PBP: Casey's 12th Symphony - Rapids take on the Timbers in Hispterville for the Snow Classico Rematch

Go Rapids. Still crawling back to MLS attention after Women's World Cup and being away.

 

With Price questionable and Acosta suspended I wonder if Bassett will pair with Wilson ad D-mid for this match. - assume Casey goes with a 4-2-3-1. I suppose Mezquida could also be a candidate for that role.

Looks like both Lewis and Nicholson are 100% so I am assuming they'll both start which should give the Rapids some serious threats from the wing.

This is definitely a litmus test for Casey. He's had a couple of extra days to think about the tactics and formation and get players a bit of rest. Will the Rapids come out with passion and confidence as they have for most the matches under his watch? Or will they be a step slow, etc., as they seemed to be v NE last week?

 

1-1 draw, goal by Lewis. This is a little optimistic and a one goal loss would not be surprising. Portland has had a busy week though with a game last Sunday and an Open Cup game in LA last night, so they're going to be a bit tired even at home and I think we can steal a point off of them.

http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2019/07/rapids-head-to-sunny-portland.html

 

I am guessing Lewis starts, but goes 60 -80 minutes, He hasn't played but one match in the last month or so and in his USMNT appearance didn't get the full 90.

Regardless, he seems t o be a key piece to the Rapids attack this season. Hope his hamstring doesn't bother him any more and his fitness soon allows him to play 90 minutes.

 

Portland played their first 12 matches on the road because of the renovations at Providence Park, and this is only their 4th home match of the season. They started the season 0-5-1, and have gone 7-3-1 since that start, a 2.0 PPG pace in their last 11. A point for Colorado in this match would be a huge accomplishment.

 

This is a game that is hard to predict. Having Lewis and Nicholson back is huge. That will give Portland fits with the speed and Kamara sitting up top for the final header.

But having Price and Acosta out makes me pretty nervous. Portland is quite good and at home, so I don't see our "new look" defense being able to truly keep them at bay the entire game.

Portland did play just the other day and actually played starters. As such, their starters may tire and/or sit.

So, I suspect we will go down a goal (or two) in the first half. As the game winds on, we will pick back up a goal (or two) and come out with a point.

Note that this is extremely optimistic. I could easily see a fairly high-scoring loss based on Acosta/Price missing.

How CC plays this one will dictate quite a bit. If we go with a "bunker" mentality, I don't see success. Our back line may be OK, but the midfield will cause too many chances.

If we go after them with our speed and Kamara, therefore keeping the ball on the offense, we may fair better and have a high-scoring tie. Given that this team has pulled out some huge surprises (LAFC), I can't say we won't win. I just don't expect it.

rod.

 

Acosta out and Price questionable. 2-1 or 3-1 loss. Portland is picking up steam and I don't see the Rapids containing Brian Fernandez. Our attack may have more in them than I give credit for with Nicholson and Lewis in the lineup, but I'm really not optimistic about this one. Tie would be great.

 

Prediction:

We have never won in Portland.
We have lost every game we have played in Portland.
We had our first loss after a very impressive stretch.

Can we rebound? Will Portland not come out motivated at home?

I’m not convinced yet. Been a horrible past 3 years of misery.

Portland 3-2 Rapids

 

I made a mistake... I didn’t see the one win we had in Portland in 2011. It was the first time we played them in Portland and we won 1-0 on a Drew Moore goal in the 90th minute on June 11 2011

 

I was at that game. Moor was offside on the play but it was pre-VAR so we got away with it.

 

Gio Savarese, Portland’s coach, missed the midweek USOC game due to traveling home to Italy to visit his terminally ill father, who passed away at the end of the week. He has told Portland he wants to coach tonight’s game and will be on the sideline.

 

Lineup:

✅ 100th MLS appearance for @K_J_Rose
✅ Our 750th game in @MLS

Here's our XI to face Portland.

📝 https://t.co/vgubhtrtTX#Rapids96 | #PORvCOL pic.twitter.com/JMxWekW0bu

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 14, 2019

 

Now we see what they are made of.

 

What was redone with Portland's stadium? Did they add a deck?

 

New seats

 

Rain/lightning delay delayed the Rockies. Was hoping to watch Kyle Freeland's return. Maybe I'll have to fire up a stream somewhere.

 

Celo focusing on how Portland possess; apparently they are good at that. We will see.

 

Portland goal keeper Clark just headed away a challenge. I haven't seen that before.

 

The Rapids are good at disrupting their opponents rhythm. Isn’t pretty but effective.

 

Marco Farfan out for the Timbers at minute 9. Knee injury.

 

I like that...Shinyashiki sent in a cross on the ground to Lewis. Too many of the aerial variety is too easy to defend.

 

Nice shot

 

Kamara cuts in from left, nice low shot just saved and it deflects off the near post.