<b style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><img alt="" src="http://www.portlandtimbers.com/sites/portlandtimbers.com/files/portland_150.png" style="cursor: default; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; vertical-align: middle; width: 41px; height: 40px; "></b> |
<strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Robbie Earle's<br>
KeyBank Match-up</strong> |
<b><b style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><img alt="" src="https://portland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/300px-Houston_Dynamo_logo.svg_.png" style="cursor: default; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; vertical-align: middle; width: 40px; height: 35px; "></b></b> |
<b><a href="/players/will-johnson">Will Johnson</a><br>
M</b> |
<strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">vs.</strong> |
<b><a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/boniek-garcia">Boniek Garcia</a><br>
M</b> |
Scored 2 goals last week vs. Colorado |
Scored 4 goals/6 assists in 17 games in 2012 |
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Opta: Had 7 ball recoveries, 2 interceptions and blocked 1 shot last week vs. COL |
Opta: Had 5 ball recoveries, 3 interceptions and 3 key passes leading to a shot last week vs. SJ |
|
Week 5 MLS Player of the Week & Team of the Week |
2012 Latino del Año & Dynamo Players' Player of the Year |
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33 International caps for Canada |
79 International caps for Honduras |
Johnson scores against Colorado
The middle of the pitch is often one of the most hotly contested areas of the field in any match. Come Saturday when the Portland Timbers host the Houston Dynamo (7:30pm PT, ROOT SPORTS, 750 AM The Game / La Pantera 940 - Presented by Portland General Electric), this battle shall be no different. For the Timbers, team captain Will Johnson—fresh from his Week 5 MLS Player of the Week performance against Colorado—will look to bring his high energy and tenacious ability both on and off the ball towards helping press the Portland agenda. As always, he’ll have a raucous home crowd behind him as well as the always dangerous Diego Valeri to help feed the ball forward.
Houston brings Designated Player Boniek Garcia into the mix. Like his fellow Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis, Garcia whips numerous balls into the penalty area as well as making slicing runs and playing dangerous through balls. The Honduran international is a talented two-way player who will counter and attempt to dictate their own pace to the game.
They said it:
"[Houston is] very good at getting service in, their outside backs like to attack as well so they're very good at whipping in crosses and getting numbers in the box and willing to fight. We have a lot of respect for them but at the same time, we've got to go out there and match their intensity and bring it to them on our home field. I think that's a big part of it. We know they're a good team. We respect them. We're aware of their set pieces and crossing strength but at the same time, we're also ready for a good battle ourselves."
-Will Johnson, Timbers midfielder
