BEAVERTON, Ore. — Liam Ridgewell and Dairon Asprilla are expected to play on Sunday when the Portland Timbers open the 2016 Major League Soccer season.
Ridgewell did not play during last week’s Simple Invitational preseason tournament because of some calf tightness, but coach Caleb Porter said on Monday that Ridgewell will play when Columbus visits Providence Park for a 1:30 p.m. match.
Porter also said that the ankle sprain suffered by Asprilla in Saturday’s preseason loss to Chicago is “mild.” Porter said there is a “good chance” that Asprilla can train Friday and Saturday to be ready to go on Sunday.
Asprilla, in his second season in Portland, has been the first-team starter on right wing throughout preseason.
Porter said his only disappointment from the preseason was that Ridgewell didn’t get to play, which means the back four likely to start together on Sunday has not played together. Either Ridgewell or Jermaine Taylor figures to start at left back on Sunday while the other plays alongside Nat Borchers in the center of the Timbers defense.
Borchers said he expects Ridgewell’s return to the lineup will be smooth.
“I remember last year playing my first game with Liam and it was pretty seamless, just in terms of playing with an experienced center back — a guy who is positionally sound, who wins everything in the air and communicates really well,” Borchers said.
Saturday’s loss to Chicago was the first for Portland’s starting lineup since Oct. 3, when Sporting Kansas City won 1-0 at Providence Park. The Timbers did not lose over their next nine games en route to winning MLS Cup, and the top lineup was unbeaten in preseason until Saturday.
Porter called the loss to Chicago a good wake-up call at the best possible time.
“I didn’t try to lose the game, but I kind of like that it happened that way,” Porter said with a laugh. “It’s not like we lost confidence from losing that game. If anything we’ll have a little bit more edge.”
