties) are out. Teemu Pukki (knee), Hugo Bacharach (knee) and Hassani Dotson (red-card suspension) are also out. Michael Boxall (ankle) and Devin Padelford (concussion) is probable.

Projected XI: In a 5-2-3 formation, LW Caden Clark, CF Sang Bin Jeong, RW Bongi Hlongwane; CM Wil Trapp, CM Robin Lod; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Micky Tapias, CB Michael Boxall, CB Devin Padelford, LWB DJ Taylor; GK Clint Irwin.

Quote: After his transfer to Partizan in Serbia this week, Kervin Arriaga bid farewell to MNUFC, saying he will be a Loon for the “rest of my life.”

“Minnesota has made me grow as a person and as a footballer, and in my heart there will always be room for each other and every one of the club’s employees and for each and every one of its fans,” he said per a Spanish translation. “Thank you very much for everything. You made me a better person and I will never forget that.”

Look-ahead: If Canada loses to Chile in Copa America on Saturday, St. Clair and Oluwaseyi would be out of the continental tournament and would be welcomed back to Minnesota with open arms. A win over Chile would mean two MNUFC starters will be away for at least the quarterfinals, which are July 4-6. Loons have two matches next week.

Scouting report: MNUFC must hold in check Timbers striker Rodriguez, who scored a goal against Minnesota in mid-May and has one apiece in the last two games. The former Liga MX star has eight total goals in his first MLS season.

Prediction: The Loons have won three straight against Portland, but are just too threadbare to make it four in a row. Portland wins 2-0.