As the Portland Timbers look to prepare for Thursday's Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round match against Sporting Kansas City (7:00pm PT, ROOT SPORTS/UniMas), Timbers.com reached out to MLSsoccer.com's KC beat writer Steve Brisendine to get an inside look at the Timbers' opponent.
Q: What is KC’s sense of momentum heading into the Knockout Round match?
Steve Brisendine: "Sporting come in carrying a heck of a lot more momentum than if they'd backed into the postseason. They needed that win over the Galaxy, and not just for the points. Sunday's match showed that when they're clicking, they can play with anyone in the league. Also, they've been nails in elimination games this year -- as they showed in winning the U.S. Open Cup. This is a veteran team with some solid additions, and they're not just happy to be here."
Q: Who are the key players to watch for with Sporting and why?
SB: "Obviously, the Timbers might want to watch out for Krisztian Nemeth, after the goal he scored on them last time out with that late run and finish. But Sporting are balanced all over the pitch. Dom Dwyer and Benny Feilhaber were both double-digit scorers in league play, and Feilhaber has 20 assists across all competitions this year. Want to watch someone work his tail off for no recognition? Keep an eye on d-mid Soni Mustivar's insane work rate and heat map."
Q: Three regular-season matches between Portland and KC and only one goal scored across all three, what’s Sporting's expectations for this battle?
SB: They're expecting another long, hard, grind -- magnified by the single-game format of the Knockout Round. At the same time, they've seen Portland light up the scoreboard in recent matches, and there's a healthy respect around the squad for Darlington Nagbe. They know he can bust a game open in a hurry, and there will be a focus on not letting him do that. The general prediction, though, is for anything but a high-scoring affair. One goal in regulation may well win this."
