(2) Portland Timbers (9,5,3, 30 points) vs (4) LAFC (7,7,3, 24 points)
Sunday October 18, 2020 7:00 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
One upsetting loss in midweek against a struggling RSL side who ended their losing streak thanks to a couple of early goals and some blunders by the Timbers’ goalie in the first half.
The rally came short and the Timbers had to settle for the loss and stopping their winning streak at five games.
Still, nothing was lost for the Rose City side and they are looking forward to next Sunday to shake off the dominance at the hands of LAFC. A Timbers win for sure will be uplifting.
For this match, manager Giovanni Savarese is sending his best starting eleven to face off the Black and Gold and see if they can return to their winning ways over Bob Bradley and company.
At right-back, we can see Marco Farfan playing a good game lately not to mention the likes of Pablo Bonilla, making an impact in every game. Somehow, this tells me that these two will become tough competition for the Timbers’ new Argentinian left-back Claudio Bravo.
Come Sunday, the game plan for Gio and his team is to close all of the spaces to LAFC’s strikers and not allow them to get comfortable inside the area. One is by stepping up their defensive game as well see again their offensive game revived once again if the Timbers want to win.
Despite the way Portland manager Giovanni Savarese has been making several moves in his starting elevens, they became vulnerable to the push and hunger of an RSL team desperate to stop their losing skid.
The Timbers need to display a great game from the get-go and never let go of their momentum at anytime, playing with heart and unity are the traits of this club success as shown in the past MLS-is-Back Tournament.
Probable Lineup:
GK Steve Clark, Marco Farfan, Larry’s Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Jorge Villafaña; Diego Chara, Eryk Williamson; Jeremy Ebobisse, Diego Valeri, Yimmi Chara; Jaroslaw Niezgoda
Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Danny Musovski, right, was the catalyst for LAFC with a brace against Seattle on Sunday,
LAFC Briefly
When manager Bob Bradley thought his side was about to get an easy win over the Whitecaps last Wednesday, they were brought back to reality with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat.
As this team has had its share of troubles, so far, they are seeded in the fourth spot with 24 points and looking forward to getting back into the win column along with their hosts the Portland Timbers.
Something tells me that this Sunday night match will be one contested one as the Boys from Tinsel Town have somehow exercised a certain dominance over the Rose City side lately and this match will be one serious contest.
Despite LAFC not having top playmaker Carlos Vela due to injury, the team is playing with some degree of ambition and seriousness to make an impact come the time of the playoffs.
Currently in fourth place, Bob Bradley’s side is looking forward to getting another positive result at Providence Park and see if his team can start moving up spots in the Western Conference.
Probable Lineup:
GK Pablo Sisniega, Mohamed El Munir, Dejan Jakovic, Eddie Segura, Jordan Harvey; Latif Blessing, Eduardo Atuesta, Francisco Ginella; Christian Torres, Danny Musovski, Bradley Wright Phillips
Meetings
September 20, 2020 LAFC 4-2 Portland Timbers
July 23, 2020 LAFC 2-2 Portland Timbers
Forecast
My prediction for this match as one contested affair and the best team will come ahead in the end
