Portland Timbers v Chivas USA Preveiw

The Timbers have a quick turn around after being defeated by the L.A Galaxy at home 5-3 just a few days ago.   This time they travel down to L.A to take on the team from the other side of the city, Chivas USA.  Chivas themselves are coming off a 4-1 defeat to Seattle in the U.S Open Cup and with that blip on the radar they'll be looking to get back to league play.  Currently they sit only one two spaces and one point above the Timbers in the West...unfortunately Portland do sit in dead last.  In their last two games these teams have combined to allow 9 goals, but I wouldn't expect as many fireworks.  The last time these two met Chivas won 2-1 and it came around the stretch when Portland was making fun out of letting in late goals that would cost them the game.    Much has changed in the meantime for the Timbers but similar to Portland, Chivas USA have struggled to find their identity, and wins.   Chivas forward Juan Pablo Angel is a player I have always liked, but he hasn't performed particularly well this season with only 3 goals on the campaign so far.  Angel is a player similar to Boyd in the sense they both share that poachers instinct.  He's the type that could be quiet all game and then pop up and score a goal out of nothing.  While Juan Pablo is certainly getting up there in years, you can see glimpses of the player he was when he used to do a job for Aston Villa in the premier league (44 goals in 173 games for Villa).  All being said Angel has only started 6 games so its still in doubt whether he will get the nod or not.   Also of note, former Sounders outside back James Riley has adjusted well since being moved to L.A and has started in a team high 17 games.

Even with their poor away record, who am I kidding, their awful away record, the Timbers shouldn't over-rate Chivas at home.   Especially in the MLS where really anybody can beat anybody on any given day.  The short space in between games wont necessarily be harmful to Portland either.  The quicker they get back on the field the quicker they can move beyond all the talk surrounding the "8 goal game" against the Galaxy.  While the Timbers have plenty of questions to answer, captain Jack Jewsbury looked re-invigorated after being returned to his favored center midfield role.   Darlington Nagbe, despite working hard, struggled to find much room in the Galaxy game but it's a mistake to overlook his obvious technical skill and ability to make something happen on a dime.   Portland Forward Kris Boyd got on the score sheet twice against L.A and should be expected to start tomorrow.  Hopefully Boyd can capitalize on adding some more goals to his name, and get on the type form Timbers fans have been yearning for.  Confidence plays a huge part of scoring goals for any forward.  Kick off is slated for 1:00 P.M at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles and you can catch the game on Root Sports.

Player to Watch: David Horst
While Kris Boyd is the obvious choice here, after the Galaxy game I wanted to pick a defender to watch for some improvement.  Coach Gavin Wilkinson, a former center back himself, will have put an emphasis on firming up a back line that leaked 5 goals at Jeld Wen last game.  If Wilkinson sticks with defender David Horst look for him to  have a "tackle-with-his-head" type performance, throwing his sizable 6-4 body all around the field.  Horst has put in solid performances since returning from some fairly serious hip problems.  His desire to chase down a tackle, or put himself in front of a shot could set the tone for the Timbers from the back line up to the rest of the team.