The Portland Timbers and Chivas USA began the 2013 season the same way. Both teams hired new head coaches with no MLS management experience: Caleb Porter for the Timbers and José Luis Sánchez Solá, or Chelis, for Chivas. Since then, their paths have forked.
Chivas started off hot by collecting ten points in March, but have only added a single point since. Currently, they are sitting three from the bottom of the West in seventh place and have lost three of their last five matches. Conversely, the Timbers started the season slow, only accumulating three points through March. Starting in April however, Portland has gone on a tear. They’ve added 12 points thanks to an 8 game unbeaten streak, winning three of the last five, and have moved into third place in the Western Conference.
The Goats have historically dominated the Timbers, recording a 4-1-0 record since 2011. This match will be quite different from the past, with both teams having shuffled their rosters since last meeting. In fact, only one player that has scored in any match between the two is still with the team.
The only game in which Portland has beaten Chivas was back in 2011 on a set-piece goal from Eric Brunner and assist from Mike Chabala, neither player is still on the Timbers roster. In fact, no Timber that has scored against Chivas is still with the club. The only other player for Portland to score against the Goats was Kris Boyd in 2012 whose contract was bought out prior to the 2013 season.
Chivas totaled five goals against the timbers over five matches, each goal scored by a different player. Callif, Moreno, Labrocca, and Mondaini have all left Chivas since scoring against Portland. This leaves Miller Bolanos as the only remaining Goat to beat a Portland keeper. Bolanos has played in just three games this season due to an injury that kept him out from March 10th through April. Luckily for Chivas, he should return to starting this Sunday.
Miller Bolanos’ return couldn’t come at a better time for the Goats. They will be without starting keeper and captain Dan Kennedy due to red card suspension and midfielder Carlos Alvarez due to an MLS Disciplinary Committee decision for violent conduct. Both incidents occurred during their May 5th game against Sporting Kansas City. The absence of Dan Kennedy should especially worrying for Chivas, and equally exciting for Timbers fans, as 24 year old Pat McLain will make his first MLS start inside the small and loud Jeld-Wen Field. McLain had better remember his earplugs while standing in front of the Timbers Army.
Portland has no suspended players, but are still (and will continue to be) without Mikael Silvestre who suffered a torn ACL on May 2nd against New England. Aside from Silvestre, the Timbers should have all players not on the season-ending injury list available. We could also see a cameo from midfielder Sal Zizzo who came back from surgery just this week. While Zizzo made the trip to Dallas, he was an unused substitute.
What Portland Needs to Win:
1. Defensive Communication. With Silvestre out for the season, Donovan Ricketts, Futty Danso, and Andrew Jean-Baptiste need to communicate more than ever. Even though Chivas doesn’t have the best attack, one quick counter combined with an AJB rookie mistake could lead to lost points, just like it did on Wednesday.
2. Deep Midfield Control. Caleb Porter is a strong believer in possession and Mikael Silvestre is easily the best distributor of all Timbers CBs. With Silvestre injured, much of the defensive distribution will be run through Diego Chara and Will Johnson in the midfield. Chivas was only able to hold 35.5% possession against Kansas City. If the Timbers can hold the Goats to a similar number, Portland’s chances of winning increase a lot.
3. Fast Wing Play. I really think that Rodney Wallace will be man of the match on Sunday. If he isn’t, it will go to whoever he is setting up and making space for. Chivas is vulnerable to fast wings and Wallace has been in top form lately, combine that with the rest he received last match and he should be ready to run like mad. Right wing will be just as important for the Timbers. I’m guessing that Sal Zizzo comes on either for the second half or at 60’ to add some speed to the game. If Portland wings can turn up the speed and keep their crosses on target, Pat McLain will have a tough time keeping clean sheets.
Projected Lineups:
Chivas USA: Patrick McLain; Mario de Luna, Joaquin Velazquez, Carlos Borja; Eric Avila, Marvin Iraheta, Edgar Mejia, Jorge Villafana; Miller Bolanos, Tristan Bowen, Julio Morales
Portland Timbers: Donovan Ricketts; Michael Harrington, Futty Danso, Andre Jean-Baptiste, Jack Jewsbury; Diego Chara, Diego Valeri, Will Johnson; Darlington Nagbe, Ryan Johnson, Rodney Wallace
(image courtesy of Craig Mitchelldyer)
