The Portland Timbers need goals. They head into tonight’s second leg of the Western Conference Finals down 4-2 on aggregate to Real Salt Lake, a team they have still not beaten in 2013. With the TImbers Army at their back, Portland has a chance to make their first ever MLS Finals appearance.
Alvaro Saborio’s absence last week failed to slow the Salt Lake attack. His replacement, Devon Sandoval, stepped up big time to put his team up 3-1 on Portland in the 48th minute. Saborio is confirmed to be out again this week and no matter how well Sandoval played this is sure to hurt RSL. Saborio is known for scoring big goals at big times and with the Timbers Army singing in their most important match ever, he might be sorely missed.
Salt Lake is also without starting left back Chris Wingert who sustained injury in the first leg of this series. In his place should be ex-Timber Lovel Palmer. This could end up being worse for Portland than facing the RSL starter. Palmer knows Nagbe and has defended him well in the past. On the flip side, he’s known to sky his shots and make some mind-boggling defensive mistakes. I think Palmer versus Nagbe and Jewsbury will be the most import matchup of the night.
Things should be the same as last week for the Portland Timbers. While Futty Danso didn’t have a great game, I can’t see Caleb Porter making a change to The Great Wall of Gambia. Donovan Ricketts, Pa Modou Kah, and Futty simply have too much chemistry with each other to make a drastic change after just one match. If anything does change, it would likely be moving either Jack Jewsbury or Ryan Johnson to the bench.
If he isn’t too tired after playing 180 minutes for Jamaica, it’s possible that Alvas Powell gets some playing time. Jewsbury came up big in Seattle during the Western Conference Semifinals, but he was completely outplayed by Devon Sandoval last match. Jack’s lack of speed is the problem; both Sandoval and Robbie Findley can beat him with their combination of strength and speed. Powell changes directions a whole lot faster than the veteran and has a knack of poking balls out into dangerous areas too. Alvas might also throw a wrench in Lovel Palmer’s defense on Nagbe; while they’re both Jamaican, Palmer has far more history with Darlington and Jack. The downside to playing Powell is that you lose the crossing threat that Jewsbury has shown off twice so far in the playoffs, including one assist in KC. Realistically, Jewsbury is starting at right back.
I would be less surprised to see Maximiliano Urruti in the lineup. Ryan Johnson has only scored once in the playoffs and fresh blood up front might help break the RSL defense. Piquionne beat them in the air last match, but he’ll stay on the bench for at least the first 45’. So, is Urruti’s high work rate more beneficial than Johnson’s nine goals and four assists? Probably not. If Salt Lake’s backline was a little more disorganized, or they had a keeper prone to mistakes like Michael Gspurning, I would say Urruti should start. Tonight however, Porter needs to go with his mainstays.
Two goals isn’t an insurmountable lead, especially at home. The Portland Timbers haven’t lost at home since March and have shown they’re capable of putting three goals up against Salt Lake when they need to. Tonight they need to. Not only that, but The Great Wall of Gambia must play well and rein in the speedy RSL forwards. I have a feeling this one is coming down to penalties and if so, it could be the perfect opportunity for Futty to redeem himself.
Projected Lineups:
Portland Timbers: Donovan Ricketts; Jack Jewsbury, Mamadou Danso, Pa-Modou Kah, Michael Harrington; Diego Chara, Diego Valeri, WIll Johnson; Darlington Nagbe, Ryan Johnson, Rodney Wallace
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers, Chris Schuler, Lovel Palmer; Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy, Luis Gil, Javier; Robbie Findley, Devon Sandoval
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