(8) Portland Timbers (5,6,7, 22 points) vs (5) Nashville SC (7,5,5, 26 points)
Sunday July 3, 2022, KO 5:30 PM PST
Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Portland Timbers Briefly
This Portland Timbers team is on a roll and looking like they are delivering back-to-back wins at home in what’s considered their turnaround in the second half of the season.
Manager Giovanni Savarese is finally seeing the fruits of his work being delivered in their last three games, earning seven points out of nine and the club climbing the Western Conference table, and to within a point above the red line.
The team is playing with conviction and taking it one game at a time and looking forward to flying high and maybe another repeat of their last season’s providential run that made it into the league’s grand finale.
A win for sure can uplift this team’s confidence and mostly on the road as well playing a team with a lot of momentum as well focusing on the remainder of the season after their elimination from the Open Cup against Orlando City SC on penalties.
However, a win will uplift its confidence to an all-time high as well as the team delivering a win on the road that in the season has been its Achilles’ heel.
It will not be an easy challenge on the road for the Portland Timbers traveling to Nashville for the first time after they had a positive start against them with a win at home before the league suspended operations after the COVID lockdown.
With most of its squad including Felipe Mora healthy, and other players like Williamson playing like a top-rated player alongside Moreno maturing as a player and seeing consistency in his game, the Timbers are playing with teamwork attitude for sure they can deliver three valuable points on the road.
Will Gio have a heart and align Zac McGraw instead of Larrys Mbiala at center back? The lad is delivering with a one-of-a-kind game and taking huge advantage of the opportunities given.
Probable Lineup:
GK Aljaz Ivacic, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Zac McGraw, Dario Zuparic, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Eryk Williamson; Santiago Moreno, Yimmi Chara, Sebastian Blanco; Jaroslaw Niezgoda
Nashville SC Briefly
Third-year manager Gary Smith, the man is doing something right in Nashville. So far, fin its third year for the Boys of Music City, the investment has so far delivered them an all-around contender.
In addition to opening their new venue with a capacity of 30,000, this team is rolling and looking forward to continuing its streak in the postseason with back-to-back appearances.
Not bad for an expansion team, but their owners want to see more and more trophies to start making it into the halls of newly opened Geodis Park as their ultimate goal is to start making a possible run into the league finals.
As Nashville, after its elimination from the USOC, will now focus more on moving above the standings in the Western Conference and looking to a notable finish as well as aspire for the Supporters Shield trophy.
In the end, the Portland Timbers defense will have its hands full with their superstar striker Hany Mukthar as well as CJ Sapong and to decipher manager Smiths’ 3-5-2 formation and try to penetrate its defensive walls.
Probable Lineup:
GK Joe Willis, Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman, Dave Romney; Alex Muyl, Randall Leal, Dax McCarty, Sean Davis, Daniel Lovitz; Hany Mukhtar, CJ Sapong
Meetings
03/08/2020 Portland Timbers 1-0 Nashville SC
Forecast
The Portland Timbers are on a winning streak and a win on the road will harden their confidence
Portland Timbers
Nashville SC
