(9) Portland Timbers (3,5,3, 12 points) vs (7) Vancouver Whitecaps (3,2,5, 14 points)
Saturday, May 13, 2023 KO 7:30 PM PST/ 10:30 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
The Portland Timbers are supposed to be a force not to be reckoned with when they play at home.
That wasn’t the case when the Timbers played Austin FC last week at Providence Park after playing the role of spoiler when in the last minute, the Verde scored the equalizer in stoppage time, upsetting the Rose City side in the end.
At least we are seeing some players returning from IL, with Dairon Aspirilla coming in the second half, but little he could do as well Yimmi Chara. Unfortunately, both couldn’t do anything in the end to change the scoreboard in addition of the Rose City side missing a number of would-be opportunities at goal!
This is something that manager Giovanni Savarese must fix and see his side extend their lead not only by one goal but two or three to add some cushion in some of its matches and wrap it up with style.
Not to be surprised or upset on the road or at home wherever these play at, when someone comes and scores the equalizer and away the win goes for the Rose City side in the with an upsetting result.
Somehow this team is creating opportunities, some of its players are performing as expected as the case of Santiago Moreno despite a slow start but now performing like a natural number ten. Evander is now delivering as the play maker the Timbers envisioned.
This campaign, Savarese must see what players in the long haul will be beneficial as well productive for this club future, in addition to Tyler Clegg and Noel Caliskan both being promoted from T2 to the big team.
Now we need to see his skills in the field for both of these lads, in addition of not forgetting Diego Gutierrez and Teka Ikoba with the latter one being on the IL, as well this season Gio needs to see some young talent in the field and decide who will make the cut.
However, with the Caps in town and playing their third Cascadia Derby, a win will be amazing for the Timbers, but in the end, they need to play with a lot of caution against a revived team winning all of its matches lately.
The need to stop the flow of yellow cards is imperative for the Timbers’ success in the remainder of the season, as every match from now on will be considered important if not vital for this club not missing the postseason.
GK Aljaz Ivacic, Juan Mosquera, Dario Zuparic, Zac McGraw, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes; Santiago Moreno, Evander; Dairon Aspirilla, Franck Boli
Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe
Vancouver Whitecaps Briefly
Manager Vanni Sartini is making a statement lately with his Caps! With three wins in five games, somehow this team is looking red hot and looking to climb up the standing in the Western Conference.
Being in seventh place and above postseason spots on 14 points, this team is really making an all-around statement of its seriousness of making a run to the finals.
A team with a number of weapons that for sure will have the Timbers defenders a bit busy on their Saturday meeting, with Brian White scoring a brace in the match against Minnesota as well having a lot of depth on its bench.
After White’s departure due to injury, then came Simon Becher as a substitute and scored what became the game winner as this team has a number of weapons in its attack as well in its defense. This team is playing like a well-oiled machine.
So far, in the Cascadia run these already defeated the Timbers back In BC Place back in early April, by just one goal scored by Brian White for the 1-0 win, and so far, the lad has scored four goals on the season.
GK Yohei Takahoka, Javain Brown, Ranko Veselinovic, Tristan Blackmon, Luis Martins; Julian Gressel, Andres Cubas, Alessandro Schofp; Pedro Vite, Brian White, Ryan Gauld
Meetings
04/08/2023 Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Portland Timbers
07/17/2022 Portland Timbers 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
04/09/2022 Vancouver Whitecaps 2-3 Portland Timbers
Forecast
Portland will have a hard game ahead against a renovated and streaking Vancouver Whitecaps
Portland Timbers
