The Portland Timbers, after a rough start to the season, are riding high after a 4-1 win over rival Seattle last weekend. But a dose of reality could come their way on the road Saturday against a FC Cincinnati team tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference (5-1-2, 17 points).
The Timbers (2-4-2, 8 points) have a handful of contributors (and their head coach) missing on Saturday. Will the group that travels be enough to pull out three points on the road?
The Oregonian/OregonLive has 3 Points to watch for Portland vs. FC Cincinnati:
1. ADDING ILLNESS TO INJURY
The Timbers will not have coach Giovanni Savarese or defender Dario Zuparic on Saturday due to health and safety protocols — the MLS term for a positive COVID-19 test. Additionally, they will be without Felipe Mora, Sebastián Blanco, Yimmi Chará, David Bingham, Eryk Williamson and Claudio Bravo due to injury.
That is a long list of missing contributors, albeit not as long as previous points in the season when Portland’s lineup was decimated by injuries. Still, the back line will have two substitutes filling in, and the midfield will not be at full strength. Can recent returners David Ayala and Cristhian Paredes — along with the re-emerging Santiago Moreno — make up for it?
2. EVANDER TIME
One player who has yet to unlock his full potential in Portland’s lineup has been prized midfield signing Evander. A hip injury kept him out for several games and stymied his adjustment to MLS, and the Timbers scored all four of their goals against Seattle after he came off the field.
That’s more likely correlation than causation, though, as Soccer Made in Portland co-host Chris Rifer so eloquently put this week. But in order to best a top tier Cincinnati squad, the Timbers would like to see more of the magic that made Evander’s signing such an exciting moment for the club.
3. AVOID THE HANGOVER
It would be easy for the Timbers — much like some of the 25,000+ fans who packed Providence Park last weekend — to experience a hangover of sorts this week. Beating the Sounders is emotional every time, and this most recent one was a lightning bolt of joy after a cloudy, uncertain first seven matches.
That emotion should be left at the door upon arrival in the Queen City. Bottling up what worked in that final 20 minutes against Seattle and building on it will be crucial to pulling out a positive result. Because an untreated hangover can last longer than expected, and the Timbers have a road bout with St. Louis City SC on the docket next week.
The Timbers face FC Cincinnati at 4:30 p.m. PT on Saturday. A live stream is available on the Apple TV app with a subscription to MLS Season Pass.
— Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke
