Returning to Major League Soccer play, the Portland Timbers host Sporting Kansas City in the teams’ second meeting in just four days. A Gaston Fernandez brace and Will Johnson PK put the Timbers over SKC 3-1 and into the US Open Cup quarterfinals. Portland looks to be in good shape to take three crucial points at home.
The big news of last week is the Timbers’ signing of designated player and former West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell. He’s unlikely to feature tonight, but given the way Adi played fresh off the plane, Liam could too. Speaking of Fanendo, he’s gotta be in the starting lineup tonight after just playing a few substitute minutes in KC.
The rest of the attack is going to see massive changes as Diego Valeri, Rodney Wallace, and Darlington Nagbe will all be inserted into the starting 11. Wallace back to starting on the left wing is something that Timbers fans have been wanting to see all year. Zakuani has put in some work, but his play hasn’t been up to the level it needs to be.
If Ridgewell can’t start and Norberto Paparatto is held out due to injury, Portland is going to be heavily relying on Danny O’Rourke and Rauwshan McKenzie. Center back depth is scary right now.
Kansas City played, effectively, their starting lineup on Wednesday and was badly beaten. Graham Zusi and Matt Besler are still away with the USMNT and injuries remain a factor. To make matters worse (or better), Antonio Dovale is suspended after picking up a two match suspension. In better news for Sporting, Igor Juliao should return tonight. He’ll add speed and flair to a team that needs it without Zusi.
Projected Lineups:
Portland Timbers: Donovan Ricketts; Michael Harrington, Rauwshan McKenzie, Danny O’Rourke, Jack Jewsbury; Will Johnson, Diego Chara; Rodney Wallace, Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe; Fanendo Adi
Sporting Kansas City: Eric Kronberg; Seth Sinovic, Kevin Ellis, Aurelien Collin, Igor Juliao; Paulo Nagamura, Lawrence Olum, Soony Saad; Toni, Dom Dwyer, Sal Zizzo
