After failing to close out a fourth win of the season against the New England Revolution on Sunday night, the Portland Timbers head east to take on the struggling Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Talen Energy Stadium (4:00 PM, TV on ROOT Sports).
The History
Just as it was with New England, the home team has dominated the all-time series between the Timbers and Union. Portland is scoreless in two draws and a defeat in Chester over the years, while the Union are 0-3-1 at Providence Park.
The Timbers’ last trip to Pennsylvania came in July of 2015, when a weakened side that was missing the likes of Adam Kwarasey, Diego Chara, and Darlington Nagbe lost 3-0 to the Union. Nick Besler, Anthony Manning, and Andy Thoma were all on the bench for the Timbers in that game.
Portland’s previous two games at what was then called PPL Park were scoreless draws, with the last one in 2013 played by a Timbers backline consisting of Jack Jewsbury, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Pa Modou Kah, and Michael Harrington.
The Timbers’ leading scorer in this series? That would be Darren Mattocks, who grabbed a brace against the Union in the teams’ last meeting September 2016.
The Tactics
Caleb Porter has spent much of this week talking about substitutions, of all things, after he failed to make a single change against the Revolution on Sunday night.
It was the second time this year that Porter has chosen not to make any substitutions, the first coming in the win over Houston. But both of those games were at home — on the road, Porter has made at least one substitution in every MLS game he’s coached. That streak should continue this weekend.
As far as the team that will play from the start on Saturday, Liam Ridgewell, though he is working his way back into soccer activity, will miss his fifth straight game. He may return to the lineup next weekend when the Timbers host Sporting Kansas City.
Vytas, on the other hand, is back in training — but with Marco Farfan coming off of an MLS Team of the Week performance against New England, there is no reason to rush the Lithuanian back into the lineup. Farfan is the likelier player to start this weekend, and, if he does start, the Timbers will be unchanged.
Philadelphia has made a highly indifferent start to the season. The Union are winless thus far, with just two points from their first four games. Jake Gleeson has looked slightly short of confidence in recent weeks, and the Union will look to test him — especially in the air — early and often.
The Lineup
90 – Gleeson
2 – Powell
13 – Olum
7 – Miller
32 – Farfan
20 – Guzman
21 – Chara
6 – Nagbe
8 – Valeri (C)
10 – Blanco
9 – Adi
The Pick
Porter’s Timbers — save for last year — have been very good on the road and very good after losses. This game, against a Union team that doesn’t scare anyone, sets up well. 2-1 Portland.
