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Timbers seek finishing kick at Minnesota United (Jun 21, 2017)
Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter is looking for a killer instinct in his team -- especially on the road.
The Timbers, who face Minnesota United on Wednesday at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, have lost four straight away from home.
On Saturday, the Timbers squandered a second-half lead in a 2-1 loss at Colorado.
"We were in a winning position, and we didn't maintain our standard of play," Porter told The Oregonian. "We didn't maintain our level and our intensity. We need to have a stronger mentality on the road in second halves."
Portland's road woes come after two wins and a draw in the team's first four 2017 MLS away matches.
"I want my team to be stronger when we're in those winning positions," Porter said. "We have to show that killer instinct. That's what championship teams show and that's what I'm going to be looking for and demanding from this point forward."
Portland (7-6-3) is in third place in the Western Conference, tied at 24 points with second-place Houston and fourth-place FC Dallas.
"This season has to be about gaining ground," Porter told the team's website. "It has to be about not just getting by. It has to be about showing that hunger game in and game out, showing that we really want to do something. ... Inside the lines for 90 minutes the players have to show they want something out of the season, not just the bare minimum.
"We have to have higher standards because we have a good enough team where those standards can be met if we have that hunger inside the lines every game."
While Minnesota (4-9-2) has been shut out in its past three games -- including a 4-0 U.S. Open Cup loss to Sporting Kansas City a week ago -- and has lost four of its past five MLS contests. The lone win in that stretch, 1-0 over Orlando City on May 27, did come at home.
"Obviously, if you look at this league, most of the teams get most of their points at home," Minnesota United head coach Adrian Heath told the team's website. "Playing away from home and getting results on the road is really difficult for a lot of the teams, not only ourselves. So, it's been nice to get back. Our last three or four performances have been really, really telling. ... So, we've had a couple of good performances. Hopefully we can turn that around and get back to our winning ways at home."
United will be without defender Marc Burch, who underwent successful sports hernia surgery, according to the team's trainer. Burch is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks.
The expansion Loons, who gave up 18 goals in their first four MLS matches, have surrendered 16 since then. They were blown out 5-1 by the Timbers to begin their first season in MLS.
"I know some guys have had this marked on their calendars, because it was the first game," forward Christian Ramirez told MNUFC.com. "For us, we need to continue to get back to what has made us competitive, and do well at home. So, we have to watch the tempo and play hard defensively, and create a lot of chances and get three points at home."
Minnesota United will have another opportunity at home on Saturday when they host the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Timbers will host their Cascadia Cup rival Seattle Sounders on Sunday.
