Portland Timbers got it right with Felipe Mora and Jaroslaw Niezgoda
By Daniel Garza
The Portland Timbers winter signings have turned out to be great acquisitions.
As the 2020 Major League Soccer season has progressed the Portland Timbers have emerged as one of the clubs with the strongest attacking units in the league. They have averaged at least two goals a match and are tied with fellow Western Conference juggernaut Los Angeles FC for the most goals in MLS so far this season. It has been a terrific display from a club that has already claimed silverware in 2020.
Two of the key components in Portland’s offensive rotation have been recent additions Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Felipe Mora. The two attacking players joined during the winter transfer window ahead of the 2020 campaign. Having already had experience in Poland’s top flight the Ekstaklasa and Liga MX, this duo appeared to have what it took to be effective goal scorers in MLS.
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Getting the job done as starters and substitutes
The Polish and Chilean forwards have been players that manager Giovanni Savarese has utilized as both starters and substitutes. Mora has been in the starting lineup 10 times this season while Niezgoda has been named as a starter seven times.
While Mora has been utilized more in the starting lineup, they both have been equally effective statistically when it comes to goal scoring. Currently, the duo has registered seven goals apiece for a combined total of 14 goals so far in the regular season.
Both players have done very well in whichever role they have been given. They joined a club that already had talented goal scorers in Jeremy Ebobisse and Diego Valeri. Since their arrival, they have further added to the offensive firepower the club possesses. Whether it’s entering in the second half or being in the starting lineup they are getting the job done and contributing to the success the Timbers are having.
Some of the best signings of 2020?
If the Timbers end up going very far in the MLS Cup playoffs, and these two players are involved, then they will certainly go down as two of the best acquisitions of the 2020 season. The Timbers got it right when they brought these two players in during the winter transfer window. In a year with a condensed schedule, clubs have had to turn to their depth to get results. With Mora and Nizegoda, the Timbers have that depth. They displayed this in their recent victory as Niezgoda recorded a first-half brace en route to a resounding win over the LA Galaxy.
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There haven’t been many other offensive additions in the league in 2020 who have been as prolific as Niezgoda and Mora. These two players are going to be key players for the Timbers in the postseason and can get them to an MLS Cup final in December. Keep an eye on this duo as they are currently two of the best offensive signings that MLS has seen this year.