Portland Timbers vs Club de Futbol America
Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League 2021
Wednesday April 28, 2021 7:30 PM PST/ 10:30 PM EST
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
With win number one in the books against the Houston Dynamo, the Portland Timbers are getting ready for another midweek match, but this time in the Concacaf Champions League against Club America from Mexico.
So far, the Green and Gold will come in with a lot of momentum ahead of a match and foe regarded as chief to their aspirations in this competition that they are looking to move on into the next stage.
Back on Sunday, Giovanni Savarese used many of his substitutes for the home opener resting several of his starters. The strategy worked wonders and his side played like a well-oiled machine, delivering with a positive result.
Once again home-field advantage will play a pivotal role for the Timbers, but Gio is aware of the club they are about to face off as well of how teams from LIGA MX have dominated this tournament.
It is imperative for the Green and Gold to utilize a lot of motivation and ambition in both games if they are to deliver a positive result with a stingy defense game and a sharp attack in its entirety.
However, playing against one of Mexico’s elite teams and among the winningest, with 13 league shields, 6 Copa MX Cups, 6 Campeon de Campeones (Mexican League Champions Cups) Cups, 7 Concacaf, 2 Interamericana Cup, and 1 Concacaf Giants Cup.
For Club America, ranked 10th in the world by IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics) this match will bring back memories to Josecarlos Van Rankin playing the always Clasicos or Derbys with Chivas. Another player playing the Derbies dubbed Capitalinos is Felipe Mora during his time with Pumas and Yimmy Chara with Monterrey during his in Mexico.
If the Timbers play the way they did against CD Marathon, we may see them into the next round.
Still, with game 1 being played at Providence Park for Gio and company, this translates into a home-field advantage and maybe with a positive result in leg 1 and going back to Azteca Stadium for game 2, the need for a win is imperative for the Timbers.
Club America Manager Santiago Solari will no doubt will play a 4-5-1 formation or a 4-4-2 contrary to Gio Savarese’s traditional 4-3-2-1, in the end, this series will show off both men’s best skills and strategies.
Portland Timbers
Houston Dynamo
