After a brief lull on Wednesday, MLS teams will resume preseason action on Thursday, with two sets of conference rivals set to face off against each other. Here’s what we’re looking at:
- Real Salt Lake 0, Portland Timbers 1 – Tucson, Arizona | STREAM
- Philadelphia Union 2, Chicago Fire 4 – Clearwater, Florida | STREAM
Fire beat Union 4-2 in Florida friendly
It was a goalfest in Clearwater, Fla. on Thursday, as the Chicago Fire defeated the Philadelphia Union 4-2. Fire star David Accam had a brace in the game, getting the scoring going in the 15th minute from a penalty kick before chipping in a second minutes before the end of the half.
Union rookie Fabian Herbers quickly tied the game up, just a minute after Accam's first, but the Ghanaian's second and subsequent goals around the hour mark from Nick LaBrocca and Gilberto put the game out of reach. Warren Creavalle did have a late consolation goal for the Union.
The Union next play D.C. United on Feb. 17, while Chicago will take on Vancouver in Portland on Feb. 21.
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Timbers defeat RSL 1-0
Thursday's match between the Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake ended with the Timbers picking up a 1-0 win, courtesy of a goal scored approximately 30 seconds in by Lucas Melano. Both sides had players ejected, with Yura Movsisyan and Jack McInerney getting their marching orders (see below), but due to the preseason friendly nature of the match, the teams played full strength throughout.
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Getting hot in the desert
Things got a bit heated in the RSL-Timbers contest, with Salt Lake’s Yura Movsisyan and Portland’s Jack McInerney apparently both getting ejected after a scuffle erupted during the first half.
Let’s go to Kei Kamara with the video:
Gotta love preseason fights. #PORvsRSL href="https://t.co/0MhXQbtR8A">pic.twitter.com/0MhXQbtR8A
— KEI KAMARA (@keikamara) February 11, 2016
Here’s a longer clip, with a bit more context:
Let's check in on MLS preseason pic.twitter.com/2HAVNxn29A
— Rob Usry (@RobUsry) February 11, 2016
RELATED: Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake
Gearing up for CCL
Thursday’s match between RSL and Portland comes just 13 days before the first leg of the Claret-and-Cobalt’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against Tigres, and Salt Lake are using the occasion to ramp up their preparation for the Liga MX club.
RSL head coach Jeff Cassar told the club’s official website that he plans on using a prospective starting XI for 60 minutes on Thursday, with an eye toward further integrating offseason arrivals Yura Movsisyan and Chris Wingert.
RELATED: Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake
First foray vs. an MLS foe
Both the Fire and the Union will be playing their first match against a fellow MLS side on Thursday. Both teams feature plenty of new faces this preseason, and one Union trialist with a serious pedigree will no doubt be looking to continue to make his mark in Florida on Thursday.
RELATED: Chicago Fire, Philadelphia Union
