Tonight: Portland Timbers at DC United | Playoff Hopes Are Still Alive
October 19, 2011 — PDXPIPELINEBy Will Conwell
GAME 33: Portland Timbers (11W-14L-7T) @ D.C. United (9W-12L-11T)
Wednesday, October 19, 5:00 p.m. ROOT
Previous match-up(s): 5/29/11 3-2 Loss
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Watch on TV: ROOT Sports (Comcast Channel 34)
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Watch in PDX: Blitz Bar (SE, Pearl, Tigard) |Rialto (Downtown)
East Burn (Whiskey Wednesdays, heated patio & projection screen)
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After the Timbers rough loss to Houston it seemed that all hope was lost, but thanks to several favorable results over the weekend, the Timbers still have a chance to make the playoffs. However, playing in D.C. against a United team that is still holding on to playoff dream of their own will not be easy.
There are several scenarios that see the Timbers making the playoffs, but they all start with the Timbers picking up at least one win, preferably two, out of their last two games. Meanwhile, D.C. United, the New York Red Bulls and the Chicago Fire are all trying to secure a playoff spot as well.
Coming on the heels of a disappointing game against Houston, the Timbers will be looking to display some grit on the field. In addition to a change in mindset, the Timbers will likely see two changes to their on field line up. Both Sal Zizzo and Darlington Nagbe picked up knocks against the Dynamo and are listed as out. To take their places will likely be Eric Alexander on the right wing and Jorge Perlaza at forward.
While the Timbers have struggled to find any sort of consistency recently, D.C. has consistently struggled. Losers of their last four home games, United certainly will be looking to reverse their fortunes against the Timbers who have been one of the league's worst road teams. The Timbers will take heart from D.C.'s recent run of bad form at home and their overall home record which is one of the league's worst, but they should not underestimate the quality present on this D.C. side.
STRATEGY
D.C. United has no dearth of quality offensive players. Their threats at forward include two one time USA internationals in Charlie Davies and Josh Wolff as well as possible MVP candidate Dwayne DeRosario. All three players are capable in the attack and DeRosario is currently tied for the league's scoring title with fifteen goals. Wolff and Davies are both capable on the break and effective goal poachers, but it is DeRosario who has consistently created wonder goals for the last ten years in the league. The Timbers will need to mark him into oblivion and prevent DeRo from getting the ball at his feet if they want to limit an explosive D.C. offense.
At the other end of the pitch D.C. has struggled since losing their starting defenders Dejan Jakovic and Ethan White to injury. White has since returned, but the D.C. back line has proved itself susceptible to making mistakes and the Timbers will need to put pressure on them. Without the pairing of Nagbe and Cooper up top the Timbers will need to make sure that they avoid the route one soccer that they occasionally like to resort to with a speed merchant like Perlaza in the game.
TOP 5 GOAL SCORERS
1. Tie: Jack Jewsbury/Kenny Cooper – 7
3. Jorge Perlaza – 6
4. Eric Brunner – 3
5. Tie: Rodney Wallace/Mamadu ¬Å“Futty¬Â Danso/Diego Chara/Darlington Nagbe – 2
LAST MATCH OF 2011
10/22 @ Salt Lake
BOTTOM LINE
The Timbers still need a win. The Timbers need to find their winning mentality and take control of the game rather than allowing their opponents to push them around as happened against Houston. Anything less than a gritty, committed performance by the Timbers here will be a disappointment.
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