The Caps have already beaten Portland this season
By Matt Hoffman
With a 2-3-3 record, the Timbers have been able to tread water, perhaps even punching above their weight in the process. Their opposition thus far has averaged eleven points to Portland’s nine.
Nine points isn’t ideal but it’s far better than the five-points-in-eight-games start doomed the Timbers last year, losing out of the playoffs by a point to Saturday’s opponent, the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Vancouver, meanwhile, is top of the league is no small part to their 3-1 road rec0rd.
“I’ve got a group [that are]fighting like hell for me and I am delighted with them,” Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson in his post-training remarks on Wednesday.
David Ousted, who led MLS in shutouts last year, already has four. Octavio Rivero (five goals) and Pedro Morales (three game-winning assists) pace the Whitecaps attack. In a turn of events on Saturday, it was Rivero’s cross to Morales that kickstarted the ‘Caps attack just seventy seconds into the match against D.C. United.
Vancouver mistakes would allow D.C. to equalize six minutes later. Then Matias Laba, so indispensable in the center of the midfield, earned his marching orders drawing his second yellow card. Laba will miss Saturday’s match on account of his red.
Despite getting, what Robinson thought, were the better chances with only ten men, the Whitecaps eventually would earn their third loss of the season.
For earning the red card, Laba won’t be able to play against Portland on Saturday. Two other key players (Kendall Waston and Sam Akekugbe), are each one card away from a one-game suspension on account of yellow card accumulation. Robinson confirmed that that’s not enough to keep either out of Saturday’s match.
Robinson plans to learn of Steve Beitashour’s status on Friday but has given word that Beitashour will start if given the green light.
“We’ve had a good start but we can still get better,” Robinson said while also warning his team to avoid any “silly bookings” ahead of a Cascadia clash.
Vancouver leads MLS with 133 fouls committed. Colorado in second, has 111.
Like Vancouver, Portland is also coming off a loss. Already 0-2 in Cascadia matches, the Timbers will be bringing a little extra to Saturday’s venue. Whether that’s in the form of Will Johnson (who logged 60+ minutes for T2 in Arizona last week) or Diego Valeri (who was in the team’s 18 on Sunday) remains to be seen.
Portland was one of the best MLS teams in the final third of last season when both players were on the field. A healthy return for either would be a welcome shot in the arm.
The Timbers defense, meanwhile, continues to put last season’s headaches further in the rearview mirror. Coach Caleb Porter said last year, despite his reputation for attacking precision, he’s never had a team finish in the bottom half in defense. The backline is doing a great job making the 2014 an anomaly in that regard.
Some credit is due to goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey.
Yes, he was undone last week when Clint Dempsey was able to tap in a rebound that spilled from Kwarasey’s hand following a diving save on a wide-open look from Andy Rose in the 77th minute.
But consider that, while Kwarasey is in the middle of the pack in goals allowed, Kwarasey has faced the fourth most shots (104).
It was a good defensive effort by the Timbers. With Valeri and Johnson nearly ready to return, it’s time to kick it up a gear. The Timbers managed to complete 84% of their passes, but saw precious little else go their way of the offensive side of the ball.
We are veering dangerously close to the part of the year where you-are-what-your-schedule-says-you-are. Are the Timbers an underachieving club in the Western cellar or a team of bonafides?
In that vein, Saturday’s match be the strongest indicator yet.
