(6) Portland Timbers (6,6,1, 19 points) vs (7) Minnesota United (5,5,3, 18 points)
Saturday July 24, 2021, 8:00 PM PST/ 5:00 PM EST
Allianz Field, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Portland Timbes Briefly
Giovanni Savarese is seeing the fruits of his labor with his Timbers and finally seeing a light in the end of the tunnel, after seeing half of his squad on the injury list and with most of its notable players out.
Suddenly, Savareses is seeing a surge in his squad and the club is showing off what they can do when they get their confidence back, as seen in their last game against LAFC.
By beating a stunned LAFC on midweek with a late goal, now the aim is breaking the Loons’ confidence as they have become a tough foe for the Rose City side since their inception in MLS.
Nothing is forever and with the way the Timbers are playing lately and with Gio’s super moves in his lineup, I ask what can go wrong on Saturday at Allianz Field in the Twin Cities?.
I wont dare to put the Green and Gold as favorites, but one thing for sure these can really persevere in the end by playing an intelligent game and seeing how the players’ confidence is currently at an all-time high!
Time break Minnesota’s dominance.
Probable Lineup:
GK Steve Clark, Pablo Bonilla, Larry’s Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Josecarlos Van Rankin; Cristhian Paredes, Diego Chara; Yimmy Chara, Diego Valeri, Jeremy Ebobisse; Felipe Mora
Minnesota United
Minnesota manager Adrian Heath is aware of the mastery his team has over the Portland Timbers with six wins against the Timbers versus two losses and two draws. The man is somehow confident of a positive result at home.
However, he’s aware of the streak and momentum the Rose City side is riding lately, and the man would send his best starting eleven to try and stop the visitors’ winning streak and drive turning it into an upset.
Still, this could be anyone’s game, as a draw for sure will be considered a positive result and a share of spoils would be considered an achievement by the visiting Timbers.
One thing for sure is that Minnesota United is a tough foe playing at home, ask that to a previously undefeated Seattle Sounders who got beaten by the Loons last weekend ending their perfect run.
Probable Lineup:
GK Tyler Miller, DJ Taylor, Brent Kallman, Bakaye Dibassy, Chase Gasper; Will Trapp, Hassani Dotson; Robin Lod, Emanuel Reynoso, Franco Fragapane; Adrien Honou
Meetings
06/26/2021 Portland Timbers 0-1 Minnesota United
03/01/2020 Portland Timbers 1-3 Minnesota United
09/22/2019 Portland Timbers 0-0 Minnesota United
Prediction
The Timbers have just won two games over the series agasint the Twin Cities team, slight edge United
