by Graham Tooke, @chelskitooke
DC UNITED RECAP
As nice as collecting points against the Eastern sides is, it’s victories over those in the Western Conference that really matters for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Last weekend’s 2-1 loss to DC United still stings but having lost Matias Laba for the second half the Whitecaps mustered plenty of looks on goal. Had they troubled substitute keeper Travis Worra enough Carl Robinson might be enjoying a five point cushion over second-placed FC Dallas.
Pedro Morales celebrates his goal a tad too excessively.
Vancouver made the mistake of scoring too early. Pedro Morales’ half volley sparked referee Dave Gantar into dishing out a 2nd minute yellow card for the goalscorer removing his shirt in celebration of his first goal of the season. The indiscipline shown by the clubs captain may well have been the reason why they lost Matias Laba so early.
Even so Vancouver stuttered after the early goal and DC United came right back into it as Bobby Boswell brushed off Sam Adekugbe’s aerial challenge and headed his side level.
The opportunity for the Whitecaps to move forward was hindered in the 42nd minute when Laba tripped Fabian Espindola on a breakaway and was dished his second yellow card, the first for an innocuous handball. After seeing the replay the contact made on Espindola’s trailing leg was as slight as you’re likely to see all season.
From then out DC’s Ben Olsen masterminded a well drilled side into claiming all three points. The ‘Caps managed to smash the post in the second half but finishing wasn’t near the level expected as Chris Rolfe showed them how it’s done. The veteran fired a belter past Ousted to take the win.
Everything but the kitchen sink was thrown Travis Worra’s way in the dying minutes but couldn’t get close enough to finding the equalizer.
TIMBERS MATCHUP
With DC a long forgotten memory the Whitecaps will be relishing another battle with Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers, Saturday. Only a month ago Robert Earnshaw scored a debut winner at BC Place despite the Timbers dominating possession for much of the 90.
Diego Valeri is set to make his long awaited return.
The biggest surprise for this one isn’t the suspension of Laba but the possible return of 2013 MLS Newcomer of the Year Diego Valeri for Portland. The Argentine has been out since October when he tore his ACL, but finally made his return to the match day squad in Seattle last week.
Will Johnson has been another gaping hole in the Timbers’ midfield but may still have to bide his time for a week or two longer.
While those two haven’t been able to help the Timbers cause so far this year, Darlington Nagbe has been a menace going forward, his dribbling skills stretching defenses but the finishing abilities of Fanendo Adi haven’t matched the efforts put in by Nagbe. He only trails MLS’ top chance creator Pedro Morales by four. The loss of Laba is no doubt Portland’s gain and if Nagbe and Valeri are allowed to play it could be a long night for Ousted and his defense.
The return of Valeri and Johnson helps lessen the injury list in Portland with only Ben Zemanski now the only long term casualty. Asprilla, Nanchoff and Wallace are carrying knocks that should only see them missing in the short term.
The danger spots for the Timbers really are endless. Ghanaian winger Ishmael Yartey has started clocking his first starts for his new club playing the full 90 against Seattle. His performance at CenturyLink Stadium was one of someone who is beginning to gel with his new teammates. He put in a pin point cross to Adi who could only head onto the crossbar.
He does however, like to stay forward which should allow Mauro Rosales plenty of freedom to try and get by Villafana down the right. Preferably you would like Carl Robinson to go with a bit of speed down that side but Rosales put in a shift against DC and is sure to get his usual hour cameo.
Pa-Modou Kah has been receiving heavy criticism for his recent performances in the ‘Caps defense but it’s unlikely we’ll see him replaced anytime soon with Diego Rodriguez having a setback in training earlier this week. Christian Dean and Tim Parker have been getting plenty of time to build a partnership in USL-PRO but they won’t have done enough to dislodge Kah for his return to Providence Park.
Sam Adekugbe was lucky to only see yellow after a reckless lunge early on.
Another who hasn’t had the best of outings in recent times is Sam Adekugbe who started the year so brightly. The young Canadian has been making a few wild challenges and putting pressure on himself with early yellow cards. Sides seem to be dealing with him better knowing how he loves to get forward which could mean Harvey is seen as the perfect foil for the Timbers’ Alvas Powell.
Sure we talk about all the offensive weapons available in Portland but let’s not forget the Whitecaps have the league’s top scorer Octavio Rivero (alongside Kei Kamara) so Portland shouldn’t get too cocky as the Uruguayan pegged away to Chicago and Orlando, although he hasn’t found the net in the last three matches.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
Portland Timbers: Kwarasey; Villafana, Ridgewell, Borchers, Powell; Chara, Nagbe; Asprilla, Valeri, Yartey; Adi
Vancouver Whitecaps: Ousted; Beitashour, Kah, Waston, Harvey; Koffie, Teibert; Rosales, Morales, Mattocks; Rivero
7:30 PM, TSN and TSN 1410
