(2) Portland Timbers (6,4,3, 21 points) vs (10) Vancouver Whitecaps (5,8,0, 15 points)
Sunday September 27, 2020 7:00 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers Briefly
Suddenly, the Rose City side is enjoying a positive streak of two consecutive wins and especially when it comes against their Cascadian and conference rivals.
With an ironic twist, the Portland Timbers will be playing at home against their Cascadia Rivals from North of the Border, but as visitors after the Vancouver Whitecaps made Providence Park their temporary home as the Canadian government that does not allow teams from the US to play in their soil.
Still, the feeling is of playing at home and in consecutive derbies against a struggling Caps side looking at any cost to derail the Timbers winning momentum with an upset.
However, it’s business as usual for Gio Savarese and the Timbers and they are looking forward to catapulting into first place depending on the Sounders’ and SKC’ performances on the weekend.
So far, the team has managed to win in two consecutive games and saw a red hot Yimmi Chara score in three consecutive games, as the moves implemented by Savarese in his starting eleven are paying off for the better.
Now the goal of the Timbers is to maintain good form to the end of this season and manage to get positive results to get into the postseason spots.
Somehow, playing as visitors in their own stadium will not be a deterrent of their current form after recent positive improvements, especially in their defensive game.
There is little reason to worry about the offensive might of the Rose City side with a number of weapons in their attack with Jaroslaw Niezgoda as the probable starter as a forward or Felipe Mora.
Jeremy Ebobisse is doing a superb job wherever Gio places him in the lineup, the man can do it as forward or as a winger scoring or aiding with game-winning assists.
I believe in this game the Timbers will come with their levels of confidence up high, but they will be cautious just in case the struggling Caps can raise the bar looking to net an upset in Providence Park.
Probable Lineup:
GK Steve Clark, Pablo Bonilla, Julio Cascante, Dario Zuparic, Jorge Villafaña; Diego Chara, Eryk Williamson; Jeremy Ebobisse, Diego Valeri, Yimmi Chara; Jaroslaw Niezgoda
Vancouver Whitecaps Briefly
Major League Soccer is not been easy for the Caps’ second-year manager Marc Dos Santos.
With his team struggling this season and last year missing the playoffs, the man with one of the best academies in MLS is looking for answers in how to see his team turn the corner.
After last week’s trashing from LAFC, the reality is somehow grim for the Canadian native and they hope to make a comeback and make it into the postseason. That would constitute a sort of achievement.
A team that is pound per pound as they state in boxing terms, complete, as well with the monetary support from the Vancouver front office are very well within striking distance from first place despite being below the playoff spots in 10th.
Still being just six points from first place and playing the remainder of the season playing as a home team at Providence Park hosting the Portland Timbers, maybe the Cascadia rival can ignite their dormant game.
Probable Lineup:
GK Bryan Meredith, Jake Nerwinski, Ranko Veselinovic, Derek Cornelious, Cristian Gutierrez; David Milinkovic, Michael Baldisimo; Cristian Dajome, Ali Adnan; Lucas Cavallini, Fredy Montero
Meetings
August 10, 2019, Portland Timbers 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
May 10, 2020, Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Portland Timbers
Forecast
I can state that the Timbers come as favorites but in the end, still the Caps can pull an upset
Portland Timbers
Vancouver Whitecaps
