PBP: Rapids @ Timbers • Weds., Sept. 15 • 8pm

Tomorrow? Yikes. 2-0 loss. My first loss prediction since the streak.

Hope against hope I’m wrong. Yarbrough will want to pitch a shut out.

 

1-0 win, goal by Rubio. Portland has one of the worst defenses in the league, but they've won their last 3 games by shutout. The first against Seattle, impressively, but the other two against Vancouver and Houston who don't have great offenses. I don't think they can keep the shoutout run going, meanwhile I'm liking our chances at bouncing back from a disappointing draw on Saturday.

http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2021/09/axe-timbers.html

 

There are no players listed on the injury report or otherwise unavailable for tonight's game on the Rapids media notes. (For Colorado, Portland has an absence or two)

 

So, that means Rubio will be out again yeah?

 

So the Timbers have scored in 13 straight games, scoring 19 goals in that stretch (1.46 goals per game). They’ve also allowed 22 goals in that stretch (1.69 goals per game).

However, they allowed 17 of those 22 goals in 4 games. If you take those 4 games out as outliers, then Portland would be averaging 0.56 goals against, and 1.56 goals for per game in their last stretch of games.

So, look for Portland to be a really tough matchup tonight. Plus, they’ve been on the road their last 5 games and will look to put up a good performance as they want to keep their playoff push alive (currently 5th in the west, but only 3 points ahead of LAFC in 8th who are coming on strong lately).

That being said, the Rapids are undefeated in their last 8 games, only allowing 5 goals in that stretch (0.63 goals against avg) and scoring 11 (1.38 avg) - and haven’t allowed more than one goal in any of those 8.

I have a feeling this can turn into one of those shootout type games with lots of goals being scored - but this could also end up being a defensive showdown. I’m thinking it’s another 2-0 win for the good guys tonight tho. Fraser will have us out there looking solid. Price will be back too. We’re also really solid on the road.

Portland will be looking to get control early. If the Rapids can weather that first storm and take control of the flow of the game (like we have done time and time again) this can go well for us.

 

Similarly the Rapids have given up 21 goals in 22 games this season, but 9 of those goals were in 3 games against Austin, FSL, and SKC. So in the other 19 games they've given up 12 goals. We gave two goals up twice (to LAFC and Minnesota), so in 17 games we've given up 1 or 0 goals (9 shutouts, 8 1 goal games). We've also only been shutout 3 times this season.

 

Will test the Rapids / Altitude terrestrial radio network this evening. Headed up into the Dakota's for family business for a few days. So, looking at Altitude's network - looks like my best choices are AM stations in Fort Morgan, Colorado, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Belle Fourche, South Dakota.

Bonus points for anyone who can properly pronounce "Belle Fourche". It's a bit of a shibboleth to know if anyone is familiar with the northern plains area.

 

I would know how to pronounce it if it were in France (or Quebec). How they pronounce it in SD is anybody's guess.

Dubois, WY, is pronounced Du-bois (as in Boise) by the natives. And there's always Bu-na Vista, CO.

 

I know nothing, so I’ll go with 1-1 Rapids.

Anyone have a good outdoor place to watch in Boulder/ Broomfield area? Otherwise I’ll have to sneak into that old folks home again.

 

Guess what:

Player Availability Report:
Out – Diego Rubio (injury)

https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/roster-notes-portland-timbers-vs-colorado-rapids

 

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈

⚽️ 8:00 PM
📺@AltitudeTV
📻@AltitudeSR
📱#PORvCOL@MyKingSoopers x #Rapids96 https://t.co/zj9sO8O5E0

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) September 16, 2021

 

Any links for streaming would be appreciated, i actually have the night off...if only Comcast had Altitude, sigh

 

Probably a 5-4-1 on defensive transitions, but a 4-3-2-1 on the offense with Galvan pushing high.

Imagine Fraser will want to keep Acosta and Barrios on the bench if able to with our game on Sunday - however, can see both or either of them coming on if needed around the 65-70th minute. I also imagine Esteves comes on for Galvan at some point to spell Galvan and keep his minutes fresh

 

Scary bad miss by Lewis. C’mon.

 

As of the 30th minute, I'm really digging the persistent pressure. Solid. And when they give it up to PDX, their possession sure as hell doesn't last long (though Blanco had a few nice chances).

But damn, been a bit frustrated with Jonathan Lewis... or at least the circumstances he's been in. Getting bodied off the ball in the box, missing on a few open shots, etc.. In most cases, his diminutive size was at least partially an effect in most of the above. Then again, Bassett got bodied off the ball in the box as well, I think.

And then you have Galvan... Wow. It seems he's had like 20 crosses from the left side already! That's great news. But after about the 4th or 5th one, I was hoping he'd mix up his routine a bit to keep them off guard... dribbling, attack, take them to the end line,... but it's mostly all crosses. Maybe one or two were he dribbled back toward the middle a bit. He's gotta be more than the one-trick pony (as has come up in past thread discussions).

Anyway. Just a few observations. Bottomline, they're playing well! Go 'Pids!

 

Its on in the Rose City. First Blanco gets a yellow that could have been red, then Trusty sends a message in response and gets a yellow

 

And just as I say that... Galvan beats Tuiloma by attacking to the endline to draw a yellow and a free kick! I gotta post that sh$t more often! ;-)

 

Galvan player of the match so far. Constantly dangerous. He whips in a pretty dangerous cross. Unfortunate there’s been no one on the receiving end but agree it’s be nice to see him switch it up with some attacking. Shinyashiki’s been crafty on the ball as well. Price in typical control of the middle when on the ball.

Not much from Lewis or Bassett so far.

 

Tuiloma with some more stupidity and Portland now has the MLS 10-man advantage.

 

Let’s get three points boys.

 

A Kiwi who can't play fullback in MLS? Sounds familiar somehow

 

Entertaining first half even with no goals.

 

Barrios likely to come in sooner rather than later now, with 3 points ripe for the taking

 

They put up a graphic about 35min into the game saying the Rapids had already attempted 18 crosses. Pretty sure 16 of those were Galvan lol