Game 16: Portland Timbers v. Miami FC Blues
By: mao | July 8th, 2010
2010 Match-Up Images Courtesy of Spacewalk Creative
The second half of the 2010 season begins on Saturday as Portland Timbers host Miami FC. In their last meeting the Timbers played as poorly as any USSF Division II side all season in a pathetic 1-0 away loss. But now, after three consecutive league games without a loss, Portland finally has some modicum of momentum. Bright Dike has finally given the Timbers some punch in attack, though once again Portland have become overly reliant on a single player’s scoring touch. Still, Portland are inching their way back into contention for a solid playoff position.
For the first time this season, Portland will play host to a game with extremely high temperatures. With expected highs in the mid-upper 80s, the artificial turf in PGE Park will be radiating heat and making play very uncomfortable. Miami have only won two games all season, one of which of course came against the Timbers just last month. Somehow the Blues have managed to draw eight times out of fourteen matches. Leaving this tie without a win would be a letdown for the Timbers, so something will have to give between these two sides.
As for Portland, the line-up experimentation continues, though at least the team will have had nearly a week to recover after three games in six days last week. Gavin Wilkinson seemed to concede the draw against Vancouver in the Cascadia Cup last weekend simply to give many regular starters a rest. Expect to see the likes of Ross Smith, Alex Nimo and Ryan Pore back in the starting XI, despite Pore’s horrible performance against the Whitecaps. Miami have already allowed 21 goals in their 14 games, so there is as good a chance as any for Portland to finally get more than a single goal, a feat accomplished only three times this season.
The short story on this match is that the Timbers must win. Miami are not a particularly strong side and Portland need all the points they can get to try to catch up with Rochester for second place on the USL side of the table.
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Comments
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So, I get that the Timbers have scoring woes and Pore has simply been too much of our offense to take off. Still, has anyone else been frustrated by his lack of effort on the pitch, and lack of willingness, or ability, to do anything with the ball save for in the opposition’s box? I think he clearly has the talent to follow the team to the MLS, but I worry about his work rate and, consequently, his affect on the team. Not sure if we can handle a hole in the outfield against MLS sides. Thoughts?
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Karl, you’re right on. His work rate is poor, he does little to help out in defense (when he’s positioned in midfield) and his touch is dreadful. Everything is heavy. He obviously cannot handle the pressure of expectation, nor can he deal with the constant try-out atmosphere that Gavin has created. It’s too bad, I thought he’d be a shoo-in for the MLS side. But I have serious doubts that he can cut it. There’s a reason he’s here now. Maybe we’re seeing why.
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