(1) Portland Timbers (1,0,1, 4 points) vs (15) NYCFC (0,2,0, 0 points)
Saturday March 9, 2024, KO 11:00 AM PST
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
Portland Timbers at a Glance
Lacking a bench with depth, debutante manager Phil Neville found himself back to reality when his team surrendered a two-goal lead in the second half and had to settle with just a 2-2 draw in the end.
If some players aren’t happy why keep them? As the moves performed by manager Neville in the second half, that in the end the substitutes culminated by surrendering that two-goal lead.
With a number of important players out with injuries including Mora, Evander, Bravo and Loria out for the season and some probable and some day-to-day; it’s like playing a guessing game. Evander is a day-to-day after getting back on the injured list and no time announced for his return.
Still, the team with a couple of two open DP slots available and no big name signing yet despite many rumors of German Berterame from Liga MX club CF Monterrey as well Club America forward Antonio Cabecita Rodriguez.
Only rumors of other names coming from South American giants Boca Juniors or River Plate, as the need of a number 9 and a 10 to maybe boost the offensive attack for the Rose City side grows.
It looks like Santiago Moreno is finding his game after his scoring in the first half alongside Dairon Aspirilla looking more confident in this match as well scoring the first goal of the game, but in the end DC United rallied to a draw.
However, is very early in the season to tell and give some opinions of how the team will perform in the course of this season as well looking forward to make it into the postseason–a goal envisioned by manager Neville!
With players of the likes of Evander missing in action, the question is when will he make his return to the starting lineup and looking forward to many memorable matches with the Green and Gold.
For now, the Portland Timbers are looking at a first win on the road in the Neville era, as the Sky Blues currently start of their season on the negative, may bring high hopes for the Rose City side to earn a much needed win on the road.
Photo Credit New York City Football Club
NYCFC at a Glance
Opening day in the Big Apple as NYCFC will have another big test against the Portland Timbers, coming from a heartbreaking 2-2 draw at home against DC United and looking to take advantage of the Sky Blues skid.
As manager Nick Cushing is clueless as to why this poor start of his team being a competitor as well champion back in 2021, he has had to endure a number of key injuries to Maxi Moralez, Tayvon Gray, Rio Hope and Talles Magno.
Despite this being a start of this nascent season, there’s a sense or urgency in the Bronx that this team start earning some points alongside wins.
In the end, the team has deposited their hopes on new Argentinian winger Arturo Ojeda who in the end he can show some dynamism in the Sky Blues attack and maybe help deliver some much-needed wins for the Big Apple side.
My conclusion that manager Cushing needs to put a lot of work in his group a young one and despite many putting their feedback that they will take time to adapt and play like a well-oiled machine.
Meetings
06/24/2023 Portland Timbers 1-1 NYCFC
12/11/2021 Portland Timbers 1-1 NYCFC
08/01/2020 NYCFC 1-3 Portland Timbers
Forecast
Maybe we can see a turnaround for the Timbers by scoring a big win on the road
Portland Timbers
NYCFC
