Portland Timbers vs DC United Game Preview

Predicted Lineups: 

Portland Timbers 

Starters: (4-2-3-1) - James Pantemis; Juan Mosquera, Zac McGraw, Kamal Miller, Eric Miller, Diego Chara, Santiago Moreno, Evander, Eryk Williamson, Antony, Dairon Asprilla

Subs: Trey Muse, Miguel Araujo, Dario Zuparic, David Ayala, Nathan Fogaca, Chrisithian Paredes, Tega Ikoba 

Captain: Diego Chara

Injury Report:

Out

• Maxime Crepeau (personal reasons)

• Claudio Bravo (knee)

• Felipe Mora (foot)

• Marvin Loria (knee)

Questionable

• Evander

DC United 

Starters: (4-1-2-1-2) - Alex Bono, Aaron Herrera, Lucas Bartlett, Christopher McVey, Jared Stroud, Conner Antley, Matti Peltola, Mateusz Klich, Gabriel Pirani, Ted Ku-DiPietro, Christian Benteke

Subs: Luis Zamudio, Hayden Sargis, Matai Akinmboni, Jeremy Garay, Jackson Hopkins, Pedro Santos, Martín Rodríguez, Cristian Dájome, Kristian Fletcher

Captain: Christian Benteke

Injury Report:

Out

• Steven Birnbaum (left knee)

• Russell Canouse (right ankle)

• Tyler Miller (right shoulder)

Questionable

• Mohanad Jeahze

• Garrison Tubbs (right thigh)

• Jacob Murrell (right thigh)

The Managers: 

Portland Timbers - Phil Neville -  For the second week, DC will face a team with a new Head Coach, and like the  Revolution went with a MLS veteran in Phil Neville. The Timbers seem to be in a similar situation as DC United, in that they are in the midst of a rebuild. From his time with Inter Miami we know that Neville will look to build a solid defense and hit teams on the counter attack.

Last week’s win should help quiet some Timbers fans' minds as Neville's appointment was met with wide-scale skepticism, largely down to his poor start with Inter Miami, in which they lost 10 of the first 15 matches of the 2023 season.

In regards to Neville's tactics, expect the Timbers to set up in the classic 4-2-3-1 so it can best utilize Evander’s talent as a playmaker and the speed of his wingers. Neville likes for his offense to move the ball quickly, and deliberately in the attack. Look for very direct attacks, off of solid defense.

DC United - Troy Lesesne - The New DC United Head Coach makes his debut on the sidelines after serving a one game ban for picking up two yellow cards in the playoff match versus FC Cincinnati when he was the interim Head Coach of the New York Red Bulls last season. A young energetic Head Coach who helped to establish and led New Mexico United in the USL Championship. Between his time with Red Bulls and New Mexico United, Lesesne has used tactical ideas that are similar to Jim Curtin in Philadelphia and Pat Noonan in Cincinnati.

Summary: 

Two teams that had impressive wins in their opening games, face off against each other in the second weekend, when DC United visit Providence Park and take on the Portland Timbers. The Timbers defeated the Colorado Rapids 4-1 in their home opener, while the Black and Red beat the New England Revolution 3-1.

The two teams are in similar situations as they look to turn around their fortunes. Where DC United has not made the playoffs for four straight seasons, the Portland Timbers failed to make it into the playoffs for two straight seasons. 

In their opening game, Portland had a near perfect first half, and they headed into the half-time break leading 4-0. The Rapids were able to pull one back in the second half, but it proved to only be a consolation goal as the game ended 4-1. 

For DC, this will the first of a two-game road trip, and an opportunity to prove they deserved the first week win. For many commentators, the fact that New England went down a man, negated the fact that DC had dominated the Revolution even before the second booking. Nor did National pundits seem to recognize that DC scored three against a team that was basically bunkering for much of the rest of the game.

United and the Timbers face-off for the 11th time in MLS regular-season action this week. At four wins each, and two draws, the series is looking for a tiebreaker this Saturday. If history is any indicator, then this match could be a high-scoring affair. The clubs are averaging nearly three goals scored per match when facing one another and both are coming off wins where each scored 3+ goals.

Keys to the Match: 

Can DC play with the same intensity? 

The intensity with which the Black & Red’s new starting eleven came out with, caught everyone, the Revs, the commentators, the fans in the stadium and watching on TV, off guard. The team played with a high energy full press that hasn’t been seen since the early Hernan Losada days. That said, this press didn’t seem as frenetic, and the organization of the press meant individual players didn’t need to run all over. Instead there were quick sprints that players would make to shut down passing lanes, and win loose balls. Throughout the game, DC players just seemed to be faster than the Revolution players.

For DC United to be successful in Portland, the team needs to come out with the same type of energy. Timber Nation will be loud, and after last week’s victory, enthusiastic. DC will need to weather their energy and get control of the game. The Timbers took it to the Rapids, but had chances. If Colorado had taken their chances, the game might have ended differently. DC can’t let their chances go by in vain.

Expect DC to not be as energetic on the road as they were last week, but be more so than last season.

Who will play Left Back?

Last week, prior to the official lineup being released, Mohanad Jeahze was expected to start. There was hope that fans would finally see the player they were promised when Jeahze was made one of the highest paid Left Backs in MLS. This was a player that Celtic FC were considering making a bid on. It was therefore a bit surprising that not only was Jeahze not in the starting lineup, he wasn’t on the bench. That Jeahze didn’t show up on the injury report, questions were raised to which United deferred. Rumors have since surfaced that Mohanad Jeahze wants to return to Europe, and DC is shopping him.

To that end, it’s unknown who will start for DC United at Left Back. There is a small chance Mohanad Jeahze gets a start, but it’s a small chance. Pedro Santos got the start last week against New England, and while he was okay in the first half, he had the assist on Benteke’s first goal, his defensive limitations were easily seen in the second half. Newly acquired Conner Antley looked decent coming off the bench, he too had an assist. Antley is younger and faster, with better defensive skills, but he’s not a natural left sided player.

Other options include Cristian Dájome, who played as a Left Wingback when with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He was not that great though, as his defense was suspect.

Christopher McVey and Matai Akinmboni also could be used as Left Backs. They would not be ideal choices, but could provide United with a more defensive option. This could be a good chance for Akinmboni to get more needed playing time.

Most likely Conner Antley will get his first start with DC United.

Who besides Benteke will score?

Christian Benteke led DC United with 14 goals last season, as the offense went through him. Whether Benteke scored or not often dictated if United would win. In this season’s opener Benteke continued this trend when he scored a hat trick to help DC get the easy win. Other United players had opportunities, but couldn’t put the ball in the net. Jared Stroud had the best opportunity, with Ted Ku-DiPietro a close second. Both players showed a propensity to put themselves in position to score, but botched the final delivery. If both can make their shots, they will help ease the pressure on Benteke. In this marathon of a season, it will be necessary for the Black & Red to have alternative scoring options on the pitch so opponents are punished if they focus too much on Christian Benteke.

Does Evander play?

One of the more impressive aspects of Portland’s 4-1 drubbing of the Colorado Rapids is that it was done without their star Designated Player, Evander. He was expected to play, but was forced to leave during warm-ups with a right calf injury and never returned in a precautionary move. Newly acquired Winger Antony softened the blow, putting in two goals, and making the cross that led to an own goal. 

Yet there was a reason that the Timbers made Evander their club-record signing last offseason, and though he got off to a shaky start, the Brazilian demonstrated he could be the DP the Timbers needed in 2023. He led Portland with nine goals and added four assists. More importantly he grew stronger over the course of the MLS season. 

If Portland were to have both Evander and Antony on the field Saturday night, United’s defense will surely be tested.

Things to Watch: 

Offense - The Black and Red’s offense will continue to go through striker Christian Benteke. In week one he showed he will again provide scoring. It was obvious in the opening game that part of the tactics that were employed was to put the ball in the air for Benteke to put his head on. It obviously worked against the Revolution, but might not be as effective against the Portland backline which added one of the best MLS Center Backs in Kamal Miller.

If aerial crosses prove to be not as effective, it will be important for DC to move the ball quickly with short accurate passes. This is where Ted Ku-DiPietro showed his best position is playing as a false nine, just off Benteke. The two demonstrated a strong partnership in moving off the other without the ball, and getting into dangerous positions. If either had been able to get a one-touch shot off, they might have had additional goals against the Revs. The ability of the two to play through congestion in the opponent’s penalty box will be a key to United’s offense.

With Benteke and Ted KDP playing the focal point of the attack, Gabriel Pirani and Jared Stroud will play a constantly moving off the ball attack. Technically Pirani was the ten, and was playing just under the two forwards, but during attacking play you were just as likely to see him on the wings, especially the left, picking up the ball and dribbling at the defense. On the other side, Stroud was the Right Wing, yet he seemed more often than not to be attacking up the middle and ceding the wide right to Aaron Herrera, who demonstrated his ability to cross the ball. Their movement along with that of Mateusz Klich allowed DC to create overloads on offense that could be exploited with better finishing.

Off the bench in the game against the Revs was notable teenager Kristen Fletcher. It was a shaky debut, but still showed his athletic potential. He needs to let the game come to him, and not try to force things. He has all the ability in the world as long as he plays in the system and with his teammates. Also off the bench were Cristian Dájome and Jackson Hopkins. Dájome was a bit of a surprise, but he demonstrated the speed that surely played a factor in his role. He did earn a direct free kick in a dangerous area that Klich made a strong go for. Hopkins again showed he has versatility to play outside and in which will prove useful in Head Coach Lesesne’s tactics.

Additional players off the bench will be Martín Rodríguez who we have not seen in over a year. In his early games for United he showed he could bring some offensive punch, especially the long cross that United seem to want to employ. The biggest mystery United has at the moment is Pedro Santos. Will Santos continue to start at the Left Back spot in place of Mohanad Jeahze. Santos showed on the opening United goal that he has the ability to play the ball into the box, but he also showed the 35 year old doesn’t have the legs for 90 minutes of playing as a Wingback. Both he and the team would be better served with him coming off the bench.

With Jared Stroud and Pirani starting and Rodríguez and Santos coming off the bench, expect the Black & Red to continue to cross the ball often into the box, and challenge Benteke to put the ball on goal.  

Defense - We now know a bit more about DC United’s completely new defense, and the first showing was excellent. Alex Bono got the nod in goal, and again showed he can be one of the better Goalkeepers in the league. His one goal conceded was a Goal of the Season candidate that no Goalie in MLS was going to save, maybe even the world. Bono continued to show calm and resolve making a number of impressive saves and a willingness to be vocal and control his penalty box. Considering he was playing behind a completely new backline, it was an excellent showing.

The new Center Backs showed well, Lucas Bartlett, and Christopher McVey both played well off each other, both before and after the second yellow card. They both handled the pace of New England’s Esmir Bajraktarevic and Tomas Chancalay, not allowing either to feel comfortable on the ball. Bartlett and McVey both demonstrated more pace than last season’s backline, and the ability to move forward in support of the press. There was a noticeable intent by the defenders to move the ball upfield more frequently through long passes, and both Bartlett and McVey showed quite capable of breaking lines with their passing.

With Mohanad Jeahze’s status up in the air, there is a chance that McVey is moved into the Left Back spot. He has all the tools to be a good defender there, and has the passing ability to play long passes into the box. It might be more a question does Head Coach Lesesne trust Matai Akinmboni as the starting Center Back in the very hostile environment of Providence Park. 

Another option is starting Conner Antley, who in his limited minutes showed he at least had the skills and athleticism to be on the field. A more natural Right Back, Antley would be a little out of position, but his history suggests he would play with a tenacity that is needed.

On the other side of the pitch there is no question about who will be starting. Aaron Herrera showed why he had been considered one of the best young defenders in MLS. He showed that tenacious edge a defender needs to make opponents uncomfortable, was consistently in the right spot to intercept passes and break up play, and was a big reason United was able to transition the ball forward off of turnovers quickly into potential scoring opportunities.

All of the newly acquired defenders acquitted themselves quite well in the first game. This was especially true for new Central Defensive Midfielder Matti Peltola who was the biggest mystery going into the game. With every preview of DC United there was the obligatory reference that Peltola had only ever played in Finland, yet the young DP showed he deserved to be on the field. He demonstrated great awareness of where to be on the pitch to intercept a number of passes, and remarkable speed to close down opponents. He on a number of occasions flustered Charles Gil, and was a big reason New England found little joy up the middle. Peltola also demonstrated his pinpoint accuracy in his passing. Where Peltola will need to improve is he sometimes wanted to wait for a ball, or didn’t move it quickly enough. These things will come as he gets acclimated to MLS and playing with Mateusz Klich.

As expected, Head Coach Troy Lesesne’s team utilized a pressing defense, and it was more similar to that which is utilized in Cincinnati and Philadelphia rather than what he used with the Energy Drink team. It was quite effective in its debut, but there are undoubtedly going to be some growing pains. On the road in a different time zone, facing the Timber Nation in Providence Park could be a serious test of the new system.

By the Numbers 

Portland key players 

• Anthony has 2 goals 

• Eryk Williams has 1 goal and an assist 

• Juan Mosquera has an ay

• Christian Paredes has one assist.

DC United key players 

• Christian Benteke has 3 goals 

• Pedro Santos has an assist, 

• Connor Antley has an assist.

• Aaron Herrera has an assist 

Predictions:

Richard - 1-1 draw. It will be difficult for DC United to keep a clean sheet in Portland. The Timbers showed they were quite capable of scoring last week. At the same time Benteke should the Black & Red are also capable of scoring. In the end I believe both teams pick up a point.

Where: Providence Park 

When: Saturday, March 2, 2024

Pregame: 10:15pm ET

Kickoff:  10:30pm ET

Coverage: Apple TV - MLS Pass

Written by: RJ Rolsen