Portland Timbers vs. New York City FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Portland Timbers vs. New York City FC
2018 MLS Regular Season - Week 8
Providence Park — Portland
April 22 - 6 pm ET
WATCH: FS1, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

The monkey is off the Portland Timbers back after picking up their first win of season, beating Minnesota United, in the first match of the 2018 season at Providence Park.

But now the stakes are raised for the Timbers, who host the league’s best in a New York City FCteam that has secured 17 out of a maximum 21 points and is one of two remaining undefeated teams in MLS.

• Vieira: ATLUTD has MLS's best atmosphere
• CD9: ATL draw a statement game for NYCFC, Vieira
• Portland's Powell nabs Player of the Week honor
• Blanco thriving during year two in Portland

Portland Timbers

It wasn’t easy, and certainly not pretty, but the Timbers (1-3-2) finally picked up their first win — and first for Giovanni Savarese as an MLS coach — by holding off Minnesota 3-2, in their home opener at Providence Park.

Savarese made one change to his starting XI from a 3-2 loss at Orlando City SC, bringing Fanendo Adi back in for Samuel Armenteros at the top of his 4-3-2-1. The Designated Player’s first goal of the season proved to be the winner in the 74th minute.

Alvas Powell opened the scoring with a sensational solo effort in the 20th minute and then set up Diego Valeri for his third goal of the year three minutes later to give the Timbers an early 2-0 lead.

Unlike their two-goal edge against the Lions the previous week, the Timbers made sure this held up to earn all three points.

Powell was voted the Alcatel MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) and was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 7. 

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D - Roy Miller (left Achilles tendon), M - David Guzman (right knee); QUESTIONABLE: Vytas (right thigh)

Projected Starting XI
(4-3-2–1, right to left)
GK: Jake Gleeson — Alvas Powell, Larrys Mabiala, Bill Tuiloma, Zarek Valentin — Cristhian Paredes, Diego Chara, Andy Polo — Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco — Fanendo Adi

• Notes: Powell scored and assisted against Minnesota last weekend, just his second time in 101 regular season appearances scoring and assisting in the same game. … Portland’s 3-2 win over Minnesota last weekend was just their second in their last seven regular season games (3L-2D), dating back to last year. The Timbers have not kept a clean sheet in any of those seven games, allowing 2.1 goals per game on average.

New York City FC    

In a pulsating match that lived up to its pregame hype, New York City (5-0-2) and Atlanta United played to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last Sunday.

Vieira made two changes to his starting XI from a 4-0 midweek thrashing of Real Salt Lake, bringing back Ben Sweat at left back and Alex Ring replaced Ebenezer Ofori in defensive midfield for his first start since being sidelined with a knee injury.

Ring scored his first career MLS goal, a sensational tying strike in the 73rd minute in Atlanta. David Villa, who came off the substitute’s bench to replace an injured Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, netted his 399th career goal for club and country from the penalty spot as NYCFC twice rallied from deficits to remain undefeated.

Maxi Moralez and Maxime Chanot were named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 7.

• Suspended: None
• Suspended after next caution: None
• International duty: None
• Injury Report: OUT: D/M - Kwame Awuah (knee), M - Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (hamstring)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Sean Johnson — Anton Tinnerholm, Maxime Chanot, Alexander Callens, Ben Sweat — Alex Ring, Yangel Herrera — Jesus Medina, Maxi Moralez, Rodney Wallace — David Villa

• Notes: Following his goal last weekend, Villa has now put away 18 of the 21 penalties he has taken in MLS play (including the postseason). … City are unbeaten in eight consecutive MLS games overall (5W-3D), which is the longest run in franchise history. Additionally, they have scored in a franchise-record 10 consecutive league road games (4W-1L-5D).

All-Time Series 

• Overall: Portland Timbers 2 wins, 3 goals … New York City FC 1 win, 2 goals … 0 ties
• At Portland: Timbers 0 wins, 1 goal … NYCFC 1 win, 2 goals … 0 ties
• Last meeting at Portland: Portland Timbers 1, New York City FC 2 (May 15, 2016)

Officials 

Referee: Ted Unkel
Assistant Referees: Adam Wienckowski, Michael Kampmeinert
4th Official: Nima Saghafi
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.