Portland Timbers face the Blues in Miami

By: Bob Kellett | May 17th, 2008

Less than 48 hours after coming away with draw in Puerto Rico, the Portland Timbers will be back at it in Miami where kick off against the Blues is set for 3pm Portland time. You can watch the game on USL Live or head on over to Beulahland (118 NE 28th) or Slabtown (1033 NW 16th Ave) to catch all the action. The Timbers are 1-1-0 in Miami, coming away with a victory last season. They face a Miami FC Blues side that enters the contest having lost four straight, including a 1-0 loss at home against Vancouver on Friday. Miami has not won in four games at hone this season. The Timbers are undefeated in six games and arrive in South Florida riding a streak of three straight draws.

Who exactly scored that goal on Friday?
If you watched the USL Live broadcast or read the Timbers press release, you might be under the impression that Chris Brown scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute against Puerto Rico on Friday. A look at the official USL Soccer scoreline, however, shows that it was Chris Bagley who headed home Bryan Little’s cross. I’ve watched the replay a few times and because of the shoddy camera work I can’t tell definitively one way or the other whether it was Bagley or Brown. At the time, Brown was playing at forward and Bagley was at right midfield so either could have been in position to score.

Goalless Gregor
In 2007, Andrew Gregor led the Timbers with 8 goals. He had four goals in the first six games last season. Through six games this season he hasn’t hit pay dirt. One thing to consider about Gregor’s total last year was that half his goals came from the penalty spot. The Timbers have yet to earn a penalty kick this season. That is one area where they miss Bryan Jordan. He had a real knack for getting knocked down in the box.

Everything you need to know about the game day experience in Miami

Attention NASL Timbers Fans
If you liked Clyde Best the best, you might be excited about this item.

Did you know…?
The Miami Vice theme song was voted the best theme song of all time by TV Guide readers. I did not vote in that election.

A momentary displacement
For the entire month after Portland beat Puerto Rico in its home opener the team was atop the USL First Division standings. That reign ended, at least temporarily, on Saturday when Charleston beat Rochester on the road to take over first place. The Timbers do have a game in hand, however.

Being Gavin Wilkinson
With his team coming off a hard fought draw in tough conditions, the Timbers boss faces a challenge of fielding a team that once again will have to deal with heat and humidity. As I put on my telepathic hat and tap into his brainwaves in Miami, I can’t help but pick up signals that the starting 11 on Sunday will have some differences than the one we saw in Puerto Rico on Friday. I see him going with:

Burse
S. Thompson Knowles Karalexis Griffin
Olum Gregor Poltl Little
Suzuki Brown

Karalexis comes in for Justin Thompson, who has worked himself into better shape, but who might wilt in the Florida heat. Griffin comes back from his second half benching. Poltl comes in fresh and Higgins gets a rest. Little earns the start based on his play in Puerto Rico. Guante, Bagley, and Higgins all are off the bench in the second half.