(6) Portland Timbers (11,8,12, 45 points) vs (7) Columbus Crew (9,7,14, 41 points)
Sunday September 18, 2022, KO 10:00 AM PST
Lower.com Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Portland Timbers Briefly
The return to prime form for Dairon Aspirilla and delivering like last season is aiding his team’s turnaround and with a four-game winning streak as the Portland Timbers are closing strong in the final stretch of the 2022 season.
For Zac McGraw, becoming the indisputable starter by seating Larrys Mabiala and Josecarlos Van Rankin tells you a lot of this lad’s future with the Rose City side, in addition of Aljaz Ivacic’s growth as a top-rated goalkeeper.
Alongside with David Mosquera, looking to debut in his first game, and the potential this lad has with David Ayala and Teka Ikoba to see more minutes, this core of young players are is the team’s future.
Proof is very visible with Santiago Moreno. The man delivering in every match and the his growth has become vital in every match for the Timbers all season.
For manager Giovanni Savarese, the experimentation with new formations is seeing its positive results and it may be possible to see a repeat of last season’s run that his team made into the league finals.
However, for the team not seeded anymore n seventh place but rising to fifth currently, the need to obtain positive results is imperative if they are to clinch a spot in the postseason by next week.
In the end consistency, ambition, and desires of winning will be traits for this team to triumph in the close of the 2022 season.
Still, nothing is achieved but with hard work and anything will be fulfilled for this team in the conclusion of this campaign filled with a number of challenges and the team is persevering in its task of completing a wondrous run.
My conclusion is that before the end of this post, Columbus lost to the likes of Inter Miami and despite the loss, the Crew still sits in seventh place on 41 points, but come Sunday it will be a moment of truth for Caleb Porter and company.
Probable Lineup:
Aljaz Ivacic, Bill Tuiloma, Dario Zuparic, Zac McGraw; Diego Chara; Claudio Bravo, Yimmi Chara, Eryk Williamson, Santiago Moreno; Sebastian Blanco, Dairon Aspirilla
Photo: Columbus Crew SC
Columbus Crew Briefly
For Caleb Porter, his team is just salvaging results with draws and despite not losing any matches. Still, he’s aware that his team that hasn’t won or accomplished anything to assure a spot in the postseason.
Porter, who once coached the Timbers, has struggled to build a super contender and despite the little support financially his team had, in the end the man delivered the only shield in the Timbers history.
Yes, with Columbus in his first season, the man delivered another league shield, but after that he has had his labors of not making the postseason. After winning the league the next season, it was Déjà Vu like in his time with Portland of not making it into the grand fete of the postseason.
With new owners and venue alongside a team with deep pockets, the man has all the support of the front office to build an all-around contender. Still something’s missing in every game and the man hasn’t been able to display his magic.
The arrival of Cucho Hernandez is somehow a blessing and difference maker, but so far the man coming from Championship side Watford hasn’t been able to display his scoring form that introduced him in his debut.
By not making it into the postseasons in 2021, the team managed to deliver another major trophy in the Campeones Cup by defeating Liga MX top side Cruz Azul, but I cannot foresee this team missing the postseason for a second consecutive year.
Probable Lineup:
GK Eloy Room, Steven Moreira, Jonathan Mensah, Milos Degenek, William Sands; Artur, Darlington Nagbe; Derrick Etienne, Lucas Zelayaran, Kevin Molino; Cucho Hernandez
Meetings
04/20/2019 Columbus Crew 1-3 Portland Timbers
09/19/2018 Portland Timbers 3-2 Columbus Crew
03/25/2017 Columbus Crew 3-2 Portland Timbers
Forecast
A win on the road can uplift the Portland Timbers’ confidence in the remainder of the season
Portland Timbers
Columbus Crew
