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By Will Conwell
GAME 14: Portland Timbers (5W-6L-2T) vs New York Red Bulls (5W-2L-7T)
Sunday, June 19, 7:00 p.m. Galavision/ROOT
Previous match-up(s): None

For the first time since joining MLS, the Timbers are on a three game losing streak, but they will look to turn things around against the number one team in the East, the New York Red Bulls. The Timbers may not have left Jeld Wen Field with any points against Colorado last week, but they did show the hard work and solid passing that has been missing from the team in recent games. Many hailed the game as the Timbers best played in weeks and the team will certainly look to bring that same energy to the pitch tonight.

The Timbers will field a similar line-up to the one that played against Colorado last week, with the sole change being the inclusion of David Horst in place of Futty Danso who suffered a dislocated shoulder midway through last week's match. While Futty provided a serious scoring threat from set pieces, Horst showed early in the season, before being sidelined by injury, that he was up to the task in the center of the defense. Also along the back, Jeremy Hall, the Red Bulls 2009 first round draft pick, will be lining up at his now accustomed right back position and will be looking to show his former club just what they have been missing.

After going the entire month of May without a win, the Red Bulls finally got all three points last week against a struggling New England Revolution team. The Red Bulls are missing several key players due to the Gold Cup including designated player and Mexico captain Rafa Marquez, as well as defender Tim Ream, forward Juan Agudelo, and winger Dane Richards. In Marquez and Ream's place at the back, defenders Carlos Mendez and former Timber Stephen Keel have stepped in admirably, although they are somewhat more prone to defensive gaffs than the normal starting pair of Ream and Marquez.

In the attack, Dwayne DeRosario has returned from Gold Cup duty to provide support to Thierry Henry and Luke Rogers up front. While Henry is one of the best players in MLS, if not longer one of the best in the world, it is Rogers who has been a revelation for for the Red Bulls this season, notching five goals and three assists in thirteen games. Rogers is coming off an injury, but is expected to play.

STRATEGY
The Timbers attack will need to retain the fluid passing that made them look so dangerous last Saturday, while putting pressure on Mendez and Keel in the center of the pitch. Both New York central defenders are strong in the air, while playing the ball along the ground has exposed them. Additionally, the Timbers have a definite speed advantage over New York's back line. If Jorge Perlaza and Kenny Cooper can avoid the offsides calls that have plagued them all season the Timbers will have an excellent chance of scoring goals in bunches.

The forward pairing of Henry and Rogers playing in front DeRosario will be one of the most potent attacks that the Timbers will face all year, and it will take consistent concentration to shut them down. In particular, the Timbers defense will need to be wary of getting sucked out of position as Henry and DeRosario are both capable of playing the killer pass or even a surprise back heel that opens a defense up. In addition, Rogers and Henry are deadly on the break and have had much success so far this year. Eric Brunner will need to keep the defense well organized while Rodney Wallace and Jeremy Hall will need to be consistent in their marking. Hall in particular has been caught ball-watching in late game situations and he will need to improve his concentration.

LEADING GOAL SCORERS
Kenny Cooper – 3
Jorge Perlaza – 3
Jack Jewsbury – 3
Rodney Wallace -2
Mamadu ¬Å“Futty¬Â Danso – 2
Eric Brunner – 1

NEXT 5 MATCHES
6/25 @ FC Dallas
7/2 vs Sporting Kansas City
7/7 vs Club America
7/10 vs Seattle Sounders
7/16 @ Chicago

BOTTOM LINE
New York is a dangerous team that will be expecting to take the full three points home with them. The Timbers will need to bring the same level of play that they did in last week's loss to the Rapids through the whole game. Kenny Cooper and Jorge Perlaza will have goal scoring opportunities again this game and if they can convert them the Timbers will see a return to their winning ways.

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Pipeline's Portland Timbers  coverage by:

Will Conwell

Will Conwell is an aspiring novelist who spends his free time unloading trucks in warehouses. His passions in life are soccer, beer, and writing, which he has found are best enjoyed in concert. Will can be contacted at william.conwell@gmail.com or on twitter at TimbersPipeline.