There is a great line in the movie “Miracle” (about the 1980 USA hockey team) where head coach Herb Brooks is giving his team a pep talk prior to their big match against the Soviet Union. He says “if we played these guys 10 times, they might win 9. But not tonight.” That’s kind of how I feel about the match tonight between the Portland Timbers and New York Red Bulls.
When the curtain closes on the 2013 MLS season, it will probably show that New York had more points and finished higher in the table than Portland. But on March 3, in Portland, Opening Weekend, I think the Timbers will be the better team and will get the three points at home.
The one thing I am going to be looking for tonight is how well the Portland offense runs through Diego Valeri in midfield in real MLS action. Valeri looked really good in the pre-season as the point man for Caleb Porter’s system. He seems to have a good grasp on when to distribute the ball and when to attack the defense. I predict he gets at least one assist tonight, either through the run of play or off of a set piece.
I am also interested to see how the back line for Portland performs against the formidable front line of New York. If Porter pairs rookie Dylan Tucker-Gagnes with second-year man Andrew Jean-Baptiste in central defense, how will they perform against the likes of Thierry Henry and Fabian Espindola? I’m a little more confident in Ryan Miller and Michael Harrington being able to control the outside and right and left back, respectively. Will Johnson may end up playing an important role tonight in that defensive midfield role to help shore up the Portland defense.
But, when all is said and done, I think it is going to be a tough task for New York to go into JELD-WEN field on opening night in front of a Timbers’ Army that will undoubtedly be in full throat and walk out with any points. I see Portland’s defense being tested for much of the game, but in the end, I like Portland to come out a winner, 2-1.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
