Two games into the season and Timbers fans are seeing the developments of a recurring trend in the start to Portland Timbers seasons under Caleb Porter, who still has yet to win a game in March in three season with Portland. That said, it’s certainly not time to worry yet for Portland supporters. In 2013 the Timbers went winless in March and won the Western Conference. In 2014 they went their first eight without a win and missed the playoffs by a single point. The 2015 Timbers will certainly want to avoid their 2014 start, but two points from two home games against perennial playoff and MLS Cup contenders is certainly no disaster. The Timbers seek first win of the season when they travel to Sporting Park on Saturday.
While it may feel as if points were dropped in both games, with only Nick Rimando magic and a last gasp Alan Gordon header separating the Timbers from six points and the top of the table, there are encouraging signs. The Timbers have looked the better team in each of their first two games. While they haven’t dominated possession, which has been an intentional tactical shift from Caleb Porter, they had the best scoring chances by far against Real Salt Lake and had a 2-1 lead in stoppage time against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Against the Galaxy last weekend the Timbers showed some of the same things that they did early in 2014, particularly the ability to start quickly and generate scoring chances early in the match. Early in the 2014 season the Timbers excelled at getting chances early, but often ended up conceding early when they became too aggressive. This wasn’t the case against the Galaxy, as Portland opened the scoring with a Fanendo Adi goal in the 31st minute. Portland could have scored as early as the second minute when Adi fluffed a wide open chance off a pass from Darlington Nagbe on the counter.
Both goals were the prototype of how Portland is looking to attack early this season and how they’ll likely look to handle Sporting Kansas City’s high pressing in their upcoming matchup as they seek their first win of the 2015 season. With Will Johnson and Diego Valeri out, the Timbers have made the tactical decision to bypass the midfield more often, playing more direct in the attack. This has lead to less possession, but sets the Timbers up for their deadly counter-attack more frequently.
Here’s the chance in the second minute, in which Nagbe picks up the ball in the Timbers defensive half and breaks down the wing with pace. After overlapping with Dairon Asprilla, who stays wide to help create space for the counter, Nagbe bursts into the box before crossing to Adi, who really should have done better with this chance:
Portland’s opener also came on the counter, with Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey collecting a cross then quickly rolling the ball to Diego Chara, who starts the break.
These types of chances and the Timbers direct play in general will be key to Portland as they take on Sporting Kansas City this weekend at Sporting Park. Peter Vermes’ teams are known for their high intensity pressing all over the pitch, and playing direct or on the counter is a great way to bypass that pressure in the midfield. Playing at home SKC will likely look to dominate possession, which in previous years would have set up for a great midfield battle. Given their injuries and the tactical switch that has come from those injuries, Portland will probably be happy to let SKC posses the ball and attempt to hit them on the counter.
As this goal from FC Dallas against Sporting Kansas City last weekend shows, SKC can be vulnerable to a quick counter.
There were some defensive concerns coming out of Portlands draw with the Galaxy last weekend, concerns which they will need to address heading into their clash with SKC.
Throughout the match, Portland struggled when the Galaxy attacked down the left wing with Jose Villarreal and Robbie Rogers. The first big chance came in the first 15 minutes when Villareal got free on the wing to cross to Zardes whose header was barely cleared off the line. The chances kept coming throughout the game and eventually led to this goal in the 65th minute:
This goal came following a sustained period of pressure from the Galaxy to open the second half and it would seem that this goal could’ve been prevented. Timbers defenders Nat Borchers and Liam Ridgewell both let Zardes run unimpeded to meet the ball and Kwarasey appears passive in not attempting to beat Zardes to the ball.
SKC scored a very similar goal in their opener against New York Red Bull, and certainly have the players to give the Timbers trouble with balls into the box.
Another thing the Timbers defense will need to watch out for is balls played in behind to SKC striker Dom Dwyer. There were a couple of times last Sunday when Gyasi Zardes was able to use his pace to get in behind the Timbers back four, and Dwyer certainly has the pace to do the same.
Dwyer hasn’t been in great form to start the season and will certainly be looking to get his season back on track against Portland. The same is true of the SKC back four, which is still seeking chemistry after off-season changes. With Aurelien Collin now in Orlando, Ike Opara has stepped into the starting line-up. Matt Besler’s sending off in the opener meant that he missed the FC Dallas game so they may still be somewhat unfamiliar playing together. New signing Marcel de Jong started at left back last week in place of Seth Sinovic after Sinovic started the season opener, so that will be another position to watch.
Perhaps the most important SKC related issue is the health of Graham Zusi. Zusi appears to be questionable for this weekend and is certainly playing with pain, dealing with lingering effects of a stress fracture suffered in his foot in 2014. If Zusi cannot go, or is hampered by injury, Portland’s chances look much better.
For a more in-depth look at Sporting Kansas City’s season so far check out Laura McFayden’s piece
What to expect:
Playing on the road in MLS is never easy and it’s even less so in Kansas City with key players missing. While a draw might seem disappointing to Timbers faithful given their recent history of early season draws, a draw on the road against a playoff contender is nothing to be ashamed of and would be a good result for Portland.
Expect SKC to dominate possession and probably have the majority of chances, but the Timbers will be dangerous on the counter and if they take their chances have every reason to expect they can come away with at least one point, if not all three.
