Game 14: Portland Timbers v. Tampa Bay Rowdies

2010 Match-Up Images Courtesy of Spacewalk Creative

For the first time since April, Portland Timbers come into a match with a two-game winning streak. Granted, only one was a league game, but at this point the Timbers will take anything they can get. The opponent this week is Tampa Bay Rowdies, the expansion team who have taken back the name of the old NASL side that defeated the Portland Timbers 2-0 in the 1975 Soccer Bowl. Tampa are two points clear of the Timbers in the USL table with a game in hand.

With their 2-0 away win against Minnesota last week, Portland finally got a win after eight games without. That was followed up by a win in the second round of the US Open Cup against Kitsap Pumas, 4-1. Young Bright Dike recorded an impressive hat-trick up in Bremerton and goals came from Ross Smith, Josh Cameron and Ryan Pore over the past two wins. Obviously the Rowdies will be a stiffer test than Kitsap, but the spreading of goals across multiple players is a good sign. There are also signs that manager Gavin Wilkinson is starting to use players who are actually playing well instead of changing his line-up each game to try-out as many as possible for MLS consideration.

As for Tampa, they have lost their past three games after an earlier streak of seven consecutive without a loss. Aaron King has scored four goals to lead the Rowdies, including two of the last three scored over the past four games. Three times Tampa have scored three goals this season, which means their offense not only has the tendency to be explosive but also that they spread their goals across many players, very much unlike the Timbers.

Tampa away will be no easy task for Portland, especially with a third round US Open Cup match with Seattle looming on Wednesday. If the Timbers can focus on this match, there is every reason to believe they can earn a positive result. But looking ahead to the rivalry match next week is a very real possibility.

Category: Portland Timbers, USSF Division II