Earthquakes-Timbers Preview (The Associated Press)

The defending MLS Cup champions have a golden opportunity in front of them in Wednesday night's match against a depleted San Jose Earthquakes side that's never won in Portland. Three straight losses from May 7-15 had Portland (4-6-4) languishing toward the bottom of the Western Conference, but it's made some headway by going unbeaten in its last two. A critical 4-2 home win over rival Vancouver was followed by Saturday's 1-1 draw in Chicago, where the Timbers withstood the Fire's 17-8 shot advantage to earn another needed point.