Portland Timbers Vs Nashville SC: 3 things to watch for – Unleash Yimmi Chara
2. Avoid a trap game
When the Portland Timbers traveled to Cincinnati last season, they did not expect to suffer what was probably their most embarrassing loss of the season. But that is precisely what happened.
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Despite Cincinnati not having won a single point before, the Timbers, who had hopes of the playoffs and more, laid an egg against the MLS newcomers and were soundly beaten in a damning 3-0 scoreline.
Expansion sides can be tricky opponents. A squad of players pieced together in the offseason doesn’t have the cohesiveness of an established side. They often have no history to study, no patterns of play to analyse, and no predictions as to how they might play and who the dangers to quell might be. This makes them difficult to scout and game plan for.
A glance at Nashville’s roster shows a team that is strong down the spine, especially with MLS mainstays Dax McCarthy, Jimmy Medranda and Walker Zimmerman in the center of the pitch. But they have threats elsewhere, especially in Hany Mukhtar and Randall Leal. If Portland look beyond Nashville with trips to New England and LAFC on the horizon, they will be found out.