Hang on to Your Hats!
Your Portland Timbers return to the pitch this Saturday to face a very dangerous foe in LAFC. The first year MLS expansion team has quite a bit of firepower, as evident by their 22 goals and 20 points and 2nd place standing in the Western Conference. The squad are led by two of the MLS’ best offensive weapons thus far in Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi. Combined, the star duo has accounted for a blistering 10 goals and 11 assists in only 10 games so far this year. To make a wine comparison, these two are the problematic equivalent of frost and powdered mildew in the vineyard. Together, the two are nightmares for any vineyard manager or winemaker. Vela and Rossi make up for what looks at least on paper to be a vulnerable defense. Given the Timbers current form, we’re thinking this has the making of a high-scoring game. I know we said that last week, but you can’t be wrong every week!
Components
1-5 Scale; 1=Not Great; 5=Good or an Advantage for Our Team
Pinot Noir: 17-20, Pinot Gris 13-16, Rosé 9-12
# Explanation
Match Weather: 5 A more reasonable 74 degrees at kickoff should make for a beautiful Noon affair.
Start Time: 4 Noon on Saturday is ideal. You get the early morning run/hike in and then game time.
Rivalry Game? 4 Though it’s their 1st matchup, these teams look like the crème de la crème in the West.
Hot or Not? 5 The Timbers are riding a four-match win streak and are undefeated at home thus far.
Final Score: 18
Verdict: A perfect 70-degree day with mixed clouds + a Timbers team that is red-hot, is the perfect conditions for a glass of Pinot Noir. A nice 12:00 start on a Saturday is a perfect start to a weekend and with both teams’ attack stockpiled with talent, we’re expecting this to be a very fast-paced, high-flying affair. Of course, we’ve been proned to express bias, but we’re not going to let that stop us with our prediction. We’re banking on LAFC not being able to keep track of the ultra-elusive Sebastian Blanco, who will wreak just as much havoc in in the offensive zone as Carlos Vela will for LA. While we expect both teams to look like they can put a score up at any minute, it’s Jeff Attinella’s assuredness for the Timbers combined with the Timbers Army, snowballed with the Timbers absolutely gelling right now that has us predicting a hard fought 3-2 Portland victory on Saturday. #RCTID #Streaking #Ourhouse