The Portland Timbers’ 4-1 thumping of the Seattle Sounders on Sunday at Providence Park produced images seen around the world, and images that will last in Timbers lore for a lifetime. But now, on just two days of rest, the Timbers have to bounce back for another midweek game—this time in Sandy, Utah in the US Open Cup round of 16. Remember, the last midweek game didn’t go so well.
The US Open Cup is a tournament that the Timbers want to win. Their team and performance in Portland’s first match in this competition, against the Sounders two weeks ago, clearly stated that intent. But intent or not, this is the Timbers’ sixth game in the last 15 days, and a number of key starters are expected to rest. It’s going to take plenty of resolve to keep this cup run going to the quarterfinals.
The History
The last time the Timbers had a team this good and progress in the US Open Cup so promising, it was Real Salt Lake who beat them in the semifinal at the Rio Tinto Stadium. It would also be Real Salt Lake who knocked the Timbers out of the MLS Cup Playoffs in November. Had RSL not existed in 2013, the Timbers most likely would have won both trophies.
However, that RSL is not this RSL. Manager Jason Kreis departed a year and a half ago for New York City FC, general manager Garth Lagerway now heads up soccer operations in Seattle, and with Gold Cup absences and injuries, the likes of the Great Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, and Jamison Olave will all be unavailable.
The only meeting of the year between these two teams so far came way back on March 7, on opening day of the MLS season in Portland, when Rimando heroics preserved a 0-0 draw for Salt Lake against a dominant Timbers side.
This will always be something of a special matchup for Caleb Porter and the Timbers, because how much of Portland’s ethos is based on the RSL setup of the late 2000s and early 2010s, down to importing RSL veterans in Will Johnson and Nat Borchers.
The Tactics
It looks like the demanding stretch of two games a week is finally about ready to catch up to the Timbers, who have all but ruled out Will Johnson, Diego Chara, and Diego Valeri for this game. Jorge Villafaña could rest too, having played every minute of the month of June.
Portland did receive a boost with the news that Alvas Powell—readying to depart for the Gold Cup with Jamaica—won’t report to camp until next Monday. That means he’s available for this match, and for San Jose at home in MLS on Sunday.
Porter does have a decision to make at center-back, where Liam Ridgewell will come back in after serving his suspension against the Sounders. Does Porter want to play Borchers, who knows RSL extreamly well, or rest the veteran and stick with Norberto Paparatto, who’s been excellent of late? There will be plenty of Argentine flair in the attack, where Gaston Fernandez and Maxi Urruti both look set to start.
Porter hasn’t been shy this year about giving his starters big minutes, so it’s possible that Darlington Nagbe could play. But even Nagbe needs a rest, meaning that Rodney Wallace is a lock to start. With Dairon Asprilla fit again, the Columbian could make his first appearance since the beginning of June. But it’s unlikely that Asprilla will be thrown right back into the starting lineup, meaning there could be a first start of the season for Michael Nanchoff.
RSL are in trouble at center-back, where Chris Schuler may be forced back into action. He’s been out since the first month of the season injured.
The Lineup
12 – Kwarasey
2 – Powell
24 – Ridgewell (C)
23 – Paparatto
15 – Jeanderson
13 – Jewsbury
26 – Fochive
22 – Wallace
17 – Nanchoff
10 – Fernandez
37 – Urruti
The Pick
Both the Timbers and Real Salt Lake will be down most all their stars and plenty of other starters, but it’s Portland who comes in playing far better soccer. They win 2-1.
