Union (5-10-4) vs. Timbers (9-6-4)
7 p.m. on ABC
Fresh off an extended break away from MLS action, the rested and healthy Union restart their league campaign Saturday night when they host striker Fanendo Adi and the powerful Portland Timbers at PPL Park.
It’s the first and only meeting between the cross-conference clubs in 2015.
1. Fresh Union
After fighting through four matches in 10 days, the Union, who went 2-1-1 over that span, took a 10-day match break to rest, recover and prepare for the Timbers. And for Union manager Jim Curtin, the difference was noticeable.
“You can see the freshness,” he said. “There’s an eagerness to get back on the field and just play. Guys that are coming back from injury have a little bit more life.”
The extended break gave players like Sebastien Le Toux and Fernando Aristeguieta a chance to get healthy, while giving midfield workhorses Vincent Nogueira and Cristian Maidana a valuable rest. Aside from Michael Lahoud, who re-injured his quad this week, the Union are healthy and suddenly deep at all positions facing the Timbers.
“Good, healthy competition at all spots is something any coach wants,” said Curtin, whose decisions all season have been crippled by depth issues. “You want those difficult decisions on the weekend when you’re selecting your starting group. [The players] did get to step away and come back fresh, rejuvenated. It’s good to recharge the battery a little over the midway point.”
2. Forwards in force
The time away affected the Union’s forwards more than any other aspect of the gameday roster.
As June ended with a 2-1 U.S. Open Cup win over DC United, Curtin’s only true attacking option was C.J. Sapong, who put the Union on his shoulders and rattled off four goals in five MLS games.
But now, Curtin has options, including Aristeguieta and possibly even Conor Casey, who hasn’t played since late May. Yet, even with new choices, the manager is unsure if he should mix up the Union’s working lineup, which featured Sapong up front.
“It’s a possibility that you see C.J. out wide but he’s been doing a good job for us up top as a target,” Curtin said. “We’ll make that decision as the week continues to progress. It’ll be a tough one.”
Aside from the target striker position, Curtin also has to make a decision on Le Toux, who could start in favor of youngster Eric Ayuk on the right wing. Ayuk has goals in back-to-back games for the Union — one against the Montreal Impact in MLS play and the other against United in the Open Cup.
Meanwhile, Le Toux, who suffered a knee injury, hasn’t seen MLS action since June 6.
“Seba’s been fully training the past few days and he looks like he hasn’t missed a beat,” Curtin said. “We’ll be smart, but at the same time, if he tells me he can go, I trust my players. And I trust a veteran player like him who will bring energy, especially on our home field.”
3. Superior Timbers
Regardless of who the Union start, it won’t be an easy go against the red-hot Timbers. Though Caleb Porter’s club might not jump out at you on the stat sheet, the Timbers are currently third in the tough Western Conference.
The Timbers, who are 4-1-0 since the start of June, including three shutouts, are led in the midfield by Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe and Rodney Wallace, and up front by Adi and Maximiliano Urruti.
“We know it will be difficult,” Curtin said. “They’re a team that is good form right now, a team that is well coached, organized, doesn’t concede a ton of goals and also confident right now.”
But the Union will have leverage in one area over their superior opponent.
“We do have the advantage of them having to come cross country and play in our stadium,” Curtin said. “We know we’ll have a great crowd as always, cheering us on, and we’ll look to get three points. It’s an important game.”
4. Injuries
With the exception of Lahoud, the Union are at full health. The list of recovered players includes center back Steven Vitoria, who has been nursing a hamstring strain for over two months. He lost his starting position to rookie Richie Marquez, and it doesn’t appear like he’ll get it back on Saturday night.
“With me,” Curtin said, “everybody earns it on the training field. That’s where you earn your spot.”
The Timbers aren’t as lucky. Midfielders Diego Chara (ankle sprain) and Nagbe (shoulder), along with defender Norberto Paparatto (calf), are all questionable against the Union.
5. This and That
• The Union are 0-2-2 all time against the Timbers, outscored 5-2 over that span. However, the two draws both came at PPL Park.
• The Timbers lead MLS with 270 shot attempts and 92 shots on goal. They are also second in corner kicks with 114.
• Despite a recent upturn, the Union have an MLS-worst minus-10 goal differential, and have allowed a league-high 32 goals in 19 games.