Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy | Game Preview, Food & Drink Specials

Expect some changes for the Timbers from their line-up last week as Rodney Wallace, coach John Spencer’s first choice at left back this season, is out with an ankle sprain. Mike Chabala, who scored in the Timbers 3-0 home rout of LA last year, will take Wallace’s place and will be tasked with shutting down the service of LA’s right midfielder (maybe you have heard of him) David Beckham. The Timbers should see another change in their back line as Hanyer Mosquera makes his way back from a concussion and fractured orbital, suffered against the New England Revolution. Mosquera will displace rookie centerback Andrew Jean-Baptiste. Jean-Baptiste aquitted himself well in his two starts with the team, but the Timbers’ recent defensive woes did not hielp him lay claim to the starting spot on a permanent basis.

Up front the Timbers will likely start a pairing of Kris Boyd and Darlington Nagbe. Although the two did not see much success against Chivas, the defensive style of LA will certainly lend itself to Nagbe’s strengths. When given room to operateNagbe is capable of producing sensational goals, as evidenced by this year’s game against Real Salt Lake. The decision to give him the start up top will have been made easier by the return of Franck Songo’o and Kalif Alhassan to full fitness. While both have been playing through injuries, John Spencer pronounced both players to be fully fit this week in practice, leaving the decision of who will start until game-time.

The Galaxy have several players of their own returning to full fitness after suffering knocks early in the season. Their attack in particular has stuggled but has the pieces to pick apart any team in the league. In addition to Beckham, the Galaxy also boast US international Landon Donovan on the left wing while internationally known strikers Edson Buddle and Robbie Keane man the front line. Buddle joined the team in the offseason after spending a successful season in Germany and has yet to get with Keane, but the combination of a MLS goalden boot winner in Buddle and English Premier League star in Keane will be fearsome when they get on the same wavelength.

STRATEGY

On offense, the Timbers will need to stretch the Los Angeles defense, giving Darlington Nagbe and Kris Boyd the space in which to work. The Timbers have had trouble breaking down tightly packed opponents, but the attacking style of LA as well as the with of the pitch at the Home Depot Center, should give the Timbers ample oppertunity to get free and take players on.

On defense, the Timbers need to work together as a team for the entire 90 minutes. Even against Real Salt Lake, when the Timbers looked like the better team for 90% of the game, they fell apart  in the final minutes and were not able to put the game away. Where they finally fell apart was in the team’s inability to hold the ball in the later minutes. Without the ability to retain possession, the Timbers will be constantly under attack, which has not worked out well for the team this season.

TIMBERS LEADING SCORERS

Darlington Nagbe - 3

Kris Boyd - 2

Kalif Alhassan - 1

Andrew Jean-Baptiste - 1

TIMBERS PREDICTED LINE-UP

Perkins (GK)

Palmer (RB), Brunner (CB), Mosquera (CB), Chabala (LB)

Alexander (RM), Chara (CM), Jewsbury (CM), Songo’o (LM)

Boyd (F), Nagbe (F)

BOTTOM LINE

While there is still plenty of time to go before the end of the season, the Timbers need to start putting the pieces together soon. With a number of players coming back from injury, the Timbers are working their way back to full strength. A win away against last year’s MLS Cup champions, no matter their form, will not be easy to come by, but the Timbers have the individual skills to do it. Whether the team can come together or not on the field remains to be seen.