(9) Portland Timbers (2,4,2, 8 points) vs (2) FC Cincinnati (5,1,2, 17 points)
Saturday, April 22, 2023 KO 4:30 PM PST
TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Portland Timbers Briefly
What a resurgence these Portland Timbers had against their I-5 north foes the Seattle Sounders.
After the one-two combinations from Santiago Moreno and Dairon Aspirilla with their all around heroics and spectacular goal that tied the match, it’s when the Rose City side came alive and the rest is history.
Some of the Timbers players are getting their confidence up such as Moreno who is looking like he did last season and Juan Mosquera.
Not only Aspirilla scored, but with Niezgoda, Fogaca and Mosquera, the Timbers broke their scoring drought and put four goals against a defensive lock and momentum the Sounders had before this Cascadia Derby.
However, it’s one game at a time and now they are playing on the road against a momentum-driven FC Cincinnati coming from hurtful loss against St. Louis City SC last week on the road by a 5-1 score.
For the Timbers looking to earn their first win on the road will be immense if they get back-to-back wins and against a team they haven’t been able to defeat both times these teams have played.
Confidence will be one of the Timbers’ best allies in all of its starting eleven. The formation Gio Savarese decides to put on come game time will be elemental for the club’s chances of victory.
A boost is the correct word to describe the energy the Portland Timbers will bring when they face off against the Orange and Blue at TQL Stadium and looking to extend their winning ways now on the road.
Nothing is impossible for these hardened Timbers looking suddenly like contenders and playing good ball after that amazing win over the Rave Green at home. Now, it’s time they focus in winning some games on the road.
As the Timbers are recovering slowly but surely now with Cristhian Paredes back and hopefully other players add to the list, still one thing Paredes has is his ability to be play both defense and offense.
GK Aljaz Ivacic, Juan Mosquera, Dario Zuparic, Zac McGraw, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes; Santiago Moreno, Evander, Dairon Aspirilla; Franck Boli, Nathan Fogaca
Photo Credit FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati Briefly
For Pat Noonan and his Orange and Blue, their good start suddenly ran into a shocking loss against newcomers St. Louis City SC on the road.
With a great start and currently running second and heavily favored to go deep into the playoffs, their defensive game saw a collapse after being routed by this expansion side coming from back-to-back losses.
Well, that’s football and now the focus is on the team that all of a sudden delivered an upset over another high-flying team the Seattle Sounders. This puts manager Noonan in a dire situation in what to expect from its guests.
Cincinnati has endured just one loss in the season and being routed with five goals. For Noonan, it’s time to step up a new game plan to curb the visitor’s momentum and continue their winning ways at home.
This team has a number of weapons in its attack as well seeing how they got the better part of the deal between them and the Timbers in getting center back Yerson Mosquera who is considered a solid defender.
GK Roman Celentano, Nick Hagglund, Mat Miazga, Yerson Mosquera; Santiago Arias, Obinna Nwobodo, Junior Moreno, Alvaro Barreal; Sergio Santos; Brandon Vazquez, Arquimides Ordonez
Meetings
07/28/2020 Portland Timbers 1-1 FC Cincinnati
03/17/2019 FC Cincinnati 3-0 Portland Timbers
Forecast
Portland is seeing an all-around revival in its offense will they continue their winning ways
