(10) Portland Timbers (1,3,2, 5 points) vs (9) Vancouver Whitecaps (1,2,3, 6 points)
Saturday April 8, 2023 KO 7:30 PM PST/ 10:30 PM EST
B.C. Place Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Portland Timbers Briefly
We can say that there’s light at the end of the tunnel after Gio’s moves in the second half in the game against Dallas. Finally, we saw a sort of offensive revival that led to that goal that rescued at least a point in Frisco, Texas.
For the Portland Timbers, if they want a positive result, they must deliver a good game both defensively as well as offensively as the return of some of its notable players will give them a possible improvement.
Still, the team has a lot of work to do as well with Dairon back from from the injured list. I foresee other players coming out of injured reserve and hopefully the team can start generating an offensive game that has been absent recently.
As we wait for the team’s injury report on Friday, I deposit my hopes that players such as Yimmi Chara, Cristhian Paredes, and Sebastian Blanco are ready come game time against Vancouver.
After witnessing last week’s performance by the Caps, the Timbers are to be looking for ways to stop their offensive momentum cold in its tracks and this will be with a pristine defensive game coming from the Timbers’ backfield.
Kudos to Aljaz Ivacic’s amazing performance and raising to the occasion last week against Dallas but he should try to keep his problems within the team and not making them public as dialogue can become your best ally.
Going to Vancouver, it’s the opening of the Cascadia Cup competition as well the start of the always celebrated Cascadia Derbies, as this season, Seattle is looking back into its old form and looking like the favorite to win it all.
Defense wins games, but offense wins it too I must state. With a defensive gem and a one-of-a-kind game in offense that can become the difference make, the Timbers can get a much-needed win and three golden points on the road.
Determination and ambition can become the tip of the scale for the Portland Timbers looking forward for their first on the road and with no doubt I can see newcomer Franck Boli in the starting lineup.
Probable Lineup:
GK Aljaz Ivacic, Juan Mosquera, Dario Zuparic, Zac McGraw, Tyler Miller, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Eryk Williamson, Santiago Moreno; Dairon Aspirilla, Franck Boli
Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe
Vancouver Whitecaps Briefly
The Caps saw a revival last week against a feeble CF Montreal for the delight of its manager Vanni Sartini with an inspired and determined Simon Becher who delivered a gem of a game along with a brace.
However, for the Caps playing at home and looking somehow invincible as last week’s match, this will put Portland’s manager Gio Savarese in a dire situation come game time along with a change of strategy.
One question arises if the Whitecaps offense will have a repeat of last week’s goal rout they had over the Montreal and repeat the feat against the Portland Timbers in their first Cascadia showdown at BC Place.
Overall, in addition to playing an outstanding match that gave their keeper Yohei Takahoka a clean sheet along a great win to raise to the last postseason spot by leading the Timbers by one point.
Probable Lineup:
GK Yohei Takahoka, Javain Brown, Ranko Veselonic, Tristan Blackmon, Luis Martins; Julian Gressel, Andres Cubas, Ali Ahmed; Pedro Vite, Brian White; Simon Becher
Meetings
07/17/2022 Portland Timbers 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
04/09/2022 Vancouver Whitecaps 2-3 Portland Timbers
10/20/2022 Portland Timbers 2-3 Vancouver Whitecaps
Forecast
The Caps put on a show last week against the Impact, will the Timbers defense hold?
