Preview: Sporting KC duels Portland Timbers on Saturday in preseason finale

Sporting Kansas City vs. Portland Timbers
2018 Preseason presented by Children's Mercy
Mobile Mini Sun Cup | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 5 p.m. CT
Kino Sports Complex | Tucson, Arizona
Live Stream: SportingKC.com and Sporting KC Facebook

A pair of MLS Western Conference foes collide in the third-place match of the Mobile Mini Sun Cup on Saturday as Sporting Kansas City faces the Portland Timbers in the club's final friendly of the 2018 preseason, presented by Children's Mercy. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. CT at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, with live streams available on SportingKC.com and the Sporting KC Facebook page.

Saturday serves as the final tune-up for both clubs ahead of their MLS regular season openers on March 4, as Sporting KC will host New York City FC and the Timbers will visit LA Galaxy in a Sunday primetime doubleheader on FS1.

Led by 10th-year Manager Peter Vermes, Sporting KC fell 2-1 to the New England Revolution on Wednesday for their first exhibition defeat of the year. Diego Rubio converted a 21st-minute penalty kick after Gerso drew a foul inside the box, but an early own goal and a 36th-minute strike from Kelyn Rowe gave New England the victory. Rubio became the 10th Sporting KC player to find the back of the net this preseason, having bagged seven goals for the club across all competitions in 2017.

The Timbers enter 2018 under new head coach Giovanni Savarese, who previously guided the New York Cosmos to three NASL championships in five seasons from 2013-2017. Portland secured their first Mobile Mini Sun Cup triumph on Wednesday, easing past a New York Red Bulls reserve side by a 4-1 scoreline. The result came on the back of a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Feb. 14 and a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas on Saturday.

Sporting KC and Portland engaged in two entertaining battles during the 2017 regular season. Eventual MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Tim Melia stole the show last April at Providence Park, making three saves en route to a shutout as Vermes' men prevailed 1-0 in the Pacific Northwest. The clubs met again on July 1 at Children's Mercy Park as Diego Valeri, who would be named MLS MVP at season's end, fired Portland into the lead with a jaw-dropping strike from distance. The hosts restored parity through a well-taken finish from Daniel Salloi, and the draw was sealed when Melia denied Valeri from the penalty spot in the late stages.

Tickets for Sporting KC's season opener versus New York City FC on March 4 are now on sale via SeatGeek.com. The highly anticipated curtain raiser will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT inside world-class Children's Mercy Park, pitting the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions against Spanish striker David Villa and an NYCFC side that finished second in the Supporters' Shield standings last year.

Sporting KC 2018 Preseason Schedule