Portland Timbers (17, 13, 4, 55 points) vs New England Revolution (22, 5, 7, 73 points)
February 26, 2022, KO 4:30 PM PST/ 7:30 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
A new team and new goals are set for the Portland Timbers in 2022. The departure of Steve Clark and Talisman Diego Valeri doesn’t mean that the team season will be a total loss.
Not at all as this team is rebuilding and giving the opportunity to new blood. Last season’s sensation Santiago Moreno gave us a preview of what’s he’s capable of delivering. Now the eyes are placed on newcomer David Ayala, another U-22 that for sure will step up the competition for a starting spot in the initial lineup.
The return of Sebastian Blanco to Rose City became a bit providential, but the team doesn’t need to rely on just one player as teamwork can become imperative for this team’s success during the campaign.
After all last season this team completed a huge turnaround and reached MLS Cup, silencing many of its detractors that this team wasn’t going anywhere along the way. As results speak aloud, this season with a new and young crew, Giovanni Savarese is ready again to take the challenge and deliver with his Timbers.
Betting on youth, the Rose City side will somehow try to make things work for the better as well some players better step up their game to make it interesting in the internal competition to seize a starting job. We saw what these rookies can bring to the field and unfortunately for some of them they cannot make the team but maybe one day.
Ready or not I see a Portland Timbers fighting and making it into the promised land of the postseason and why not put another miraculous run to the league finals. Still, the first test will be against a heavy favorite to win all this 2022 the New England Revolution.
Probable Lineup:
GK David Bingham, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Larrys Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Eryck Williamson; Yimmy Chara, Sebastian Blanco, Santiago Moreno; Dairon Aspirilla
Revolution vs. Miami
New England Revolution Briefly
Under manager Bruce Arena, the New England Revolution displayed a grand season in this past 2021 season. Still, that did not prevent the heartbreak of being eliminated by NYCFC in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
However, not all is lost and the New England side really reinforces its ranks with the arrivals of defender Omar Gonzalez, Jozy Altidore, and Sebastien Llegett in the offseason. Coming as heavy favorites in this 2022, something tells me that the Timbers will have their hands full with the Revolution on town.
With a grand trio in Bou, Gil, and Buksa, this team will be again the one to beat during the season and with Jozy Altidore incorporated in the lineup, I can foresee many opposing defenses the Revs threesome can become a total nightmare during the 2022 season.
No wonder they are considered heavy favorites in the season to win it all and with manager Bruce Arena building up an all-around contender to try to deliver that always elusive MLS Trophy to Gillette Stadium.
Probable Lineup:
GK Matt Turner, Brandon Bye, Andrew Farrell, Henry Kessler, DejuanJones; Matt Polster, Tommy McNamara, Sebastien Llegett, Carles Gil; Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa
Forecast
The Revs in town being the best team in 2021 means one thing a draw will do for the Timbers
Portland Timbers
NE Revolution
