Portland Timbers Vs. Seattle Sounders, MatchCard: Projected Lineups, Statistics

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jul 9, 2011 1:54 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

Assuming Sigi Schmid was being serious, it looks like we'll see Roger Levesque get another chance to build on his Cascadia Cup legend. The Seattle Sounders coach told KJR that Levesque will be in the starting lineup against the Portland Timbers, and we're willing to take him at his word. Aside from that, we don't really expect too many surprises. We're expecting to see Alvaro Fernandez on the left, Mauro Rosales on the right and Erik Friberg in the middle, since it looks like Brad Evans is still nursing an injury.

Our Timbers lineup was provided by Stumptown Footy. No huge surprises there, although it does look like Jeremy Hall is going to start at left back in place of the injured Rodney Wallace. It also looks like Eddie Johnson is going to get another start in place of Kenny Cooper. The rest of the starters are pretty standard, with basically the same lineup that we saw the last time the Sounders and Timbers played.

PDF: Timbers-Sounders 0710

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Tough away game

Against a team that did not win in their last six games, lost three at home with one tie in the last four home games. Also, Timbers are fighting for their life. Win in this game could save their season, or at least give them playoff hopes. Tie or defeat puts them even further out of the playoffs. Add hostile crowd and smaller pitch (I do not think smaller pitch favors Sounders passing game) in mix, and we have everything for real tight, close game (even though, majority of MLS games are close) that could be decided by some lucky bounce.

by seattle 13 on Jul 9, 2011 4:42 PM PDT reply actions

Wouldn't be surprised

to see Evans get the start In place of Friburg or Flacco. You could make good arguments either way, and I’m sure all three will see the pitch at some point tomorrow.

by wannascribble on Jul 9, 2011 5:11 PM PDT reply actions

Hopeful on Evans, too

Friberg has been excellent lately, but I think, if healthy, this is a good place to start Evans. This could turn out to be the last meaningful game this season for PDX and I think they’re going to come out trying to push the pace. Friberg can obviously play at any speed, but I think Evans brings the composure of a veteran to help break up any momentum the Timbers try to start… not overcompensating, not trying to make too much happen and making a bad mistake.

Plus, Friberg was pretty active in LA on Monday and I think he could really give them some fits Weds night if his fitness is good.

by jayw913 on Jul 9, 2011 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions

what about Vancouver?

“This could turn out to be the last meaningful game this season for PDX” Yeah, but Portland still plays Vancouver twice. They have not even played yet in the MLS. and that match-up of Portland – Vancouver is a rivalry, even though it is not the generally accepted top cascadia rivalry game. Lets not forget, the last 2 years while the Sounders were in the MLS, the Timbers and Whitecaps were having some pretty nasty games in the USL and USSF the last 2 years without the Sounders. On that interesting note, I think probably everyone would agree that the most important games of the 3 cascadia cup games are:
1. Seattle – Portland
2. Seattle – Vancouver
3. Vancouver – Portland
so with that being said, I wonder if at this moment, the Portland – Vancouver rivalry could be placed with or above other top MLS rivalries like New York – DC or Galaxy – Chivas?

I know this is way off topic, but as I was typing, I started thinking about the level of the Portland – Vancouver games and how there is basically no interest at the moment. It seems the Cascadia cup truly does run through Seattle!

by brandinho on Jul 9, 2011 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions

you have to figure...

…that the PDX-VAN games are a big deal, but, if PDX loses tomorrow, the math on them winning the Cascadia Cup gets tough. They’d have to sweep Vancouver (not totally out of the question) and hope we lose to VAN on the road (less likely).

I guess that’s my thinking.

by jayw913 on Jul 9, 2011 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Evans is not starting fit

According to sigi

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jul 10, 2011 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Tyson Wahl

I haven’t been able to watch too closely ever since he broke the starting lineup. Obviously, he had the beautiful goal and seems to be helping out in a big way on crosses, but how has his defending been? Seems like he really stepped ahead of Ianni in Sigi’s eyes and, I don’t know… it just seemed to happen pretty fast is all.

Could somebody who has been paying a little closer attention give me a brief scouting report on Wahl’s play? (By brief, I literally mean two or three sentences)

by zeeehjee on Jul 9, 2011 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

Wahl...

Take either paragraph in brief:

Wahl is tall and effective in the air. He has done a poor job of reading entry passes on a couple notable occasions including an open header for Donovan at L.A. but hasn’t yet paid the price. For a defender his footwork is decent but, like Gonzalez, he can be beaten for speed a couple times by the faster wingers. He does not have Leo’s instincts in the challenge (i.e. Leo is a significantly better ball winner).

Better service and more stamina in attack than Leo, imho slightly worse in defense. Is a passable back in a system expecting the fullbacks to contribute significantly on offense. Defensive shortcomings on the wings need to be accounted for with relatively quick centerbacks (Hurtado tracking back has been extremely valuable at times) and an active DM.

by nimajneb on Jul 9, 2011 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks.

That is kind of what I expected. Him to be slightly worse on D, that is.

But we’ve had trouble scoring goals and he seems to be of great help. Hopefully his tall and lanky frame will be of help in the tight spaces of Jeld-Wen.

by zeeehjee on Jul 10, 2011 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions