(4) Portland Timbers (13,10,4, 43 points) vs (10) Inter Miami (9,12,5, 32 points
Sunday, October 3, 2021, KO 2:30 PM PST/ 5:30 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
The Portland Timbers are the hottest ticket in town! Still, the Timbers should enter this upcoming match with Inter Miami with caution after losses to Austin FC (twice) and to FC Cincinnati.
Will the Portland side survive the pressure of facing a new foe in the pitch? A win on Sunday will help towards consolidating a top four place in the playoffs
Players such as Dairon Aspirilla earning a starting spot and having a career year scoring and assisting, Blanco turning the page on this team attack, and Felipe Mora and Yimmi Chara are making the difference.
This team is seriously looking like a contender and that turned the page into a new winning chapter. It is too premature to speak about considering them postseason favorites! Still, the way they are playing with the hunger displayed in the field lately, makes you think about this team possibly making a run towards MLS Cup.
The Timbers should take things one game at a time and not put their guard down, as the team not only looks good offensively, but defensively as well, as they have improved but can be better and not be a bit careless in some plays.
It would be a plus to see the rise once again of El Maestro in the starting eleven and see his game comeback.
As every foe is to be taken seriously and not put their guard down, whatever its position in the table. The secret of this team’s success is its many improvements and the continues form of its players to see a continuance of their great game displayed lately.
Probable Lineup:
GK Steve Clark, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Larrys Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes; Yimmi Chara, Sebastian Blanco, Dairon Aspirilla; Felipe Mora
Inter Miami Briefly
Phil Neville sees it as no walk in the park to manage in MLS as his star-studded side are struggling to get into the postseason spots. Somehow in the Eastern Conference, it’s looking like a heated contest with the teams around the playoff lines.
Despite the team being on a slump in mid-season, still, the Miami lads have several weapons in its attack. Stand outs include the Higuain brothers, Rodolfo Pizarro, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Julian Carranza, and Nicolas Figal.
Somehow this match will see some reunions in some players, with Federico Higuain facing off against the likes of Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco in their time in the Argentine league. Felipe Mora, Yimmi Chara, and Josecarlos Van Rankin once again face off the likes of Pizarro from their time in Liga MX.
Not to forget Nicolas Figal and Claudio Bravo’s last meeting back in 2019 with Atletico Independiente and Bravo at Atletico Banfield. Another will be Larrys Mabiala to meet Blaise Matuidi after both performances in France’s Ligue 1 with Saint Étienne and OCG Nice, respectively. Lastly, Dario Zuparic with Pescara and Gonzalo Higuain from Seria A and Juventus.
An interesting meeting between the Timbers and Inter Miami.
Probable Lineup:
GK Nick Marsman, Leandro Gonzalez-Pirez, Kelvin Leerdam, Christian Makoum; Jay Chapman; Lewis Morgan, Rodolfo Pizarro, Blaise Matuidi, Kieran Gibbs; Robbie Robinson, Gonzalo Higuain
Meetings
First-ever match for both sides
Line
I won’t dare to call this game in favor of Portland as Inter Miami is in the hunt for the postseason
Portland Timbers
Inter Miami
