Somehow it’s August, and we’re well into the second half of the MLS Season. Welcome to the 20th Rose City Forecast! Last match against the Houston Dynamo featured quite the story. Ahead of game time, the Portland Timbers front office let everyone know that the match against Houston would be Fanendo Adi’s last match as a Timber. And accordingly, he saw the field for the first time in several weeks, and delivered a game winning Sunshine goal. Who could’ve scripted it any better? In addition, Sebastian Blanco got his first goal in a few games to take an early lead, though the Timbers held it for only five minutes before letting the Dynamo equalize. That 1-1 score would hold until Adi’s winner. Adi bomaye! Congrats to lefthanded49 for the best prediction of the week after guessing the 2-1 scoreline, a goal, an assist, and that cards would be over! MofoOG gets the fun/wild prediction points for suggesting that the Timbers would put an opponent away in the final 20 minutes. While I don’t think the game played out quite the way they meant, the Timbers did get a goal in the last 20 minutes to take the game! A perfect prediction for 19 points: 2-1 Blanco (Powell OR Valeri); Adi (unassisted) Quioto (Elis) First yellow to Powell Over on cards Standings Match 19 Participant Total Points Montreal Houston Participant Total Points Montreal Houston Timbers Pride 96 2 6 MindfulCyclist 94 14 7 UNOprivateer 92 3 6 MofoOG 79 3 8 lefthanded49 77 2 11 MacVanek 74 2 7 shrekpdx 71 5 5 BarmyTarmy 70 5 6 STYLES34 67 2 7 RCTID26 58 0 0 landoid 57 1 7 GeorgeCorps17 56 0 2 jocked07 56 1 5 Richard Hamje 55 2 10 4-5-2 54 0 0 hoser!hoser! 54 5 4 MrMoody 52 2 0 straight red 47 4 8 LampzTheLegend 45 4 0 CubanDaywalker 36 3 0 aljames 28 3 4 oregonvania 28 0 0 jackwiddy 27 0 0 OwenGail 25 2 0 Timber DT 21 0 0 Z_thrilla 15 0 0 webfootking 12 0 0 Withdrawn Striker 11 0 0 Matthew Hoffman 10 2 0 TimberTyler 9 0 0 Schmadam08 6 0 0 ScottyRiley 6 0 0 jwr12 4 0 0 rip_jjg 4 0 0 For the third game (of four) in a row, the Timbers are home this Saturday to face the Philadelphia Union. The side from the City of Brotherly Love has been largely forgettable this year, as they’re just one more middle-of-the-pack team. In the East, they sit in seventh place, just below the playoff line. In the West, they would be in a tie for ninth. Though in both cases, their points per game would lift them a spot higher. So, they are a quite solidly mediocre team. In other words, the Timbers should be the better side. With the benefit of Providence Park, there is little reason not to expect three points. And unlike Montreal a couple of weeks ago, Philly hasn’t been on a recent run of form. So, can the Timbers take care of business? Maybe even win a game by more than one goal? Let me know with your predictions! Total Cards O/U: 3.5 The Scoring Format: Correct score: 5 points Correct result (draw/win/loss): 3 points Each clean sheet: 2 points Each goal-scorer: 1 point Each FK/PK/assist/lack of assist: 1 point Goal/assist bonus: 1 point Player with the first yellow card of the match: 1 point Each player with a red card: 1 point (Can not earn points for predicting 0 red cards, but you may predict up to 3 players with a red.) earn points for predicting 0 red cards, but you may predict up to 3 players with a red.) Over/under on total cards: 1 point Most outrageous(ly accurate) prediction: 2 points Some ground rules and explanations/clarifications (the fine print): You may amend your prediction at any point up to kick off to account for game day 18 announcements. I recommend at least getting an initial prediction sooner, just in case you forget to come back in that hour or two before the game. Keep your scoreline predictions realistic. Basically, if you’re predicting lots of goals all the time to just earn points on goals and assists and ignoring the score, I feel that goes against the spirit of this thread. This hasn’t been at all a problem in the last two years, so let’s keep it that way! The goal/assist bonus is an additional point if you correctly get the correct scorer and assistant on the same goal. (e.g., if Nagbe scores, assisted by Valeri, and you predicted that exact combination you get a total of three points - 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 bonus. However, if you predicted Nagbe scores assisted by Adi and Adi scores assisted by Valeri, you would get two points from the Nagbe/Valeri prediction - 1 goal, 1 assist) Please be clear whether you think a goal will be unassisted, assisted, or from a PK/FK. Unassisted = no assist, run of play; Assisted = player who got the assist; PK/FK = directly from a free kick. For the purposes of this thread, a PK counts as a FK, and a FK as a PK. If you just leave the assist section blank, I will assume you’re declining to make an assist prediction. Even though a player can be awarded a secondary assist by OPTA, I will award a maximum of one assist point per goal. But that point can come from either the primary or secondary assist in the box score. However, please keep your predictions to one assist per goal. For the over/under on cards, a second yellow leading to a red counts as two cards, not three. You may predict more than one red card if you’re expecting a chippy match, but only up to three total. For the most outrageous(ly accurate) prediction, I will be trying to toe a line between completely absurd and mundane in my choices. As I see it, the goal here is to add even more fun without going too over-the-top ridiculous. So, in my mind, the best predictions will be something that could conceivably happen, but don’t happen often, like amusing coaching spats or goals that bounce off the crossbar, then off the keeper’s back, and then in. Things like that. If you’re looking for where I set the over/under on total cards, check the end of the preview paragraph after the standings. Format: In the comment title, post your predicted score with the winners, eg: 4-2 Timbers In the body of your comment, start with the goals and assists, like so: Nagbe (Valeri) Valeri (Free kick) Adi (PK) Blanco (Unassisted) Beckham (Free kick) Donovan (Beckham) Next, choose your first yellow card, and that means picking only one person. First yellow to Nigel De Jong Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Nigel De Jong gets a red card for stomping Blanco. Clearly note whether you’re predicting over or under on total cards. Don’t leave me to try and figure it out! And lastly, make your fun prediction.<doc-sep>The Portland Timbers are in game three of their four game homestand today as they host Eastern Conference side the Philadelphia Union. With Sebastian Blanco suspended, Samuel Armenteros questionable, and Fanendo Adi sold to FC Cincinnati, the Timbers attack is missing some major pieces coming into today’s match and it will be up to Diego Valeri and company to find the answers. Now fourteen games unbeaten, a result for the Timbers today would equal the side’s 2013 run and become tied for the longest unbeaten run in team history. A win, however, could move the Timbers as high as second place in the West, still with at least one game in hand on everyone else in the conference. For their part, the Union currently sit within striking distance of a playoff berth in the East, just one point behind the New England Revolution and the Montreal Impact. While the Pennsylvania side have struggled on the road this year, they have taken some notable scalps away from home, including putting up a 3-1 win against the Houston Dynamo last weekend. Preview Storylines: “Look for their front four to be dangerous, Cory Burke has been seeing more playing time as late, which moves C.J. Sapong to the bench. Burke co-leads goals scored with Borek Dockal; they each have five apiece. Speaking of Dockal, he’s been involved in at least half of goals scored for the Union. He’s the number 10 and creative force behind the Union’s attack.” And stop by the Rose City Forecast to make your predictions about today’s match. Match Information How to watch: FOX 12 Plus (KPDX) Where: Providence Park in Portland, OR When: Saturday, August 3rd at 8:00 p.m. PT Portland Timbers: 9-3-7, 4th place in the Western Conference, 2-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo Philadelphia Union: 8-10-3, 7th place in the Eastern Conference, 3-1 win at Houston Dynamo<doc-sep>The Portland Timbers tied their team record for matches unbeaten at fifteen with today’s 3-0 win over the visiting Philadelphia Union. After a close fought first half, the Timbers were able to take over the match after half time, getting goals from two penalties and three different players as they held on to all three points. From the start both sides came out in a decidedly defensive posture and, despite a series of entry balls into the box for both sides, chances were close to nonexistent in the early going. The visitors were able to finally put a shot on goal in the 23rd minute, working the ball out wide to the flank and finding the feet of striker C.J. Sapong. With Zarek Valentin closing him down, Sapong cut inside and hit a curling ball toward the far post, but did not have the power on his shot to challenge Jeff Attinella who made the diving save. The chances finally started to come for the Timbers late in the half as the side began to capitalize on some sloppy passing from the Philadelphia midfield. In the 34th minute, the home side were able to get the ball down in the Union half and feed Diego Chara forward, into the box. With a defender on his back, Chara flicked a ball central and into the path Andy Polo. The speedy midfielder was able to put a boot to the ball, but could not direct his chance on goal, instead putting it up and over the bar. In the 42nd, the Timbers nearly capitalized on a free kick in the Union half when Diego Valeri hit a curling ball into the visitors’ box. Getting out ahead of the pack of defenders, Samuel Armenteros was able to get a touch on Valeri’s free kick as it dropped in front of goal, but he could only put his shot directly at Union keeper Andre Blake who made the straightforward save. The Timbers kept the pressure on and, in the 43rd minute, it was Armenteros providing a chance to Valeri. Holding the ball up outside the Union box, Armenteros managed to spin and scoop a pass forward for the run of Valeri. The Maestro cut inside around a defender and got off a quick shot, but put it just wide of the far post. As the second half resumed, Union No. 10 Borek Dockal attempted an audacious shot directly from the restart, but put the attempt over the bar. The Timbers responded with a chance of their own in the 48th minute. After bringing the ball down on the Timbers’ back line, Larrys Mabiala stepped forward and played a diagonal ball that Armenteros let roll through his legs and into the path of Valeri. Cutting inside, Valeri uncorked a shot that again flew just wide of the far post. In the 51st minute the Union were able to work the ball forward into the Timbers end, passing the ball around the perimeter of the box before switching the play and finding midfielder Derrick Jones at the back post. Jones took a touch and fired a shot on goal, only for Attinella to make a strong save and push the ball away from goal. With both sides opening up, the first goal of the match was coming and the Timbers found it in the 58th minute. On the break down the pitch, Diego Valeri played a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Alvas Powell, only for the Timbers full back to be fouled as he cut into the box. As Powell went down, referee Alan Kelly had no choice but to point to the spot, awarding the Timbers their third penalty kick of the season. With Blake in goal, Valeri stepped up to the spot and hit the ball stright down the middle as the Union keeper sprawled out to the left, giving the Timbers a 1-0 lead. The Timbers came close to extending their lead in the 78th minute when Valentin set Polo free down the left wing. Polo raced past his defender to run onto the through ball before cutting inside and carrying the ball toward the center of the pitch before unloading a heavy shot on goal. The shot dipped as it reached Blake in goal and the Union keeper was only able to knock it away and into the path of Dairon Asprilla, who was quite offside. In the 82nds minute, the Timbers were back at the penalty spot. After a quick move up the pitch put the ball at the feet of Valeri inside the Union box, the Maestro was taken down by an errant boot as he looked to weave his way through a mod of defenders. Again the referee had no hesitation as he pointed to the spot, but this time it was Asprilla who stepped up. After a short run up, Asprilla hit a low, hard penalty that Blake read correctly but could not stop as it powered through his dive and into the back of the net, extending the Timbers lead to 2-0. Things got worse for the visitors in the 87th minute when the Timbers notched their third of the night. After winning a free kick in the Union half, Valeri served in a curling ball that fell to the head of David Guzman at the back post. Guzman, making his first start since March, headed the ball back across the face of goal, wrong footing Blake and crossing the goal line for the second goal of his Timbers career. The Timbers finish their run of home games next Saturday when they host their northern rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps.<doc-sep>
The story so far The Timbers are coming off taking three points from the Houston Dynamo. With the win, the Timbers are in fourth place all alone, behind the likes of LAFC, LA Galaxy, and Western Conference leader FC Dallas. A win against this weekend would likely put them into third place, depending how the Galaxy fair this weekend. This weeks opponent: The Philadelphia Union. The Union come into the match after beating Houston 3-1. Don’t let the scoreline fool you, it was tied one all until a red card to Martinez (which, as we know, got rescinded) in the 59th minute that changed the match. And with Philly up a man they were able to score two more goals and get their second road win in a row, which ties the club record. Will the Union come in to play spoiler and stop the streak? Or will the Timbers dispatch the Union back to Philly without any points and still looking for that elusive third road win in a row. Brotherly love Coming into this weekend’s match the Union are looking to improve on their 8-10-3 record. They have the second best road record of any team not in a playoff spot (3-6-1), number one is the Vancouver Whitecaps (3-7-1). They’ve been averaging 1.29 PPG which would be good enough for the sixth and final playoff spot in the East passing up the New England Revolution who are barely holding on to that sixth playoff spot. This will be the Union’s fourth match in 10 days and they have a midweek U.S. Open Cup semi-final against the Chicago Fire. So the time is ripe for the Timbers to take it to a fatigued Philadelphia Union squad, and extend their unbeaten run to a club record-tying 15th consecutive match without a loss. Chalkboard Jim Curtin will run out a 4-2-3-1, it’s the only formation that Philly has used this season. Look for their front four to be dangerous, Cory Burke has been seeing more playing time as late, which moves C.J. Sapong to the bench. Burke co-leads goals scored with Borek Dockal; they each have five apiece. Speaking of Dockal, he’s been involved in at least half of goals scored for the Union. He’s the number 10 and creative force behind the Union’s attack. Curtin has put his trust in not one, but two 19 year-old center backs in Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty. So if there’s a weak link, I’d look at the two CBs. They’re young and prone to make mistakes now and then, and the Timbers will just need to force those errors. Speaking of errors, the Union at times seem to just ‘switch off’ and have a total breakdown of shape. Catch them out of shape on the counter, and one could likely net a goal or two. Though getting a goal will be a bit tough with their 27 year-old shot stopper Andre Blake. While not exactly young as some keepers, he is regarded as one of the better keepers in the league; up there with Zack Steffen, Jesse Gonzalez, and some of the younger keepers coming through. The Timbers will need to shut down the midfield trio of Dockal, Fafa Picault, and David Accam. While Accam hasn’t done so well since coming to the Union via the Chicago fire, he is still a dangerous player. From what I’ve watched, this is a very winnable match. But, I don’t want to get ahead of myself as the Timbers need to come out and do their thing. Last week, Gio Savarese rolled out his three (or five) in the back against the Dynamo and it worked. Like I said last week, I’ve given up trying to pin down what formation Gio is going to use. From what I’ve been able to tell, it goes on an opponent by opponent basis when picking out the evenings formation. My gut tells me that he won’t roll out that formation again, right after using it against Houston. Log slices Looking down the injury list, and only one person is on it: Samuel Armenteros, he’s listed as questionable as of this writing. With Armenteros out, we will most likely see Asprilla up top in the striker position, though I’m really hoping Armenteros is ready to go and rested. Could this also be the weekend that we see Liam Ridgewell return to the team?