Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter has a critical test on his hands Sunday.
by Matt Hoffman (@mhoff)
The history between the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders stretches back to 1975. Over that forty years there’s been some crazy moments but it has seldom felt that so much depended on the outcome of a regular-season match as Seattle heads to Portland for Sunday’s series finale (5 p.m., Pacific ESPN).
Where things stand
With eights games left in the season, the Timbers currently are sixth in the West, tied on points with San Jose and up a single point on Seattle for the sixth and final playoff spot. Seattle has a game in hand.
As difficult as it is to repeat as, the reigning MLS Cup Champions generally do find a way to make playoffs. Seattle, meanwhile, has never failed to make to make the playoffs since entering the league in 2010.
In other words, something will have to give.
Undoubtedly players and staff of each team will be relieved when it is finally time to kickoff. The rivalry has always been intense between the two clubs, but both clubs have been rocked by off-the-field distractions in the past week:
Seattle’s Clint Dempsey has the most goals by a single player in the series but a health scare will keep him off the score sheet.
Portland’s Fanendo Adi, allegedly, missed the flight to Seattle last week only increasing speculation that the Nigerian and his time with the Timbers may be speeding to a halt. Adi did make it to the match and did score Portland’s only goal in Seattle coming on a substitute.
“There’s reasons for why [Adi] didn’t start,” Caleb Porter said in his post-match remarks, “but that’s something that I’ll handle privately.” Porter went on to add he was pleased with Adi’s response: “It’s great to see his response for him to come into the game and score the goal and give what he gave.”
Jack McInerney got the start ahead of Adi but was unable to score his first league goal since early July. Following the match, Caleb Porter described McInerney as being “snake bit.” Confidence is everything for a striker and it’s up to Porter to find a way to keep his strikers happy, grounded, and inspired.
What has been a thorn in the Timbers side has been the recent spate of injuries. There has been good news on this front as of late: Zarek Valentin and Ben Zemanski have both returned to full training. Porter has even said Darren Mattocks might even find himself in the 18 for the first time since the Red Bulls match on July 10th.
The statistics say Portland..
Statistically the match favors Portland:
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Portland is 4-2-2 against Seattle at Providence Park in MLS play. Home is where Portland scores the goals, all but four of their 23 goals against Seattle were scored in Goose Hollow.
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Portland’s only other game in a back-to-back series this year was a 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City
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Playing Cascadia rivals at home following a losing streak seems to lift Portland’s spirit. The Timbers ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Vancouver 4-2.
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In the Timbers last five home games they have outscored opponents eleven to six.
.. but the defense must improve
All three Seattle goals came from mistakes from Portland defenders.
Steven Taylor has not had much of a honeymoon period with his new club. The former Newcastle man scored an own goal in his first match with T2. In his first start with the first team, Taylor earned mixed reviews.
The Timbers were the opponent most able to disrupt Nicholas Lodeiro allowing the Sounders only two goals not directly linked to the Uruguayan. Ultimately it’s short sighted to close down one player if that means Dempsey and Cristian Roldan have Man of the Match performances.
Taylor will be likely making his first start at Providence Park. Taylor looked strong in the air which might prove to be useful if the Timbers need to rely on set-pieces for scoring.
Vytas, the penalty not withstanding, has enjoyed a strong start to his time in Portland. Alvas Powell enjoyed a strong match and found Adi for the late goal.
Liam Ridgewell has been fighting with nagging injuries throughout the season. He’s proven before to have the capability of bouncing back and he’ll need to do that on Sunday as well.
