The Portland Timbers are far from out of the chase for MLS’ tenth and final playoff spot following the missed opportunities of last week’s results, but they have had some big scoops of pressure heaped upon Sunday’s game at Vancouver. In what was already set to be a pressure-packed match—rivalry, playoff concerns, new stadium—the Timbers seem of one voice in now saying that they must win to make sure destiny remains in their own hands (1:30 pm PT, ROOT SPORTS, 750 AM The Game, La Pantera 940 AM).
The fact that they’ve won exactly one of their previous 14 away games this year notwithstanding, it’s a very attainable goal for the Rose City XI. Despite dangers that will be documented below, the Whitecaps sit at the bottom of the MLS standings, and at this stage in the season, they sit there for a reason.
One expansion rival is pressing for a playoff spot, the other, which is concerned more with a good first impression in their new digs and roster spots for 2012, would love nothing more than to help kill that off.
Just another day in Cascadia.
Stand and Deliver
I’m not apt to Lou Diamond Phillips references, but that’s a good way of phrasing what individuals on the Timbers roster will need to do on Sunday. Of primary concern is the absence of the suspended Jack Jewsbury and Kalif Alhassan. While Jewsbury is on a season-long five game streak without a goal or assist, he’s the team’s captain, and no one would doubt his organizational or calming influence. Alhassan, meanwhile, is starting to re-assert himself as the dynamic, creative force the midfield needs.
Whoever steps into those spots—smart money seems to be on James Marcelin and Eric Alexander, but you know what happens when you assume—will need to be at their very best. In addition, the other nine players in the XI, given the importance of the match and given the time of year, will need to raise their game to a new level.
Outside of some nice Diego Chara performances lately, we really haven’t seen a true “alright boys, hop on my back, I’ll take care of this one” performance from a Timbers player this year. Sure, it’s harder to do in soccer than some other sports, unless your name is Messi, but Sunday would be a great time for someone to take charge in that way.
Watch Their Danger Men
One of the biggest reasons the Timbers scored a 2-1 win over the Whitecaps at home in August was the tremendous performance by centerbacks Eric Brunner and Futty Danso to mark Vancouver forward Eric Hassli—third in the league in scoring at the time—out of the game. Their stifling, physical, smart defensive performance was so effective that Hassli stormed off right to the locker room when he was subbed.
But, Hassli—big, strong, with a cannon of a right foot—is far from all the Whitecaps have to offer. Diminutive Brazilian Camilo is just behind him in scoring, and can buzz around all areas of the field creating danger. The third man is Davide Chiumiento, once called the “Swiss Ronaldinho”, who’s one of the better setup men in MLS. While their nominal positions tend to rotate match to match (with Danso’s international teammate Mustapha Jarju bouncing in and out of the lineup), they always seem to end up creating a three-man attack line anyway.
The Timbers will need to be as smart, as tough, and as physical in defense against those three to get another win on Sunday. That’s not just the centerbacks hassling Hassli, denying him comfortable first touches and jumping his passing lanes; it also requires whoever fills the deeper lying central midfield position to deny space to Chiumiento if indeed he plays as a withdrawn forward; and the outside backs, Lovel Palmer and Mike Chabala, have to be smart about when and how they get forward into the attack, making sure to not leave space on the counter for Camilo to exploit.
Survive the Opening Storm
I’ve quoted a few times this year the stat about the Timbers’ record after 70 minutes, as compared to their record after 90 (no need to rehash it here, but it’s frustratingly much better for the former rather than the latter). If matches lasted just 30 minutes, Vancouver would very likely be in a playoff spot; the Whitecaps have a pattern this year of starting matches very well, showing off some tremendous attacking soccer with their three dangerous stars.
Last week against Seattle, for instance, Vancouver had two perfect opportunities to score before Camilo tucked one in after 21 minutes to give them a 1-0 lead. Then, after the Sounders won a PK just past the half hour mark, it was all downhill, and Seattle’s final advantage of 3-1 could have been a few more.
Imagine how much more so the Whitecaps will come out flying as they open their new stadium, with opening ceremonies before kickoff, and a ton of energy in that building as things get going. The Timbers’ ability to withstand the opening surge, and take control of the match as the first half wears on, might be key to that goal of getting a win.
Or, they could just score 1:13 in like last time…
