2014 MLS Playoffs: Portland Timbers on the Outside Looking In
Facing a team two times in four days is tough for any team. When you are just outside the last playoff spot, it makes it even tougher. All games in MLS are tough and anyone has the ability to win at any given time. Just look look at how Chivas USA beat Real Salt Lake last Sunday afternoon.
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There are three games left in the season and the Portland Timbers are one point outside of the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The San Jose Earthquakes were eliminated from playoff contention after their loss last Saturday night. Rodney Wallace came up big for the Timbers scoring two goals and helping the team to a 2-1 victory in San Jose.
A big addition for the Timbers going into this match will be having the services of Diego Valeri back after he served a one-game suspension on Saturday. The Timbers are still without Captain Will Johnson and will be for the rest of the season. Alvas Powell will also be missing this match as he was called up by the Jamaican National Team for their October 10th friendly against Japan.
For the Earthquakes they will be without forward Chris Wondolowski as he was just added to the United States Men’s National Team roster for their upcoming friendlies. Pablo Pintos will also miss the match after receiving a red card in the 93rd minute of last Saturday’s match.
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The only thing that the Earthquakes have going for them, is their ability to play spoiler. The Timbers will know that with a win they will catapult themselves back into 5th place and have a two point lead over the Vancouver Whitecaps, even if it is for only two days. The Whitecaps play the Seattle Sounders on Friday, October 10th.
With the addition of Valeri back in the midfield and the loss of Wondolowski to the US Men’s National Team, I don’t see this going well for the Earthquakes. In addition they are playing at Providence Park. Therefore, this has rout written all over it for the Timbers. I’m picking the Timbers to win this one 3-0 with goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts picking up his fifth clean sheet of the year.
Author’s note: Red, White and Green is Playing for 90′s column aimed at focusing on the Cascadian (Pacific Northwest) teams. In MLS, three teams – Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver – battle for the Cascadia Cup each year. Red, White, and Green will give a critical eye to Cascadia teams. The column is named Red, White, and Green based on the team colors. Red for the Portland Timbers as they are known as “Rose City”, white for the Vancouver Whitecaps as it is their primary color when they play, and lastly green for the Seattle Sounders as they wear “Rave Green” for most matches, home or away.