(10) Portland Timbers (7,8,12, 33 points) vs (9) Seattle Sounders (10,13,3, 33 points)
Friday August 26,2022 KO 7:00 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
“We had an embarrassing first half. I take full responsibility because, ultimately, I’m the one that puts the players on the field. I’m the one that prepares the players to play, and the first half wasn’t to the standard of the Portland Timbers,” the 5th-year Timbers head coach said after the match. “If I’m a fan of the Timbers, I would be very disappointed for today. I would be upset.”
Strong words by Portland Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese after his team’s loss against last place Sporting Kansas City in Children’s Mercy Park and seeing back-to-back performances playing with poor results.
Still, in Gio I trust I must say, for a man that takes full responsibility after seeing his team succumb to a complete underdog and taking all the blame for his team being one of the hottest and now is in a sorry state.
So far, it is an uphill climb for the Portland Timbers seeded currently in tenth place behind its Cascadia rivals Seattle and Vancouver situated in eight place with a point in their favor and within a point of LA Galaxy.
The Timbers are much in need of a vast improvement in its attack, especially when the opportunities arise and being there and not taking advantage with not displaying that finishing touch.
The defensive game was horrid, in the first goal of Kansas City under a sea of Timber defenders that could have prevented all of their four goals as these really took advantage of the Rose City side poorly defending all evening long.
Its time for Giovanni Savarese to start making some moves in his lineup with the substitution of Larrys Mabiala for Zac McGraw as well seeing Eryk Williamson the same with David Ayala and Dario Zuparic for Justin Rasmusen.
The Timbers cannot wait for the development in the upcoming games of Juan David Mosquera that we are in need of some miracles in the backfield with must improve if the Rose City side is to make it into the postseason.
The team lacking confidence lately is a worrisome state for its manager and its coaching staff, with a schedule that includes Austin FC, Atlanta United, Minnesota United, Columbus, and LAFC.
The outlook doesn’t look promising for these embattled Portland Timbers. This reporter cannot imagine seeing them dropping all of the remaining games.
Under Savarese, the Timbers have been in every campaign into the postseason as well playing in two league finals. This reporter cannot imagine not seeing Portland not in the grand fete of the playoffs.
Let’s take it one match at a time!
Probable Lineup:
GK Aljaz Ivacic, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Larrys Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Eryk Williamson; Santiago Moreno, Sebastian Blanco, Yimmi Chara; Jaroslaw Niezgoda
Seattle Sounders Briefly
Not a season that manager Brian Schmetzer envisioned after his team won the always elusive for MLS teams, the Concacaf Champions League against LIGA MX side Pumas Unam.
After a series of season ending injuries to notable players, the Rave Greens are struggling to assure a postseason spot so far in this season.
Seeded in a not so comfortable position in ninth place and trailing seventh place LA Galaxy by just one point, every game played by the Sounders will be felt like a cup final.
Ever since this team’s inception in Major League Soccer in 2009, The Sounders have never missed the playoffs. Unfortunately in this season they are facing a lot of uncertainty.
A team that’s known for its ferrous defensive game and dynamic attack, this time is struggling to put some much-needed wins and accumulate points in their favor in order to reserve a spot into the postseason.
As the Portland Timbers, when they played at Lumen Field, they dominated, contrary to the Rave Greens responding back by doing the same when they come and play in the colossus of Goose Hollow.
Every game is a must-win or the Seattle Sounders for the remainder of this season!
Probable Lineup:
GK Stefan Frei, Yeimar, Xavier Arreaga, Tolo Nohou, Danny Leyva; Alex Roldan, Albert Rusnak: Kelyn Rowe, Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris; Raul Ruidiaz
Meetings
07/09/2022 Seattle Sounders 0-3 Portland Timbers
08/29/2021 Seattle Sounders 0-2 Portland Timbers
08/15/2021 Portland Timbers 2-6 Seattle Sounders
Forecast
With both teams struggling, the winner will be putting its hopes high for a postseason spot
Portland Timbers
Seattle Sounders FC
