PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have a chance once again to build a bit of momentum in their chase for a second-consecutive MLS Cup Playoff berth.
Coming off Saturday’s 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes – which kept them a point behind the Vancouver Whitecaps for the fifth and final postseason spot – Portland can leapfrog the ‘Caps with a win Wednesday night at home over the same San Jose team (7:30 pm PT; ROOT SPORTS, TICKETS).
Also setting up nicely for the Timbers is the fact that the Quakes will be without forward Chris Wondolowski, backline leader Victor Bernardez, and midfielders Cordell Cato and Atiba Harris who all received international call ups. Right back Pablo Pintos is also suspended after being sent off late in Saturday’s game, and San Jose were eliminated from playoff contention with the weekend’s results.
Perhaps taking into consideration that the Timbers failed to back up their previous two wins, both over Vancouver, with consecutive results, head coach Caleb Porter knows what should happen on paper and what happens on the field can be two very different things.
“That’s a big trap to start to think that this game is going to be easier,” Porter said this week. “We have to play this game just like we did the last game, which is hungry and with the right mentality.”
Should Portland come away with a win over San Jose, it would put the ball back in the Whitecaps’ court, so to speak, heading into their pressure-packed Friday night showdown in Seattle. The Timbers then face an Oct. 17 home game against Real Salt Lake before finishing out the regular season at FC Dallas on Oct. 21. After their match against the Sounders, Vancouver play away to San Jose on Oct. 18 before concluding at home against the Colorado Rapids on Oct. 25.
“I think they’re going to fight,” Timbers defender Jorge Villafana said of the Earthquakes expectant mentality. “I think they want to end up good, so I don’t think they’re going to come here lightly.”
Another positive aspect for the Timbers is they’ll get back playmaker Diego Valeri, who sat out the last game on a one-game suspension for caution accumulation. Porter said he was pleased with how his group responded to his absence, as well playing without captain Will Johnson, who is out for the season with a broken leg.
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“You saw there wasn’t a huge change in our level overall because it’s a team sport and there are 11 guys so there shouldn’t be a major change,” Porter said.
Another starter the Timbers could be missing Wednesday is center back Pa Modou Kah, who was a late scratch Saturday after suffering a calf injury in warm-ups. Porter said he had a scan this week, and his status is uncertain.
“We did a good job [Saturday], and it was hard at times because down in the score on the road it’s hard,” Valeri said. “I think we showed we can win in every moment and we can score in every moment. … Now we are very confident.”
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
