The Portland Timbers get back to MLS action tonight as they travel to Rio Tinto Stadium to take on a short handed Real Salt Lake squad. Last time these two sides met, Kyle Beckerman was sent off for a questionable challenge and Portland fought back to earn a 2-2 draw at Providence Park in the third match of the season.
Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake Preview
RSL will be without two key members of their squad in Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando this time around. Both with the United States Men’s National Team on Copa America duty. Portland, too, will be without one of the most important members of their team. Darlington Nagbe is also on international duty with the USMNT and the team will struggle to fill his role.
Midfield will be the key
The key for Portland will be how they cope without Nagbe in the lineup. Thankfully, they have done this before this season. The Timbers played a pair of matches without their midfield playmaker after he was injured in a violent tackle by Nigel De Jong on April 10. They lost to FC Dallas thanks to a series of defensive mistakes and they defeated San Jose Earthquakes thanks to goals from Jack McInerney and Fanendo Adi.
ha Nagbe’s place in the lineup was filled by Jack Jewsbury against FC Dallas. The normally responsible defensive midfielder had a nightmare of a match as two of his turnovers led to Dallas goals in the 3-1 blowout.
Against San Jose, Ned Grabavoy stepped in to take Nagbe’s spot and played significantly better. His solid 92% pass efficiency was very Nagbe like and he even got a few shots off. The Timbers won the match by a 3-1 score.
Ben Zemanski is also an option. He has gotten progressively stronger throughout his five matches, including four starts. A more defensive minded player, Zemanski isn’t as efficient of a passer as Nagbe and serves more as a replacement for the ailing Diego Chara.
With Chara still questionable for a return, I would expect Grabavoy to get the start in midfield along with Zemanski. Jewsbury has had a rough season already and he just played in Tuesday’s open cup win over San Jose.
But the forwards must finish
Regardless of who starts in the midfield, the fresh legs of Adi, Diego Valeri, and whomever starts on the wings will have to take advantage of RSL’s weakened defense and goalkeeping. Nick Rimando is one of the top keepers in MLS and Jeff Attinella, while capable as a backup, is far from Rimando’s quality. Pelting him with shots and rushing the penalty area should be enough to sneak a couple goals by.
Salt Lake will also be without Kyle Beckerman. Their midfield destroyer is excellent at stopping the types of passes that help the Timbers central attack work. Grabavoy’s stronger passing skills will be amplified thanks to the absence of the dreadlocked American international, should he get the start.
The strength of Real Salt Lake is their attacking trio of Yura Movsisyan, Juan Manuel Martinez, and Joao Plata. These three have combined for 13 of their 21 goals on the season. With the Timbers defense rusty and not playing well on the year, expect a couple of goals to show up on the RSL side of the scoreboard.
Prediction
I doubt the Timbers will have the quality to see off RSL’s attack completely. Although they should find a couple goals of their own, expect them to concede several, too. I’m calling for another 2-2 draw similar to the one back in March.
