|
Posted by
,
October 31, 2015 |
|
Twitter
@HarJournalist
|
|
Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VANCOUVER, B.C - It's been a calendar year full of Cascadian clashes for the Whitecaps and that's not about to stop now as Vancouver will play the Portland Timbers in the second round of the 2015 MLS playoffs. The first leg gets going on November 1 in Portland, with the return leg on November 8 at BC Place in Vancouver. It took a lot of fight, will power, and a never say die attitude to push the Timbers past Sporting Kansas City in a heart pounding 7-6 win on penalties. All the momentum is in the Timbers corner as Vancouver heads down Interstate-5 to Oregon.
Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted watched the 120 minutes of back and forth action and knows the opposition will bring everything they can at Vancouver on Sunday. The challenge will certainly be a tough one to meet, but Ousted and his teammates are ready to compete and show what they've got.
"Obviously they used a lot of energy getting away with that win, but let me be the first to warn everybody that it's not going to be easy. I don't see a Portland team just lying down and say they're tired. We're going into a playoff game, we're going into their stadium so they're going to be up for the challenge and we hopefully have a little bit more in our tank and we need to show that."
Vancouver have been able to find a home away from hope at Providence Park against the Timbers. In two meetings in Portland this season. The Whitecaps came away with draws on May 2nd (0-0) and July 18 (1-1). Darlington Nagbe missed a Timbers penalty in the May match as he struck the far post. Vancouver will have fan support in Portland and that will help weather the storm and grow team confidence in the early stages of the matches. Ousted knows the Timbers players will be ready to go.
"I think we're comfortable there. I think it's a place we normally play well. I will say that it's still their home turf and they still want to prove to their fans how much they want to be there. It's a playoff game which is a whole entity in itself so it's going to be tough, but I think we're comfortable to have confidence going there to get a good result."
Carl Robinson was in Portland and watched the Timbers and Sporting Kansas City match live. His tactical game plan will have to leave no stone unturned. The back-four for Vancouver will have to have no gaps and be switched on for a full 90 minutes against a quick attacking Portland team. While Nagbe may be the most talked about and prominent Timbers offensive player, Ousted will be watchful for any counter-attacking breaks from anyone in a green kit. Portland could very well sit back and attempt to lull the Whitecaps asleep before pouncing for a quick transition goal.
"I think Nagbe's on a roll right now with his play. I think they've got a lot of good offensive players. I think Adi's shown his ability to score goals, both in the box with his physicality, but also on breakaways. I think them maybe being a little bit tired. They might at some point in the game on Sunday try to sit back and maybe even counter on us."
The defenders tasked with protecting David Ousted should line up from left to right with Jordan Harvey, Tim Parker, Kendall Waston, and Steven Beitashour. Matias Laba and Gershon Koffie will most likely form a defensive midfield duo between the back-four and Vancouver midfield attacking threats.
Rookie centre-back Tim Parker will be playing in his first career MLS playoff game and found himself strategically almost rooting for a Timbers win on Thursday night. On the pitch this season Parker has played like a seasoned veteran and he is already thinking like one as he prepares for the Timbers.
"I think towards the end of the game we were kind of rooting for Portland. Obviously seeing them play 120 minutes means that it's a quick turnaround for them, but as the same time we've seen it before in the season where we've been able to play back to back and have good performances so we're expecting that out of them too."
When you meet a strong rival like the Portland it's imperative that you show you're not going to be intimidated in a hostile venue. The Timbers may have escaped against Sporting Kansas City with a win, but it cost them four yellow card bookings. Liam Ridgewell, Rodney Wallace, George Fochive, Diego Valeri are all one yellow card away from being suspended due to accumulation and thus would miss the return leg on November 8.
Tim Parker is well aware of the situation at hand, but he is not about to go out of his way to send a few Timbers flying. The 22 year-old Long Island, New York native plans to play his own game and leave the trash talking and old school smack talk to his Whitecaps teammates who are well equipped in that area.
"I'm not the one who usually riles people up. Usually I'll let Kendall of Koffie do the talking on the field and kind of get in people's head. I think for us, we have to play smart as well because if they're going to be on yellows they're going to want to get us in the same spot."
The MLS playoffs have provided for fantastic matches in the opening round and the Whitecaps and Timbers should provide an equally exciting match on Sunday afternoon. Neither team could really give a toss about the other team and that should bring fireworks, tackles, goals, big saves and everything else.
Notes: David Ousted and Portland goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey both finished the 2015 MLS season as co-leaders with 13 clean sheets.
|