(7) Portland Timbers (7,9,3, 24 points) vs (13) Austin (4,11,4, 16 points)
Saturday August 21, 2021, 6:30 PM
Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
Portland Timbers Briefly
The need for the Timbers to finish up matches is a must and play with more ambition to win!
However, this season has been a disappointing one for the Rose City side having many deficiencies in its game as well as not being able to step it up. I mean always being low in its possession, despite the elevated number of shots at goals and overall, and no endeavor towards goal.
The game against Sporting Kansas City exposed a team that defensively looked amazing as the locals started mounting their attack and many heroics were seen by many Timbers on the pitch. In the end, the conclusion was left as an almost win and one point.
Now, opportunity knocks against Austin FC, when these teams met back in July, the Texas side came up with a big win and a goal rout over the Rose City side by a score of 4-1. That was then and now the Timbers need to turn things around and deliver this time with a win against a cellar-stricken Austin FC.
No turning back for Giovanni Savarese and company as many know the efforts of the Timbers manager to make this team run like a well-oiled machine and deliver positive results in order to reach the playoffs.
Imagine if the Timbers come with a positive record on this long road stand. For a team not known to be strong away from home, it is a must to start looking towards erasing this negative image.
Time to get serious for these Portland Timbers in much need of victories on the road. Somehow I see a win in Austin as the team boosts its self-confidence and transforms into a winning side.
Probable Lineup:
GK Steve Clark, JoseCarlos Van Rankin, Larry’s Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes, Yimmi Chara; Sebastian Blanco, Felipe Mora, Dairon Aspirilla
Photo Courtesy Portland Timbers FC
Austin FC Briefly
For first-year Austin FC manager Josh Wolff, it hasn’t been that easy of a journey in MLS!
Just four wins and his team occupying the cellar of the Western Conference is something not envisioned by this team’s ownership, but many knew that this would be a struggle in Year One.
Still, this team already has a strong fanbase, and one of their most celebrated wins coming against the Portland Timbers at home in Q2 Stadium.
The question is can they repeat it against a troubled Timbers side as they are juggling with a few problems of their own in their game being not-so-stellar and spectacular.
The coin is in the air and both sides will be fighting for supremacy in the field and looking at any cost for the win does not share of points in a draw but the three points.
A win will be considered by both sides as golden.
Probable Lineup:
GK Brad Stuver, Nick Lima, Mat Besler, Jhohan Romaña, Hector Jimenez; Alexander Ring, Daniel Pereira; Tomas Pochettino, Cecilio Dominguez, Diego Fagundez; Sebastian Druisi
Meetings
07/01/2021 Austin FC 4-1 Portland Timbers
Line
The Portland Timbers almost delivered an upset on SKC, can they take three points in Austin?
Portland Timbers
