(9) Portland Timbers (4,6,1, 13 points) vs (12) FC Dallas (2,5,5, 11 points)
Saturday July 17, 2021, 7:30 PM PST/ 10:30 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
Before this international break, the Portland Timbers were not doing so well with back-to-back losses, and manager Giovanni Savarese seeing a number of notable players with injuries. Things were not looking too promising for his side.
That has been put behind and maybe after these providential international breaks, this team has all the elements of getting back into the winning grove and focusing on getting into the postseason spots for the remainder of the season.
With the return of Yimmy Chara and Felipe Mora and possible of seeing some of those essential players back in the lineup and out of IL, it will be a much-needed help for this club seeing a significant number of players out.
Still, the Portland side will be without the likes of Eryk Williamson currently on duty with the USMNT in the Gold Cup and Claudio Bravo’s recent call up to represent Argentina in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
In the end, I believe in Gio, to make his moves and improvise in his lineups as he needs to be ready for midweek action next week as the man is known to raise his team to the occasion and when the going gets tough, the man delivers.
A must-win match this Saturday for the Green and Gold!
Projected Lineup:
GK Steve Clark, Juancarlos Van Rankin, Larry’s Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Pablo Bonilla; Diego Chara, George Fochive; Yimmy Chara, Diego Valeri, Jeremy Ebobisse; Felipe Mora
FC Dallas Briefly
For Dallas manager Luchi Gonzalez, he did not envision seeing his team struggling this season with a losing record and near the Western Conference cellar.
For a team that has made many headlines recently by being one of the most successful of academies in all Major League Soccer seeing several its alumni being lured to important some of Europe’s most important leagues.
Still, after this recent international series of breaks we’ve been having lately, maybe the Texas side can put up a fight and make it difficult for the home team. Perhaps they can make it two in a row over the Rose City side.
Projected Lineup
GK Jimmy Maurer, Justin Che, Bressan, Nkosi Tafari, John Nelson; Edwin Cerrillo, Bryan Acosta; Ema Twumasi, Jesus Ferreira, Ryan Hollingshead; Ricardo Pepi
Meetings
5/1/2021 FC Dallas 4-1 Portland Timbers
11/22/2020 Portland Timbers 1-1 FC Dallas
6/30/2019 Portland Timbers 1-0 FC Dallas
Forecast
No favorites here but in the end, this game will be one amazing contest!
Portland Timbers
