Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps Preview and Match Thread [7:00 PM]
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 12:52 PM PDT
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Cascadia Cup! Epic Rivalry! "Derby" Game (not really)! Sensationalistic media extravagance wordplay! Have we got that all out of the way now? Figured I'd get you guys attuned to the usual jargon we're used to hearing around the media whenever a Cascadia game looms. While tonight's game won't be as intense as a Portland Timbers - Seattle Sounders match, the Whitecaps are equally apart of our little slice of Northwestern heaven.
That's not to downplay the match all. The rivalry shared between Seattle, Vancouver and Portland is certainly worth the attention. Many fans would consider a successful season at just beating both teams. That says quite a lot about the competition and where the fans' priorities lie.
Still, tonight's battle of the expansions is really only about one thing: Cascadia Cup glory. Let's break down each team.
Assessing Our Team
The Timbers broke news yesterday with the trade of defender Jeremy Hall for midfielder Eric Alexander, an up and coming youth that many in Dallas spoke quite highly of. Pundits around the web were calling the Timbers the winner of this trade. So it'll be interesting to see how he slots into the team in the coming weeks. That said, given that Alexander only just joined the team yesterday, I doubt we'll see him tonight.
Instead we'll focus on the usual team. As we all know the Timbers put on an abysmal display this past Wednesday. They didn't possess the ball, they weren't able to lock Sporting Kansas City down, and at almost no point did they ever seem to be the dominant side. Even when SKC's own goalkeeper was downed by a thrown projectile were the Timbers not able to capitalize...
The lone bright spot was Bright Dike who got his first Timbers MLS goal in the 81st minute having come on in the 66th minute. When others couldn't find the space Dike was able to squeeze himself into the box and made a fantastic strike into the net. In all honesty, he played how I've always wanted Kenny Cooper to play. Instead of flopping he used his strength and size to muscle his way in where players like Jorge Perlaza could not.
Turning back to the midfield I think the Sal Zizzo for Kalif Alhassan experiment should be over. As great as Zizzo is as a sub he just can't see to get into the game for the full 90 minutes. Likewise, when Alhassan gets subbed in he tends not to do very much. He's much better when he can have a full 80-90 minutes to stretch his legs and get into dangerous positions.
Finally, looking back it'll be nice to get Mike Chabala in the left back position and Lovel Palmer in the right back. Chabala seemed to struggle a bit in the right back position and I think we can all agree he is a more precise left back than Rodney Wallace.
Here's my projected starting line up:
Troy Perkins; Mike Chabala, David Horst, Eric Brunner, Lovel Palmer; Kalif Alhassan, Jack Jewsbury, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe; Kenny Cooper, Jorge Perlaza
I'd like to see Bright Dike get the starting spot, see what he can do with a full 90, but I don't believe they will happen.
Assessing the Whitecraps
Forgive the crudeness in the title. It just wouldn't seem right to call the Whitecaps mere "enemies." As Cascadian rivals they deserve more than that...
In any case, the Whitecaps are the current bottom dwellers of the league with a scant 18 points across 24 games. For all intents and purposes their regular season is over. I don't believe they have any chance of making the play-offs at this point. This could, in actuality, make them a bit more dangerous as they only have the Cascadia Cup to work towards. Should they win tonight the Timbers will be booted out of the competition, left only to play spoiler to Vancouver later this year.
The big man to look out for tonight is Vancouver's first Designated Player Eric Hassli. With 10 goals so far this season he's doing well, despite also being a leader in red cards. He's also pretty much assured one to be one of the Goal of the Year contenders for his phenomenal strike against the Seattle Sounders. This is a man who will very much be causing problems for the Timbers backline.
Another area for the Timbers to be worried is the Whitecaps defensive backline. I'm not sure if Ja DeMerit is starting tonight, but I can assure you his veteran experience will cause troubles for Cooper and Perlaza. There's a reason why he played in the 2010 World Cup and the EPL... He's not currently listed on the injury list for tonight.
Looking to the midfield, this is the singular area I'm feeling confident about. Vancouver's midfield hasn't been stellar this year due to a series of injuries and general malaise. So it'll be interesting to see how well each's stacks up to one another.
Final Thoughts
A win tonight for the Timbers would be a big step toward winning the Cascadia Cup trophy which is at least some sort of victory. That said, as I pointed out in my recent article on the Cascadia Cup it's an uphill battle. The Timbers need to win tonight and in Vancouver on October 2nd and the Seattle Sounders need to lose in Vancouver the weekend before. Only then will the Timbers walk out with that trophy. We might not see the Timbers in the play-offs this year, but at least there's still a chance for some hardware.
Should the Timbers lose tonight, however, the Cascadia Cup trophy is out of reach.
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I haven’t been this excited for any match since the first Cascadia Cup match at home. The first one was more about hatred, this one is more about fun. Keg, appetizers, friends, stadium, chanting, standing, jumping, etc…
Bright Dike is a man-horse.
God bless Chabala-Horst-Brunner-Palmer.
See you there.
Just arrived!
Good Timbers Army group! I see they arrived early and loud.
Whitecraps supporters are here as well but their chants are pretty unipnsiring so far.
“duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh WHITECAPS!” …meh
I look forward to hearing more from the press box tonight.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
No "official" stream...
There are unofficial streams, but I’m not allowed to link to em.
You can always go hang out at a bar as well!
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Yup!
In the press box though.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions
At least it's not green-green-green
That combination is cursed!
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't know why it even exists
I despise monochrome kits. Arsenal’s banana suits last year were the bane of my existence, beside being ridiculously unlucky.
In a past life, I was called fightoffyourdemons.
I write a bit for The Short Fuse.
by Thomas Wachtel on Aug 20, 2011 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions
CHARA!
What a goal
In a past life, I was called fightoffyourdemons.
I write a bit for The Short Fuse.
Holy craps!
Diego Chara with a cracking goal in the 2nd minute!
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Yeah
That was a great shot. Just a few feet too high.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Whitecaps are getting in the game...
After that early shock goal they were stunned…
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Alhassan is being taken off the field....
Not sure why, maybe he strained something. Looks like hes coming back on though.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
If an assistant comes onto the field to look at you, player is required to leave the field.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
Damn
Whitecaps are gettign way too many favorable calls by this ref.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Just in general...
I’m not saying the ref is being unfair. They’re just getting too many chances by foul.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm about irked by how much we're letting them fool with the ball.
Come on now. We’re in JW. We should be bossing the possession.
What I don't like is we aren't using our midfield at all.
Our defense just keeps dropping it then bombing it long… then theywork it back up and we just bomb it again
We're lucky we're doing a good job of defending set pieces
As said above, waaaaaaaaaaay too many being conceded.
In a past life, I was called fightoffyourdemons.
I write a bit for The Short Fuse.
He poked it away, had one full stride, and opposing player falls over you.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
According to the baord...
5 to 3, Timbers lead.
Although it seems every foul against the Timbers has been right outside the box.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 7:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Probably seems like more because of the corners as well, no?
In a past life, I was called fightoffyourdemons.
I write a bit for The Short Fuse.
by Thomas Wachtel on Aug 20, 2011 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions
This ref is not calling an even game right now.
And I hate to bitch about refs, but this is pretty blatant to me.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL PERLAZA
In a past life, I was called fightoffyourdemons.
I write a bit for The Short Fuse.
VAMOS COLOMBIA!
Both our Colombians have scored tonight!
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
I hate it when they do that....
Unofficially of course.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Mine waited 'till right when Perlaza got to the endline to celebrate
In a past life, I was called fightoffyourdemons.
I write a bit for The Short Fuse.
by Thomas Wachtel on Aug 20, 2011 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow...
Loving it they look good out there tonight
by Dustin Petersen on Aug 20, 2011 7:45 PM PDT reply actions
Super aggressive looking out there guys.. love watching them when they play like this
by Dustin Petersen on Aug 20, 2011 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions
For a while there Timbers were one of the least fouls committed team.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
Win or Lose
I will watch..Dedicated fan for my NW teams, just nerve racking when they are not playing to there potential… (blazers/sea hawks/mariners/beavers/huskies/cougars.. ect ect)
by Dustin Petersen on Aug 20, 2011 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions
MLS is a physical league....
Teams that aren’t physical tend to get pushed around.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I think that was the Whitecaps' 143rd corner of the evening
In a past life, I was called fightoffyourdemons.
I write a bit for The Short Fuse.
!!
ugh cooper.. was epic how he boxed out the goalie would of been the play of the year (IMO) had he been onside ;(
by Dustin Petersen on Aug 20, 2011 7:51 PM PDT reply actions
Great half by the guys...
Despite the ref being unfavorable towards the Timbers at times.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Second half!
Let’s ope Timbers don’t fall to the 70th minute curse…
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Wow...
Alhassan is cursed withthe inability to target.
Unfortuante.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Time for a sub maybe?
Timbers are startnig to look a little sluggish.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
I'd like to see Dike
For Cooper.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Alhassan...
Chabala and Nagbe link up very well… somethings missing with Alhassan there.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions
some solid movement of the ball for us there at times though
But I would like to perhaps see nagbe get in there. His composure on the ball would be helpful.
Solid clearance by Perkins...
He’s been having a great night tonight.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Dike for Perlaza...
Interesting sub. We’ll see how it work.s
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Cooper will get him the ball from headers and what not. Dike will run hard and their line like Perlaza
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
Incredibly weak foul....
Ref is on something.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Get well soon Futty...
Not sure what it is, but I always worry.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Agreed.
It’s a shame his goal was offsides. I thnk he deserved one tonight.
Good sub too.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I was surprised as well...
Good for him. I get tired of his floppiness.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Aug 20, 2011 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
How was there no card there?
In a past life, I was called fightoffyourdemons.
I write a bit for The Short Fuse.
I still need to see a replay.
Beautiful strike, but from the stands he looked offsides.
volatilelyle.com
by almost awesome on Aug 20, 2011 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Nice spin and shot.
But man….
http://www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=114&id=18438
…that really looks offsides.
volatilelyle.com
by almost awesome on Aug 20, 2011 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
wtf
Ok just hold in there please oh please oh please
by Dustin Petersen on Aug 20, 2011 8:53 PM PDT reply actions
Looks like 3 minutes stoppage time...
Gotta a hold it together.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
GAME
ugh.. got goosebumps started getting worried
by Dustin Petersen on Aug 20, 2011 8:58 PM PDT reply actions
F Yes!
Could have done with out that last goal. Rubbish from the timbers there. Just nowhere to be seen.
FANTASTIC WIN!
Timbers played well all over the field tonight. Much deserved. Even the goal against wasmore luck for Whitecaps than anything else.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
It's been real Stumptowners.
I’m glad to have shared this with you all. I’m incredulous when people over here in Beantown aren’t aware of the Timbers and the Epic (with a capital E) that goes along with them.
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