Portland Timbers vs New England Revolution | Timbers Need Victory In Return To Jeld Wen Field
September 16, 2011 — PDXPIPELINEBy Will Conwell
GAME 28: Portland Timbers (9W-12L-6T) vs New England Revolution (5W-11L-12T)
Friday, September 16, 8:00 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel
Previous match-up(s): 4/2/11 1-1 Tie @ New England
More Portland Timbers Coverage
Watch on TV: Fox Soccer (Comcast Channel 256)
Watch in PDX: Jeld-Wen Field | Blitz Bar (SE, Pearl, Tigard) |Rialto (Downtown)
Listen Online/Radio/On your Phone: 750AM The Game
----------
Following a stout defensive effort against the Philadelphia Union last Saturday, the Timbers now return home to take on the New England Revolution. With only seven more games remaining in the season, the Timbers will need a victory tonight if they want to stay on track for the postseason.
The Timbers are undefeated in their last three games, having won two of them. However, they are coming up against a New England team that, after putting together an awful record early in the season, are now showing some definite signs of life. New England have not yet been eliminated from the playoffs, but they are far outside looking in and are keen to play the role of spoiler this late in the season.
New England are coming off an exciting 4-4 tie in Philadelphia, during which they blew a three goal lead, and a 2-0 win at home over FC Dallas. Their new found confidence is not too surprising given how radically different they look from the side that the Timbers faced earlier this year. The most likely line-up for the Revs would see them play six starters who did not see the field against Portland in their first meeting, including American national team player Benny Feilhaber.
The Timbers, meanwhile, have undergone some line-up changes of their own since early in the year. In the two teams' first match-up, Troy Perkins was still recovering from injury and Jake Gleeson started in goal for the Timbers. Sal Zizzo and Diego Chara had not yet joined the team, and Steve Purdy and Rodney Wallace were manning the wing back positions rather than Lovel Palmer and Mike Chabala.
Expect to see Futty Danso take to the field alongside Eric Brunner in the center of defense. David Horst is still a game time decision while he recovers from a groin strain suffered against Philadelphia. Elsewhere the Timbers line-up should hold few surprises, although there is a possibility we could see Rodney Wallace back in the starting line-up. He split time with Mike Chabala working with the first team during practice this week.
STRATEGY
New England lives and dies on the strength of its' central midfield. In Benny Feilhaber and Shalrie Joseph, the Revolution have perhaps the most talented midfield pairing in Major League Soccer. The Revs' most effective soccer flows through these two, as can be seen in their combined eleven goals and five assists this season. The Timbers will need to work to contain them, which primarily means playing Jack Jewsbury back in a defensive midfielder role. Additionally, both players are well equipped to shoot from distance, so it will be imperative for the Timbers to close them down early before they can tee up a shot.
On the attack, the Timbers will need to do what they do best: get the ball to their skilled players on the wings and dribble at the defenders. Every component of New England's defense is solid but prone to the occasional mistake, with the most likely culprits of late being Kevin Alston and Chris Tierney on the wings. If the Timbers can push the pace of the game, they will likely be able to force the Revolution's defense into making an error, so they will have to play positive attacking football and finish their chances if they want to win.
TOP 5 GOAL SCORERS
1. Jack Jewsbury – 7
2. Jorge Perlaza – 6
3. Kenny Cooper – 4
4. Eric Brunner – 3
6. Tie: Rodney Wallace/Mamadu ¬Å“Futty¬Â Danso – 2
NEXT 5 MATCHES
9/21 vs San Jose
9/24 @ New York
10/2 @ Vancouver
10/14 vs Houston
10/19 @ DC
BOTTOM LINE
A win against New England at home positions the Timbers well and could even see them reach a playoff position on the table. Each home game from here on out is a must win and, despite the Revolution's resurgence, the Timbers should come away with three points from this one.
