(4) Portland Timbers (15,13,4, 49 points) vs (8) Real Salt Lake (13,13,6, 45 points)
Wednesday, November 3, 2021, KO 7:30 PM PST/ 10:30 PM EST
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
Portland Timbers Briefly
A great win at home over San Jose in a spectacular way I must say this past Wednesday.
Still, there’s a couple of matches left in the season and a difficult trip to Rio Tinto Stadium is no laughing matter and against a team desperate for points and its pass into the postseason.
So far, with Gio has players peaking at the right time like Santiago Moreno,. The Colombian connection is making headlines as the lad is full of determination and looking forward to making an impact in MLS.
Another pair of Colombians are the Chara brothers with Yimmi and Diego, as the eldest of the Chara clan is important in the defensive part of the Timbers’ game. Yimmi is also creating a dynamic duo is Dairon Asprilla
Adding Moreno to the attack and becoming an important part of the team starting eleven, I don’t doubt he will be starting on the road at Rio Tinto and give Sebastian Blanco some rest. Both Blanco and Claudio Bravo have thigh injuries, but Bravo is not suiting up lately and he’s in doubt.
The formula for a successful game for the Timbers will be control of possession, create chances, and deliver on the opportunities, and be very stingy defensively all game, which can turn the tide in favor of Portland.
Playing a team desperate for points and to move up the overall table in the playoff spots, is something we can see from RSL looking to derail the Timbers’ momentum on Wednesday.
So, the Portland side must be ready to resist and stand its ground against a team looking at any cost to net a win as well playing at home and for the Timbers to play like they were in a cup final. They don’t want a repeat of that last Vancouver game at home when they were ahead and in the end surrendered the lead and lost the match.
Probable Lineup:
GK Steve Clark, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Bill Tuiloma, Pablo Bonilla; Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes; Yimmy Chara, Santiago Mendoza, Dairon Aspirilla; Felipe Mora
Real Salt Lake Briefly
For interim manager Pablo Mastroeni, it’s now or never for his Claret and Cobalt as they are desperately looking to salvage the season with two games left and seeking a spot for his team into the postseason.
The last meeting between these two sides back in September in Providence Park wasn’t too eventful after falling prey to an inspired Portland team that delivered mayhem over a defenseless Royals.
That was then and this is now with two games left in the season and Real being below the postseason line and within two points of seventh-place Vancouver, this is a must-win for RSL to make playoffs.
LA Galaxy’s draw against Seattle on Monday night is somehow favorable for RSL. After a spoiled match against San Jose Quakes delivering a fatal blow last Saturday, there’s no turning back against Portland.
Can they produce an upset at home over the Portland Timbers?
Probable Lineup:
GK David Ochoa, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, Justen Glad; Justin Meram, Nick Besler, Pablo Ruiz, Andrew Brody; Albert Rusnak; Damir Kreilach, Rubio Rubin
Meetings
09/25/2021 Portland Timbers 6-1 Real Salt Lake
08/07/2021 Portland Timbers 3-2 Real Salt Lake
10/14/2020 Real Salt Lake 2-1 Portland Timbers
Line
RSL playing as local has all the advantage and is desperate for a win to keep in the playoff hunt
Portland Timbers
