The Portland Timbers continue plugging away at their 2023 schedule despite a serious lack of personnel. Injuries and international duty keep the lineup thin for Saturday vs. the LA Galaxy, and both teams are hungry to turn their early season woes around.
The Oregonian/OregonLive has Three Points to watch for Portland vs. the LA Galaxy:
1. LET FRANCK COOK?
Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese said newly minted striker signing Franck Boli arrived in Portland on Thursday, and there’s a chance he plays against the Galaxy. The team will put Boli through a handful of tests to determine his fitness level, and it may wait until next week to give the dynamic Ivorian forward his debut in the green and gold.
But if Boli does play, he could provide a boost to a position group that — other than youngster Tega Ikoba — has been woefully unproductive. How many minutes he’d be able to play is anyone’s guess. Timbers fans will know more come Saturday afternoon when the Timbers drop their lineup.
2. NO JUAN AVAILABLE
Right back Juan Mosquera — one of the few bright spots in Portland’s season so far — will be missing on Saturday due to international commitments with Colombia. That adds to a list of missing players that includes the injured Dairon Asprilla, David Ayala, Felipe Mora, Sebastian Blanco, Yimmi Chara, Cristhian Paredes, and Evander.
Mosquera’s end-to-end play has driven much of the Timbers’ successes this season. Replacing him will be difficult, with names like Pablo Bonilla and Justin Rasmussen as possibilities at the position. Who starts and how the Timbers line up on Saturday are both intriguing questions. With so many key players missing, though, will it even matter?
3. DESPERATE TIMES
Both the Galaxy and Timbers are off to slow starts in 2023. LA is seeking its first win of the season, while the Timbers aim to rebound from a devastating 5-1 defeat at Atlanta United last week.
These are two clubs desperate for three points to change their fortunes. Both have injuries to important players (although Portland has many more). Chicharito’s health is a question after suffering a hamstring injury in a preseason match against the Timbers in Palm Springs. This game falls within the two- to five-week timetable Chicharito shared on his Twitch channel, so LA’s star could return to the pitch in time to capitalize on a struggling Portland defense.
Portland vs. the LA Galaxy kicks off at 1:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Providence Park, with a live broadcast on Fox and streaming for free on the Apple TV app.
— Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke