This upcoming weekend is very important to many MLS Clubs, especially those in the middle of a playoff hunt. One of those teams that are currently in search of a playoff spot are the Portland Timbers who, as of this writing, sit sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 8-8-11 and 35 points. They trail their Cascadia Cup rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps, by two points and are five points ahead of their weekend opponent, the Colorado Rapids.
Portland performed one of their exciting late match heroics last Saturday by scoring in the 86th minute against the Earthquakes of San Jose and earning a draw and a crucial point towards their goal of earning a coveted playoff spot.
The Portland Timbers Comeback Kids Push for the Playoffs
The Colorado Rapids may not seem to be an opponent to be worried about, they are in the midst of a club-record seven match losing streak and were out-classed by a Galaxy Club that put up six goals against them last weekend, but, to the Timbers, this is a must win situation as well as a mental test to boot. Portland would like nothing more than to show the other Western Conference Clubs that they are a serious threat. To stumble against a struggling club, such as the Rapids, would only prove that they are still a club that is building for the future.
The Timbers came back from a two-goal deficit last week to earn a draw with the Earthquakes, the second time this season that they were able to pull off that feat. The first was on June 11th, when they were down two goals to F.C. Dallas and miraculously came back to draw even. Portland Coach Caleb Porter is proud of his club for not giving up and having the tenacity to draw from inner strength and fight back, however, he believes that the energy the club is spending on pulling off these comebacks is mentally taking a toll on the club.
In the match against the Earthquakes, the Timbers were allowed 32 attempts at goal, an insane amount for a match and the third-highest in Major League Soccer history. The reason for that many attempts is attributed to the fact that during this current MLS season, the Timbers have a knack for falling behind early and playing catch-up the rest of the match.
Portland is a club that needs to score early and take advantage of their chances. In most cases, Portland will have the advantage in scoring chances, however, they allow the other club to score on their only chance and that puts added pressure on the defense as well as the offense, which feels as though the fate of the match lies in their hands because of always playing from behind.
Coach Porter is looking for Liam Ridgewell to take command of the defense while he patrols from the central defense position. Ridgewell has rewarded his coach for the confidence he has shown in his playing ability, by scoring two goals within the last four matches.
The offense is led by assist machine Diego Valeri, who added three more last week against San Jose and now has twelve for the season, good for second in MLS. Alvas Powell has seen action this season on the attack and has scored a goal in each of his past two matches. The Timbers are coming together as a unit and a great showing against an opponent they should defeat would add to the confidence of the squad as well as build mental toughness.
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