Kamara, surging Crew SC returns home to face Portland Timbers

Columbus Crew SC look to continue building momentum when the Black & Gold host Portland Timbers on Saturday....

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]aturday’s match-up in Columbus will feature two contrasting clubs that favor different styles of play. Columbus Crew SC is one of Major League Soccer’s most complete squads and a white-hot attack that can turn a match’s pace into a track meet.

Winless in over a month, Portland Timbers will need a quality performance from its attack personnel, should it have any hopes of staying above the red line for the 6th and final playoff spot in the MLS Western Conference. With optimal pitch conditions in Central Ohio and both teams jockeying for playoff positions, fans should expect an uptempo match pace from the Black & Gold.

Should Portland slow down Kamara & Co. and keep the score tally low, the Timbers will need a stellar performance from its back four.      

What to expect from Portland Timbers

Projected Starting XI (4-5-1) GK: Kwarasey, D: Powell, Borchers, Ridgewell, Villafaña, M: Chara, Johnson (Captain), Nagbe, Valeri, Melano, F: Adi

Standings: 6th place, Western Conference, 41 points

Form (previous 5 MLS matches): W-D-L-D-L, 5 points

At 29 total goals for this season, the Timbers are second to last in the MLS, a less than impressive mark that’s just two goals ahead of last place Colorado Rapids. What may be more concerning for Caleb Porter’s club is that their last win came against Real Salt Lake over a month ago (August 15). With San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake in striking distance for the 6th and final spot in the West (at 40 and 38 total points respectively), Portland will look to keep the scoreline low at MAPFRE Stadium and rely heavily on disciplined defending .    

For the Portland attack to be fluid throughout large stretches, midfielder Diego Chara will need to win the physical battle and force Crew SC’s Tony Tchani into turnovers in the middle third. Despite giving up more than half a foot to Tchani, the Colombian has superior fitness and breakaway speed to quickly start a counter-attack. Another speed burner for the Timbers that will look to cause fits off set piece chances and exploit Crew SC center back Tyson Wahl is midfielder Darlington Nagbe. A gifted technical finisher off corners, Nagbe is keen at sprinting into boxes uncovered off corner kicks.    

The Timbers are at their best when midfielder Diego Valeri has touches and is directing the traffic up the middle. The Argentine leads Portland with 10 assists this season and will look to feed forward Fanendo Adi the short through-ball. Adi is not trigger-shy (registering a club high 71 shots), but it is what Portland will need to get on the board first at MAPFRE. Off the bench, Maximiliano Urruti will provide not just a pair of fresh legs. but the breakaway speed in the late stages of the match that have been a liability for the Columbus center backs.

What to expect from Columbus Crew SC

Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1):  GK: Clark, Afful, Parkhurst (captain), Wahl, Klute, M:Tchani, Trapp, Finlay, Meram, Higuain, F: Kamara

Standings: 2nd  place, Eastern Conference, 47 points

Form (previous 5 MLS matches): W-W-L-W-W, 12  points

Returning home after an impressive 2-1 victory at D.C. United, Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has seen tremendous focus and poise from his club. With a sell-out crowd expected in Columbus, the Black & Gold hope to stick to their game plan tactically and play the same attack-minded soccer that has produced 49 total goals this season, a mark tied for 2nd in all of MLS. Forward and MLS goals leader Kei Kamara is the catalyst of Berhalter’s attack that swings the pace and momentum of any given match to open up the Columbus attack.

With Waylon Francis still questionable with a quad strain, defender Chris Klute could see extended minutes this match. Working up the flanks on the attack and a skilled on-ball defender, Klute is a two-way player with a high fitness level. Klute’s hustle mentality from end line to end line is what opens up passing lanes for Federico Higuain and Ethan Finlay into the final third for accurate shots on goal.

As much as Crew SC supporters love seeing number 23 put world-class header finishes in the back of the net, Columbus needs to find greater consistency at the center back position. Black & Gold Captain Michael Parkhurst has improved his fitness over the course of the year to keep attackers at bay, off the counter-attack and on set-pieces. However, Parkhurst and goalkeeper Steve Clark need consistency from the other center back position to eliminate scoring gaps off set-piece chances. Tyson Wahl can be expected to get the nod for the starting XI, but don’t be surprised if Gaston Sauro comes in as a second half sub for the Black & Gold.             

Prediction:

Columbus Crew SC: 3

Portland Timbers: 2

Expect a fast-pace from Kamara and Finlay trying to gain the early advantage and get the sell-out crowd in the match. Kamara is a big-time performer when the lights shine bright and will register the opening goal for Columbus off a header. With the middle clogged up and Kamara overmarked, Harrison Afful and Klute will find different attack angles up the perimeter. A very active Finlay finds a beautifully timed through ball from Higuain to make it 2-0 Black & Gold heading into the break.

In the second half, Valeri and Adi find opportunities off the counter. After Adi launches a few shot attempts in the 10th row of the south stands, Crew SC begins to lay off. Call it skill or luck, Adi finds a Nagbe pass and bends it past a diving Clark. Portland is looking for a result on the road and subs in Urruti around the 70 minute mark. Outpacing the Columbus defense, Urruti draws a poor challenge from Wahl outside the box. The Timbers free kick goes over the wall and hits the crossbar, yet Nagbe sneaks in unmarked off the rebound and volleys it home to tie the match. Berhalter makes a defensive substitution and brings in Sauro for Wahl, as the Argentine receives a standing ovation as he steps onto the pitch. Meram is subbed out as well for Cedric Mabwati to give new life to the attacking midfield. In the waning moments of the match, Mabwati breaks through off an Higuain pass to shoot a one-time laser in the back of the net. The “bend but not break” Crew SC backline fends off final shot attempts in five minutes of stoppage time.        

 

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