Columbus.- Life gives you opportunities to redeem yourself from your mistakes, but sometimes, more often than not, that second chance never comes. In soccer the script is different. Every ninety minutes you another shot to erase that “I wish I’ve done that better” and do it better, or faster. Even when it is the first game of the season and the result won’t affect the destiny of the two best teams in the League. The Columbus Crew SC sees this game with the Portland Timbers at Providence Park as a redemption time.
Losing the MLS Cup at Mapfre Stadium is still a fresh memory in the heart of the Black and Gold, and when the Timbers present the Trophy before the game, they will ignite the ambition of every single member of the Crew SC wanting that piece of silverware where they think it belongs. At the end of their last training session at Columbus, Gregg Berhalter made it clear:”What it matters if you are lifting that trophy, that one Trophy; the one at the end.”
Both teams did a good job in rewarding their key players. Portland used targeted allocation money to extend the contracts of Diego Chara and Darlington Nagbe. Columbus gave Kei Kamara a Designated Player contract.
Having two Designated Players on their roster (Federico Higuaín and Kei Kamara), shows the League that Columbus might be a small market but, Anthony Precourt, the Club Owner operator, has bigger plans for his team. He is not shy to do what it takes to make this team a perennial title contender.
The Timbers lost two key starters (Jorge Villafana and Rodney Wallace) and Caleb Porter signed Zarek Valentin to cover the left flank and in a recent report by the Oregonian appears that they have acquired English Premier Winger Jack Barmby, but the signing hasn’t been confirmed by the Club yet.
The Crew SC finished their preseason 0-1-3, the first time in the Berhalter era that the team enters the regular season win-less. Their record with the Timbers is 2-2-2, and they are looking to put their first W of the year at Providence Park.
Columbus has all eleven starters returning this year; expect no change for tomorrow’s game, except for one. In the last preseason game with the New England Revolution Hector Jiménez played at left midfield. This is the fifth different position that the former Galaxy has played under Berhalter, and depending on the how fit is Justin Meram he probably will see solid minutes in this game.
Jiménez is not as skilful as Meram with the ball, but his read of the game is crucial, and his accuracy on the long pass and crosses is high. A secret weapon to penetrate the well organized Timbers defense? Will see, but one thing is sure, Berhalter doesn’t test players in a different position to see “how it goes”, there is a purpose behind it, always.
Earlier in the week, Nat Borcher mentioned that they will specially focus on defense this Sunday. It’s not clear how much they will, but when teams utilized a double wall of four players and got compact, it represents a tougher task for Columbus to break that block.
“What I’ve seen so far is that teams have been cautious of us in the preseason. I prefer the other way when they come out and attack us. But it is what it is, they are a very good team, and I’m sure they are going to be aggressive as well, and it’s going to be a fun game” Berhalter said.
No doubt it’s going to be an attractive game, do you want to hear a prediction?
2-2.
