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Portland Timbers: 3 takeaways from preseason trip to Costa Rica

By Hilario Muniz

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 25: Diego Valeri #8 of Portland Timbers reacts to a call during the first half of the match against the Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park on November 25, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 25: Diego Valeri #8 of Portland Timbers reacts to a call during the first half of the match against the Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park on November 25, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 10: Felipe Mora of Pumas controls the ball during the 18th round match between Pumas UNAM and FC Juarez as part of the Torneo Apertura 2019 Liga MX at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 10: Felipe Mora of Pumas controls the ball during the 18th round match between Pumas UNAM and FC Juarez as part of the Torneo Apertura 2019 Liga MX at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

1. New strikers doing their jobs

The current group of strikers on the Portland Timbers roster was worryingly shallow at the conclusion of the 2019 season. But after reloading with offseason signings from around the globe, everyone is now watching to see how Portland attempts to keep up with a league producing 30-plus-goal Golden Boot winners.

They did a good job of bolstering their offensive weapons. The Timbers signed two attacking DPs in Yimmi Chara and Jaroslaw Niezgoda and also acquired Felipe Mora on loan. Both Mora and  Chara saw time on the field in Costa Rica, while Polish import Jaroslaw Niezgoda, who was leading the Polish top flight in goals when he was acquired, is still recovering from a procedure to correct a heart condition which was needed to finalize his transfer from Legia Warszawa.

Mora netted two goals in Costa Rica, along with Diego Valeri, Eryk Williamson (twice each), Dairon Asprilla, and Ken Krolicki, who joined the squad in Costa Rica from the Timbers 2 roster. We will have to wait and see this team at full strength, but they showed their attacking potential in spades here.

Next. Portland Timbers: 5 must-watch matches in 2020. dark

For now, though, the Portland Timbers look to the future and the looming 2020 season. The experience garnered on this Costa Rican tour was very valuable as the big home opener against Minnesota United on Sunday, March 1st comes into full focus.

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