The transfer window is shut, and the business end of the season has arrived. The Portland Timbers have now played roughly two thirds of their 2015 MLS games, and the team is really neither here nor there. July wasn’t kind to the Timbers, who haven’t won a match in over a month. These upcoming games will decide the fate of Portland’s season, and it starts with the team’s first Friday night Univision match of the year: An 8 pm kick at Providence Park as the Timbers battle the Chicago Fire.
The History
Portland and Chicago haven’t exactly combined for any MLS thrillers. The last meeting between these teams was the second game of last season, which resulted in a forgettable 1-1 draw at Providence Park. The Timbers’ goalscorer that day was Gaston Fernandez, who left the club by mutual consent earlier this week.
Chicago starts former Timber Lovel Palmer at fullback. Portland has never lost to Chicago, while embattled Fire manager Frank Yallop hasn’t beaten the Timbers in eight tries in his time with Chicago and the San Jose Earthquakes. The Timbers haven’t visited Toyota Park in Bridgeview, home of the Fire, since 2013. Diego Valeri and Ben Zemanski scored in that match for Portland; the game finished 2-2.
The Tactics
Portland got their mojo back on defense against the San Jose Earthquakes last Sunday, so expect the back-four to remain unchanged. Alvas Powell had to leave that match early with back spasms, but he’s fully fit to face the Fire. The central midfield pairing of Diego Chara and Will Johnson was a big reason for that success—the Timbers still haven’t lost this year when those two play together.
The big question is the status of Lucas Melano. The Argentine is headed into his third match with the Timbers, but Caleb Porter and his staff are bringing Melano along exceptionally slowly. They’ve tried Melano both on the wing and as a lone striker, and Porter suggested earlier in the week that he’s unlikely to start on Friday. Fitness has been cited as an issue—along with familiarity with his teammates—which is strange considering that Melano came over from Lanus in midseason form.
Melano will get minutes, but if he doesn’t play from the start, we could see Dairon Asprilla or Rodney Wallace on the wing with Fanendo Adi up top. Porter has been extremely focused on defense since the dressing down in Dallas two weeks ago, but Portland should come out more progressively than they did against San Jose. The Timbers are a better team than Chicago, they’re at home, and they need to win—not to mention they’re simply better when high-pressing.
The Fire beat that Dallas team last weekend at home, but they’re still one of the worst teams in the league. Harry Shipp the man to watch in midfield, and there’s plenty of speed, if not polish, up top. New DP signing Gilberto has joined the team in Portland but isn’t expected to play, while Shaun Maloney has been in the midst of a transfer link to Hull City all week.
The Lineup
12 – Kwarasey
2 – Powell
24 – Ridgewell
7 – Borchers
19 – Villafaña
4 – W. Johnson (C)
21 – Chara
22 – Wallace
8 – Valeri
6 – Nagbe
9 – Adi
The Pick
Portland doesn’t lose at home, and they’re a lot better than this Fire team across the board. If the Timbers don’t win, and look good in the process, there’s legitimate reason to be concerned. 2-0 to the home team.
