One chance at a trophy gone, the Portland Timbers on Sunday will turn their focus to other prizes.
The 7 p.m. match against the Seattle Sounders at Century Link Field is an opportunity to make up ground on two fronts.
Most significantly, the Timbers need to start compiling wins if they are to make the Major League Soccer playoffs. And they need a win to boost their chances at reclaiming the Cascadia Cup.
With Clint Dempsey’s expected return adding firepower to the league’s top team, Seattle figures to present a difficult challenge to Portland’s battered and bruised defense. Even when Dempsey and right back DeAndre Yedlin were away for two months with the United States national team, the Sounders have rolled to the top of the league and have 33 goals scored through 17 games.
Portland’s defense, in contrast, has surrendered 30 goals through 18 games, tied with Philadelphia for worst in the league.
It doesn’t help that the Timbers will be missing center back Pa Modou Kah again and that Norberto Paparatto also could miss another match.
Liam Ridgewell trained with the Timbers for the first time on Friday, and coach Caleb Porter said it would be unfair to throw the English Premier League veteran into the mix today.
Another strike against the Timbers today is the absence of midfielder Diego Chara, who is suspended for this game because of yellow card accumulation. It remains to be seen if Porter will start Jack Jewsbury in Chara’s spot alongside Will Johnson in the defensive midfield, or if the Timbers coach will change up his formation in Chara’s absence.
It isn’t all bad news for the Timbers, though.
Portland has the second best offense in the league behind Seattle. And Darlington Nagbe scored his first goal of the season on Wednesday, a dramatic one in the closing seconds to force overtime in the U.S. Open Cup the Sounders won 3-1 in overtime.
If Nagbe can score with some consistency, opponents will really have their hands full. The Timbers have five players with three or more goals in MLS play, led by Gaston Fernandez who has six in MLS play and 10 overall.
Fernandez was the most dangerous Timber in Wednesday’s Open Cup match, putting six shots on goal and forcing Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei to make several reaction saves. Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said his team will need to keep better track of Fernandez in this match.
Neither Porter nor Schmid expects much emotional carryover from Wednesday’s Open Cup battle in front of 4,500 fans at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila. Porter, though, said his side can take confidence from playing well in Wednesday’s loss.
“We have confidence going into this game because of (Wednesday),” Porter said. “We played very well. (The players are) left with a bitter taste and, you know, maybe it stokes the fire a little more.”
The Timbers have been performing well away from home. In their last seven road games in all competitions, the Timbers have four wins, two draws and one loss. That loss was Wednesday in a match that was tied after regulation time.
“The nice thing is we’re trending upwards,” Porter said.
Given the injuries and suspensions, Porter figures to field a lineup similar to Wednesday, though Nagbe and captain Will Johnson figure to start instead of coming off the bench.
Porter said he expects multiple changes in the Seattle lineup from Wednesday. In addition to Dempsey, defenders Leo Gonzalez and Djimi Traore and forward Obafemi Martins are players Porter expects to see.
Marco Pappa and former Timber Kenny Cooper came off the bench to provide the decisive goals in Wednesday’s match are also options for starting roles.
The Sunday night time slot on ESPN2 is meant to build momentum for MLS after the World Cup final is played earlier in the day.
With more than 60,000 fans in CenturyLink Field, it is a significant marketing moment for the league. On that stage, the Timbers hope to deliver a performance that can provide momentum for the surge they need if the playoffs are in their future.
