After failing to win a 19th straight game without Diego Chara last weekend, the Portland Timbers are back in action at Providence Park on Saturday night for a Western Conference clash against the Houston Dynamo — with Chara back in the fold (8:00 p.m., TV on KPDX).
The Opponent
The Dynamo were quietly one of the best stories in MLS season — transformed overnight under new manager Wilmer Cabrera from one of the league's worst teams in 2016 into the young side that marched all the way to the Western Conference Final before falling short against Seattle.
In many ways, Houston is even better this year: improved on the ball, deeper at nearly every position, far less dependent on what still is a very good counter attack to create offense. So far, that's meant the second-most goals scored in the Western Conference.
The problem has been turning the offensive production into results. Houston has dropped a number of points from winning positions this year, especially in second halves, and has largely failed to get results outside of Texas.
Houston played on Wednesday night at home against Philadelphia and lost 3-1, falling apart after Tomas Martinez was controversially sent off midway through a second half that ended with Darwin Ceren and Alejandro Fuenmayor picking yellow cards. Martinez has had his red card rescinded, but the other two players will be suspended for Saturday.
DaMarcus Beasley was the only starter who didn't feature against the Union, and Cabrera will have to be wary about his players' energy levels on what — for them — will be a familiarly hot night in Portland.
The Tactics
Better in possession though they are this year, the Dyanmo still want to get out and run. Their front three of Alberth Elis, Romell Quioto, and Mauro Manotas have all had success against the Timbers in the past, with Manotas now in a particularly rich vein of form.
Portland struggled against a similar team in Montreal last weekend, but that was without the services of Chara. HIs return should liven the Timbers' midfield on both sides of the ball, and get the attack flowing in a way that it didn't early a week ago.
That'll be important, of course, as will frequently involving Samuel Armenteros — whose mobility could spell trouble for a Houston central defensive core that will be without two of its more athletic players in Fuenmayor and Ceren.
The suspensions will likely mean a Houston central midfield of Eric Alexander and Boniek Garcia, which, while smooth in possession, doesn't have a strong defensive presence. It could be a big day for the likes of Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco as well.
The Lineup
1 - Attinella
16 - Valentin
18 - Cascante
33 - Mabiala
2 - Powell
13 - Olum
21 - Chara
11 - Polo
10 - Blanco
8 - Valeri (C)
99 - Armenteros
— Cristhian Paredes struggled against Montreal last weekend, and appears to have hit something of a wall midway through his first MLS season. He's the player most likely to make way for Chara.
— Savarese blamed fatigue on the defense's struggles against the Impact, particularly on Julio Cascante's failure to step up on the Mauro Mancosu's goal. Cascante has started eight straight league games, but his position in the backline might be the most tenuous.
— Fanendo Adi has reportedly asked for a trade — within MLS — and odds are that he won't be involved again this weekend.
— One player who might be available is the young Argentinian attacker Tomas Conechny, who arrived in Portland and joined training this week.
The Memory
On their last visit to Providence Park, the Dynamo knocked the Timbers out of the 2017 playoffs in what would be Caleb Porter's final game in Portland.
The Pick
Houston has historically played well in this game, but this will be their fourth game in the last two weeks. Timbers win 2-1.
