(5) Portland Timbers (10-5-7, 37 points) vs (2) Sporting Kansas City (11, 6, 6, 39 points)
Saturday August 18, 2018 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST, Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas
Portland Timbers at a glance
Rivalry week starts once again for the Portland Timbers this weekend with another challenging match scheduled tonight at Children’s Mercy Park against Sporting Kansas City. For Giovanni Savarese and his Timbers, once again his squad is on a hard test against a hardened SKC. With their perfect run stopped at fifteen and now having lost two straight matches, Portland are searching for answers.
With back-to-back matches lost Saturday’s test against SKC now becomes essential to their season. After their midweek 4-1 loss against D.C. United, Portland slipped to fifth place, just two points ahead of Real Salt Lake (10-10-5, 35 points).
All of a sudden, the momentum and game the Rose City squad had exhibited lately is now considered on the austere side. One of its most vulnerable areas that they are showing area is in their defensive game, which has seen a total meltdown in its last two matches.
For Giovanni Savarese aware of the foe they face off this weekend in Kansas City. A place in the past considered as the house of horrors for his Timbers. They will face a side in SKC who is coming from back-to-back wins on the road. Their match against the Midwest colossus will be total challenge and another handful of a match for Savareses’ side.
Once again, he will repeat his favorite 3-5-2 formation with a defensive twist. This is in reaction to stopping their opponent’s offensive game, which has been pure poison to the Portland defense. A win will uplift this squad all around confidence.
GK Jeff Attinella, Larrys Mabiala, Lawrence Olum, Julio Cascante- Alvas Powell, Diego Chara, Sebastian Blanco, Andy Polo, Zarek Valentin- Diego Valeri, Samuel Armenteros
PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 09: MLS match ends on a 0-0 tie between the Portland Timbers and the Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park, Portland, OR (photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika).
Sporting Kansas City at a glance
Contrary to the Portland Timbers negative record lately Peter Vermes’ Sporting Kansas City are looking forward to their third consecutive win. After pulling off back-to-back wins on the road SKC broke a negative slump of three loses and a tie. Still being in the race to the top of the Western Conference intensifies with Sporting trailing FC Dallas by three points. A win on Saturday night, coupled with a result going their way in Texas, could mean that they can leap into first place by the end of the weekend.
Some sides might be thinking two steps ahead. But Vermes’ SKC have always taken it one step at a time, a practical approach from a practical manager. His side will certainly have long memories of that rainy evening in Portland when his lost in penalties in the 2015 playoffs.
As this match between both squads will have the elements of a grand finale. Whenever these two squads play against one another, the outcome is always a tight contest. Both defenses will need to step up their game. In tomorrow’s game, for sure Vermes put in display a very tight defense, lethal to Portland offensive attack.
Vermes it is business as usual and he will not underestimate his foes. Highlighting and valuing this group discipline and competitiveness as one of its traits in this campaign. Among one of his overall evaluations of the Portland Timbers is their upgraded counter attack and improved defensive game.
He will likely send his offensive prone 4-3-3 formation to test Portland’s shaky defense. His starting eleven should be very familiar to Portland
GK Tim Melia, Graham Zusi, Ike Opara, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic, Felipe Gutierrez, Ilie Sanchez, Roger Espinoza, Gerso Fernandez, Diego Rubio, Daniel Salloi
Meetings
June 9, 2018 Portland Timbers 0- Sporting Kansas City 0
July 1, 2017 Sporting Kansas City 1, Portland Timbers 0
April 15, 2017 Portland Timbers 0, Sporting Kansas City 1
Forecast
Tough match for Portland to display a feeble defensive game, in the end a tie will do in these stages
PORTLAND, OR – JUNE 09: MLS match ends on a 0-0 tie between the Portland Timbers and the Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park, Portland, OR (photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika).
