(6) Portland Timbers (9,10,3, 30 points) vs (8) Vancouver Whitecaps (7,7,8, 29 points)
Friday September 10, 2021, KO 7:00 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Portland Timbers Briefly
It certainly looks that Giovanni Savarese has found the winning formula for his Portland Timbers once again. Back-to-back wins on the road shows team consistency in displaying a great game and earning them a couple of clean sheets.
So far, the team is seeded in sixth place and in the postseason spots, but will be playing against their cross-the-border nemesis in Vancouver and it will have the elements of a final and a heavily contested affair.
With the Cascadia Cup bragging rights on the line, this won’t be an easy match for the Portland Timbers in BC Place with the Whitecaps currently on a ten-match unbeaten streak.
I do see the team emerging with a very intelligent game and its players putting their best out on the field.
As Sebastian Blanco is displaying the game we are familiar with, the question arises if Gio will put its Talisman Diego Valeri from the start as Seba can be a sort of influence and inspiration to Valeri’s game.
Also something to look forward to is a continuance of Felipe Mora’s scoring streak now at nine goals and maybe we can see another display of his great technique and skills inside the area. The Chilean has been a great contributor in the field and a big difference-maker.
Portland needs to display an intelligent game from the start as well as be dominant in possession in both halves and display a strong game in its attack and stinginess in defense. In the end, these traits will be difference makers for the Timbers to earn their third consecutive win on the road.
Probable Lineup:
GK Steve Clark, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Larry’s Mabiala, Dario Zuparic, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Goerge Fochive; Yimmi Chara, Sebastian Blanco, Dairon Aspirilla; Felipe Mora
Photo: Gerrit te Hennepe
Vancouver Whitecaps Briefly
For interim manager Vinnie Sartini, his Whitecaps have earned two back-to-back wins after taking over for Marc Dos Santos. Somehow, I can see this man taking over the reins of the team until at least the end of the season.
In recent times, the Whitecaps were a team with a big budget and getting some notable players that on paper were tough, but faltered in the past and resulted in missing the postseason. Now under the tenure of manager Sartini, things are looking up a little interesting and the team is playing with more soul.
Still, this is too soon to speculate how will the club fare in the remainder of the season. Still, the Whitecaps are very well looking forward to making a jump above the red line and earn a spot in the postseason.
One thing I foresee is that these Caps mean business and would like to continue with their winning ways and turn around their season into a successful one.
Probable Lineup:
GK Thomas Hasal, Bruno Gaspar, Florian Jungwirth, Erik Godoy, Janio Bikel; Russell Teibert, Michael Baldisimo, Leonad Owusu; Ryan Gauld, Cristian Dajome; Brian White
Meetings
04/18/2021 Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Portland Timbers
11/01/2020 Portland Timbers 1-0 Vancouver Whitecaps
09/27/2020 Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Portland Timbers
Line
No favorites for this match, I would dare to state that this will be one contested Cascadia Derby
Portland Timbers
Vancouver Whitecaps
