MatchDay Preview: Timbers vs. Revolution

MLSsoccer.com

The New England Revolution look to maintain their undefeated start to the campaign when they play host to the expansion Portland Timbers on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution are coming off their first win of the year, defeating D.C. United last weekend in their home opener. The Timbers are still looking for a first MLS victory after two losses to start their history, though did defeat Chivas USA in an Open Cup match at midweek.

PORTLAND TIMBERS

The Portland Timbers went down to a second defeat to open their inaugural MLS season, losing 2-0 to Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. The Timbers have no points from 2 games.

LAST MATCH

Toronto FC took the lead in the 14th minute when Maicon Santos feathered a perfect pass into the Portland area toward a streaking Dwayne De Rosario. De Rosario then laid the ball off to Javier Martina, who fired a low drive past Timbers 'keeper Adin Brown.

Martina put the game out of reach in the 70th minute with a brilliant piece of skill. TFC goalkeeper Stefan Frei sent a 60-yard pass up field that the Dutchman took on one touch and volleyed over Portland substitute 'keeper Jake Gleeson.

TFC ended the game a man down after Mikael Yourassowsky was sent off in the 84th minute after receiving a second booking, this one for failing to leave the field quickly enough when being substituted.

Timbers coach John Spencer made no changes to the team that fell 3-1 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

PORTLAND TIMBERS (4-4-2): Adin Brown (Jake Gleeson 46) - Steve Purdy, Eric Brunner, Kevin Goldthwaite, Rodney Wallace - Ryan Pore (Sal Zizzo 66), Peter Lowry, Jack Jewsbury, Jeremy Hall - Jorge Perlaza (Brian Umony 73), Kenny Cooper.

TEAM NEWS

The Timbers held the edge in possession in Toronto and outshot TFC 11-10, though the hosts had 6 attempts on target (to 3 for Portland).

"I look at our actual performance and in between both goals there was only one team on the park, in our eyes anyway," Spencer said. "I think we pinned them in their own half, they couldn't get out and then we get hit with a sucker punch on the second, a great clearance from the goalkeeper, another wonder strike -- two wonder strikes in two weeks. Jamie Smith hit us last week and Javier Martina hit us with another one (today)."

The Timbers were forced into a goalkeeper change at halftime after Adin Brown suffered a hamstring strain. With No. 1 ‘keeper Troy Perkins out with a knee injury, New Zealand under-20 international Jake Gleeson made his MLS debut.

"It's tough, especially for a goalie that's been sitting there for 45 minutes and then gets thrown into your first game. I thought he did great," said Portland captain Jack Jewsbury. "He came up with that one big save. And then let's be honest, the shot they did have on the goal was unbelievable and world-class."

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers

On Tuesday, the Timbers recorded the first victory in MLS club history, defeating Chivas USA 2-0 in a U.S. Open Cup play-in match at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field. Jack Jewsbury (84) and Eric Brunner (86) netted two minutes apart late in the match for the victory.

Here’s the Timbers team vs. Chivas USA: Jake Gleeson; Steve Purdy, David Horst, Eric Brunner, Rodney Wallace; Kalif Alhassan, James Marcelin, Peter Lowry (Jack Jewsbury 71), Ryan Pore (Jeremy Hall 65); Jorge Perlaza, Kenny Cooper.

“It’s good we got that monkey off our back, it’s tough going out trying to get a win – now we’ve got it underneath our belt,” said Brunner. “We’ve been working hard in training, John’s been game-planning for us and we’ve been working on stuff in training. I think we can continue it, it’s motivation. We know what it feels like to win.”

Gleeson backstopped the victory for his first professional shutout. “He’s paid to play very well and that’s what he’s doing,” Spencer said. “He’s doing his job very well right now. I don’t know how long Troy’s going to be out, I don’t know how long Adin’s going to be out, but right now we’ve got Jake in the goal and we’re pretty confident.”

The Timbers will now face the San Jose Earthquakes at the next stage of MLS qualifying for the Open Cup proper.

The Timbers return to the East Coast for a third consecutive road match for the match in New England. They make their MLS debut in the Rose City on Thurs., April 14 against the Chicago Fire.

"I think we're all looking forward to our home opener, but that's not here yet and we've got to go on the road again and hopefully get that first [league] win," Kenny Cooper said.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

The New England Revolution maintained their unbeaten start to the season, defeating D.C. United 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution have 4 points from 2 games.

LAST MATCH

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Zach Schilawski opened the scoring for the home side after just eight minutes.
Shalrie Joseph
's diagonal ball from the right side of midfield located the second-year striker's run inside the penalty area, and though there were appeals for a handball, he tucked home his first goal of the season at the second attempt.

Joseph then doubled the lead from the spot in the 17th minute after United's Dax McCarty caught Pat Phelan as he attempted to clear from inside his own area, and this time referee Baldomero Toledo pointed to the spot.

United won a penalty of their own after 89 minutes when Ryan Cochrane was adjudged to have fouled Joseph Ngwenya as they jostled for a free kick. Davies stepped up to notch his third goal in two games – and his second from the spot – by firing straight down the middle in the first minute of stoppage time.

United hopes for a late equalizer ended when Dejan Jakovic was sent off in stoppage time.

Revolution head coach Steve Nicol made three changes to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center. Kevin Alston and Didier Domi came in at fullback for Darrius Barnes and Chris Tierney, and Sainey Nyassi replaced Marko Perovic wide on the left of midfield.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (4-2-3-1): Matt Reis - Kevin Alston, Franco Coria (Ryan Cochrane 48), A.J. Soares, Didier Domi - Stephen McCarthy, Pat Phelan - Zak Boggs (Kheli Dube 32), Shalrie Joseph, Sainey Nyassi (Ryan Kinne 89) - Zack Schilawski

TEAM NEWS

The Revolution opened the home portion of their schedule with a victory for the fifth consecutive season with the 2-1 win against D.C. United.

“There are so many doubts coming into the season off of our results from last year. Would we have enough quality to get the points? And it’s still really early in the season and we shouldn’t be holding our heads too, too high, but we are flying high and we’re excited now,” said Pat Phelan. “We’re looking forward to next week.”

Shalrie Joseph has been involved in all three Revolution goals this season, scoring twice and recording one assist. He has scored in back-to-back games for the fifth time in his career. Joseph and San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski are the only two players in MLS to have been involved in all of their teams’ goals this season (among clubs with more than one on the season).

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Joseph has been playing an advanced role in central midfield, in a five-man unit ahead of twin holding midfielders Phelan and Stephen McCarthy.

"It's a formation we still have to work on," said Joseph. "We've only been playing it for the last three weeks so we have to work out the kinks."

Goalkeeper Matt Reis turned 36 on Monday, but has figured in both matches thus far. Last season, Reis missed a total of 16 games as a result of three separate surgeries on his ankle, knee and shoulder. He was listed as questionable with an adductor strain to start the week.

“The fact that he’s 100 percent is great,” said head coach Steve Nicol. “It just means you know that part of the team is going to be there the whole season. If he’s at his best – which I’m sure he will be – then I can tell you we’re not going to let as many goals in.”

REFEREE: Terry Vaughn. SAR (bench): Eric Boria; JAR (opposite): Peter Balciunas; 4th: Ismail Elfath

MLS Career: 138 games; FC/gm: 28.6; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 45; pens: 44

INJURY REPORT: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION – OUT: DF Franco Coria (L hamstring strain); MF Andrew Sousa (R quadriceps strain); DOUBTFUL: MF Ousmane Dabo (R quadriceps strain); MF Marko Perovic (L hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: GK Matt Reis (R adductor strain); PROBABLE: DF Kevin Alston (L hamstring strain); DF Didier Domi (R knee swelling) …

PORTLAND TIMBERS - OUT: FW Bright Dike (R Achilles rupture); GK Troy Perkins (R knee sprain); GK Adin Brown (hamstring strain); QUESTIONABLE: FW Eddie Johnson (R Achilles tendonitis); MF Sal Zizzo (R shoulder sprain); PROBABLE: MF Darlington Nagbe (sports hernia)

INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

SUSPENDED: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL-TIME: First meeting.

RETURN MATCH: 9/16: Portland Timbers vs. New England Revolution, 8 p.m. PT (FOX Soccer)