The Portland Timbers’ midweek match against the Seattle Sounders will live long in memory. The fallout, which includes a suspension for Clint Dempsey, the Sounders’ first ever loss at Starfire Sports, and the Timbers going to a US Open Cup quarterfinal, provides plenty of ammunition for the rematch against Seattle at Providence Park next weekend. For now it’s a return to MLS play with a home match against the Houston Dynamo, as the Timbers look to rip off a fifth straight win in all competitions.
Saturday will mark the last match with the Timbers for goalkeeping coach Mike Toshack, who has accepted the head coaching job at division three St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. The move puts Toshack close to his hometown of Prescott, Ontario.
Since arriving in 2012, Toshack did exceptional work with Portland’s goalkeepers—most notably resurrecting the career of Donovan Ricketts to the tune of the 2013 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. Toshack’s new charge Adam Kwarasey has transitioned quickly and seamlessly to MLS this year, and it’s fitting that Kwarasey played one of the finest ever games by a Timbers ‘keeper in the final match before Toshack’s departure was announced.
The affable Canadian’s sturdy, steady presence and solid work will be greatly missed. Incoming goalkeeping coach Adin Brown has big shoes to fill.
The History
The Timbers’ 3-1 loss at Houston in mid-May may have been the nadir of Portland’s 2015 campaign. In that match, the Dynamo took the Timbers apart at a sultry BBVA Compass Stadium. Times have changed, obviously, with Portland’s unbeaten streak starting at the end of that long May road-trip.
This match marks Houston’s first visit to Portland in over two years. Their last trip to the Rose City in April 2013 ended in Caleb Porter’s first MLS victory as the Timbers’ coach. Ryan Johnson scored a brace in that game—he’s now playing in Asia—while current Houston center-back David Horst tore his ACL.
That match was also Portland’s last and only win over the Dynamo, as Houston holds one of the best records against the Timbers of any MLS club.
The Tactics
Houston is in a tough spot for this match, missing a number of starters. Giles Barnes and Jermaine Taylor are with Jamaica at the Copa America, while captain Brad Davis and World Cup veteran Boniek Garcia have been ruled out injured.
Dynamo manager Owen Coyle came into the job this winter preaching attacking football, but with Barnes, Davis, and Garcia out, Houston is more likely to sit back and make the game physical with their combative central midfield of Ricardo Clark and Luis Garrido. Horst adds a physical element as well as he makes his return to Providence Park.
The Timbers will get Liam Ridgewell back after he missed the Seattle match with a stomach flu, while Will Johnson returns from international duty from Canada and figures to start alongside Diego Chara in central midfield. Dairon Asprilla misses with a sprained ankle suffered against New England two weeks ago, so Rodney Wallace figures to play again on the wing.
The real question is in Diego Valeri’s fitness. Last week Caleb Porter indicated that if Valeri played against Seattle, he would play no part against Houston—but after a solid shift from Valeri against the Sounders, Porter has changed his tune.
Valeri could come off the bench at about the 60th minute mark, which would keep the duo of Gaston Fernandez and Maxi Urruti, assuming he gets the nod over Fanendo Adi, together in the starting lineup. The pair have started the last three MLS matches together, all wins for the Timbers.
The Lineup
12 – Kwarasey
2 – Powell
24 – Ridgewell
7 – Borchers
19 – Villafaña
21 – Chara
4 – W. Johnson (C)
22 – Wallace
6 – Nagbe
10 – Fernandez
37 – Urruti
The Pick
Houston isn’t quite in DC United’s boat from a couple weeks ago, but make no mistake—this is a very weakened team that isn’t well-equipped to absorb pressure for 90 minutes. The Timbers have everyone believing right now. They win 3-0.
