(9) Portland Timbers (2,3,0, 6 points) vs (2) Los Angeles Galaxy (4,1,0, 12 points)
Saturday May 22nd, 2021 12:30 PM PST/ 9:30 AM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
If someone is laughing at adversity that may be Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese. Despite several players on the injured list, the man does not give up so easily.
Last Sunday in San Jose, he made some bold moves that in the end paid off with a win.
By changing his traditional 4-2-3-1 formation into a more offensive one in a 4-4-2 and with players that last season did not see much action, the Timbers delivered with a wondrous performance.
In the end, the gamble paid off with a win and exposing the desires of some of its young players looking to get more minutes on the pitch and be in the starting eleven. However, for Gio being aware that wonders cannot be repetitive, the man is confident of his core of players.
Despite the positive streak, the LA Galaxy and its striker Chicharito will be a handful for the defensive backfield. Still, the confidence and optimism of Gio are present of his team delivering an upset on Saturday.
As you recall last season, the Timbers had a field day with the Galacticos, and this year the Angelinos are showing a changed and better approach to the game. Still, these Timbers can turn things their way.
Projected Lineup:
GK Logan Ketterer, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Bill Tuiloma, Dario Zuparic, Pablo Bonilla; Marvin Loria, Eryk Williamson, Yimmi Chara, Jeremy Ebobisse; Andy Polo, Felipe Mora
Photos courtesy of the LA Galaxy.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez was again the man for the LA Galaxy against LAFC on Saturday evening.
LA Galaxy Briefly
This season the LA Galaxy pulled the ultimate of feats by getting manager Greg Vanney to lead the charge in these parts of Tinsel Town, and many seeing his arrivals as providential. After all, the man is turning this team from a sorry state last season to a total contender.
Not a stranger to winning, he has brought a lot of confidence into LA’s core of players and among them is Chicharito Hernandez’s triumphant return.
Looking like a favorite to be in the Western Conference finals, the Galaxy are playing with a lot of optimism ahead in what looks to be another contested season.
For this meeting on Saturday, the Galaxy comes as a heavy favorite, despite the Timbers winning against San Jose on the road as their defensive backfield have its hands full with Javier Hernandez.
Projected Lineup:
GK Jonathan Bond, Jorge Villafaña, Derrick Williams, Daniel Steres, Julian Araujo; Jonathan Dos Santos, Carlos Harvey; Samuel Grandsir, Sebastien Llegett, Efrain Alvarez; Javier Hernandez
Meetings
October 28, 2020, Portland Timbers 5-2 LA Galaxy
October 7, 2020, LA Galaxy 3-6 Portland Timbers
Forecast
There is no place like home, but for the Portland Timbers, it will not come easy on Saturday!
Portland Timbers
