Coming off a 0-0 draw against the LA Galaxy, the Portland Timbers will look to take three crucial points against Colorado. A Portland win would push the Timbers to first in the MLS in points if Dallas draws with or loses to Kansas City. Even with a US Open Cup match this coming Wednesday, the Timbers should field a standard squad to hand Colorado their third consecutive defeat.
This is the second of three meetings between Portland and Colorado in 2013. Last match took place at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and resulted in a 2-2 draw. Through six all-time meetings Portland has only won a single game and scored just four goals, a third of the number scored against them.
Sunday marks the return of Rodney Wallace for the Timbers. He has missed the last three games while training with Costa Rica for their three World Cup Qualifying games. His international duty ends at a great time for Portland as they are coming off a midweek game and have another next week. Wallace should start at his usual left wing position in place of Darlington Nagbe. Porter will likely slide Nagbe over to the right wing and take Kalif Alhassan out of the starting 11. This will shift the Timbers into a more attacking style than the possessive game played against LA. Colorado has given up two goals in each of their last three games and they have been defeated in each of those games. Caleb Porter knows this and will be looking to get an early goal. This doesn’t mean that the Timbers can slack on defense though.
Atiba Harris and Hendry Thomas both return from suspension on Sunday. Harris leads the Rapids in goals scored with four and one assist. Thomas is a more defensive midfielder and allows Dillon Powers to sit higher up and get into the attack. Portland’s defenders need to be on their game. Harris, Powers, and forward Deshorn Brown are all fast, opportunistic players. A single mistake by Andrew Jean-Baptiste could lead to an easy goal the same way that Chicago defender Austin Berry let Brown score on Wednesday.
Key Matchup
Jack Jewsbury versus Atiba Harris. Atiba Harris is fast. Portland’s typical starting left back, Michael Harrington, was injured in their last game against the Galaxy. His likely replacement is Portland’s “locker-room captain” Jack Jewsbury. Jewbury is not fast. He is a smart veteran and has played well all year, but he is not fast. Diego Chara and Pa Modou Kah may need to some extra attention on defense to counter Harris’ speed and knack for scoring goals. If Jewsbury can shut down Harris’ attack Portland just might keep clean sheets.
Projected Lineups
Portland Timbers: Donovan Ricketts; Jack Jewsbury, Pa Modou Kah, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Ryan Miller; Diego Chara, Will Johnson; Rodney Wallace, Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe; Ryan Johnson
Colorado Rapids: Clint Irwin; Chris Klute, Drew Moor, German Mera, Marvell Wynne; Dillon Powers, Nathan Sturgis, Hendry Thomas; Deshorn Brown, Edson Buddle, Atiba Harris
