Portland Timbers or SKC, which defensive unit will step up?

June 15, 2018 – Portland, OR: Portland Timbers beat LA Galaxy 1-0, on June 15, 2018, at Providence Park (Photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika).

With the Western Conference, finals already set with a showdown between the Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City. Memories of that exciting rainy evening are still fresh. After that resounding, win over Sporting Kansas City in that 2015 sudden death shootout. That in the end gave the Rose City squad an all-around momentum and the league title.

However, in the next campaigns the dominance of the Midwest squad has been very notable. With Peter Vermes putting in play a very stingy and pressure minded defensive game. That disabled completely the Portland Timbers offensive game and its top playmakers.

Coming to this postseason who thought that the Portland Timbers were to make a total dash to its conference finals. That In this post, I will compare both squads’ defensive cores and game that has contributed to their success in the playoffs.

Come November 25, the first leg held in Portland colossus of Providence Park. For both the Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City are business as usual and the promise of a much contested affair.

In this post, I will compare both sides’ defense backfields. In Sporting Kansas City that showed off its might and for the Portland Timbers with an all-around improvement. In this post, I will compare both sides’ defenses.

In the end, both squads’ defenses will be the difference makers in this series.

PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 09: MLS match ends on a 0-0 tie between the Portland Timbers and the Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park, Portland, OR (photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika).

Portland Timbers

Jeff Attinella- Goalkeeper

Zarek Valentin, Larrys Mabiala, Liam Ridgewell, Jorge Villafaña

 Sporting Kansas City

Tim Melia- Goalkeeper

Graham Zusi, Ike Opara, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic

 Goalkeepers

Jeff Attinella vs Tim Melia

Slight advantage SKC

Outside defenders

Zarek Valentin and Jorge Villafaña vs Graham Zusi and Seth Sinovic

Even but leaning a little to SKC

Center Backs

Liam Ridgewell and Larry’s Mabiala vs Ike Opara and Matt Besler

Even

PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 09: MLS match ends on a 0-0 tie between the Portland Timbers and the Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park, Portland, OR (photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika).