Photo courtesy of Nelson Lucindo
by Matt Hoffman
Three games into the season, Orlando City managed to both overachieve and underachieve.
On one hand, Kaka has yet to play a single moment whilst controversial signing Antonio Nocerino’s contributions have been two lukewarm starts, neither of which yielded a goal or assist or extended beyond the 63rd minute.
The other? Orlando has failed to get wins in two home matches despite having a man advantage against teams (RSL and Chicago respectively) who failed to make the playoffs last year. In fact, Orlando needed two stoppage time goals to tie a short-handed RSL side.
If anyone can sympathize with the perilousness of a short-handed RSL team, it would be the Portland Timbers. They themselves came back from the abyss two weeks ago after trailing two-nil against the royal Utahan outfit.
The season is well away from the You Are What Your Record Says You Are, but a healthy Timbers squad can make a huge stride in a crowded Western Conference table in playing their first MLS match in Florida.
Photo courtesy of Nelson Lucindo
Orlando will be welcoming back Kaka in Sunday’s match and that clouds the picture for the Timbers ambitions. Kaka is not merely the straw that stirs the Orlando drink; Kaka is the Magic Bullet blender that reduces once-formidable chunks of frozen mango into a delicious and frothy smoothie.
In Kaka’s absence, Adrian Heath’s roster looked more becoming of what one might expect of a team one year removed from the roster churn of an MLS “promotion.”
That has meant much of the team’s burden has fallen on Cyle Larin and one-time dynamo Brek Shea. Larin continues to play atop the single-striker system but Heath has had more difficult time trying to place Shea. Shea has played ample time at both left back and left winger. Either way, he’s still on the left and he still pushes forward but with the critical cog in the middle missing, Shea is not finding the spacing or opportunities he had become accustomed to.
The Timbers meanwhile are keeping things close to the vest. In his remarks to the media following training Caleb Porter paid praise to their opponent before admitting he’s “optimistic” about the Timbers earning their first three points on the road.
“They’re a good team, … they’re unbeaten … They have a good coach.” -Caleb Porter
The biggest advantage going the Timbers way is perhaps that this match is happening in April and not, say, in the doldrums of August.
It’s unclear how the team will look fresh off an international break period but one can expect the usual suspects: Borchers will be a key contributor not only in keeping the back-line organized but could be instrumental as a set-piece contributor if the offense sags.
Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers) laments a missed shot
Diegos Chara and Valeri will be the engine that keeps the midfield running with Darlington Nagbe being the likely third wheel. On the wings is where it gets interesting. Dairon Asprilla and Lucas Melano both have it on offense, it’s defense that Porter finds more problematic. Will that be enough to prompt Porter to use his new toys, Darren Mattocks and Jack Barmby?
Fanedo Adi is expected back as well after Nigeria was eliminated from the African Cup of Nations with 1-0 loss to Egypt on Tuesday. However there is no shortage of worthy candidates in Jack McInerney or even Melano and Mattocks should Porter choose to rest him.
After starting off the season with a bang, the Timbers last two matches saw the team both score and concede, unlike last season but very reminiscent of Porter’s first two seasons in Portland.
With Liam Ridgewell sidelined or at best limited, one might expect Portland to play a compact and counter-attacking team. However, like his Akron patronage would suggest, Porter likes to zag when others expect him to zig. In his first remarks of training camp, Porter praised the team’s versatility and Sunday’s venue, a tough opponent on the road on national tv, makes for a great avenue to display said versatility.
