GAME PREVIEW: The Timbers Shoot For History!

Portland Timbers

VS

Miami FC Blues

Sunday, July 18th

3:00 pm PST

Watch LIVE online @ USLlive.com

Preview: If the Timbers can simply avoid losing one more match, then this Sunday they will claim their throne atop the USL record books. With their 1-1 draw against Miami on Friday, the team extended their unbeaten streak to 15, currently tied with the Montreal Impact for longest unbeaten streak in USL-league history. In 2005, the Impact went an impressive 10-0-5 during their run; while the Timbers have accumilated 8 wins and earned 7 draws for their streak. On the verge of history, can the team remained focused in their rematch with the Blues? Afterall, the team is currently battling for First place in the league standings and this has to be greater goal on the season.

Keys to the Game: Focus and Intensity. It's a difficult task to play any team in a back-to-back situation. I'm sure the Blue feel we stole a win from them on Friday night so the team will have it's hands full with a motivated and vengeful Miami squad. Miami is a hungry team fighting for a playoff spot, currently sitting 6th in the standings, 10 points behind the Timbers. Last game we came out slow to start off and then looked tired during the late stages of the match. That can't happen again on Sunday.

Midfield play will be a huge factor. Our midfielders couldn't consistently control the action and never really looked fluid. We were fortunate to come up with a goal on the freekick by Hayes.

Ryan Pore and Tony Mcmanus will need to be on their games, making sharper passes, and creating opportunities for the front-two. It seemed that overall, the Miami players had better individual skill and touch with the ball, so Portland will need to play effeciently, anticipating the action better.

Depth. If energy level and stamina become an issue then Coach Wilkinson shouldn't hesitate to look to his bench. Nimo, Mchlaughlin, Savage, Cameron, Danso - the team is stacked on all three levels of the pitch. When players went down due to injury this season, the team had no need to panic. Portland has started 18 different players this year and still continued marching on with their unbeaten streak, a testament to the quality of their depth. Some have said that this could be the best Portland Timbers team of all-time? Certainly, being the sole owners of the Unbeaten Streak Crown would help out their case.

A Look at History:

Single Season Unbeaten Streaks
15 Montreal Impact 2005 10-0-5
15 Portland Timbers 2009 8-0-7
13 Rochester Raging Rhinos 1998 13-0-0
13 Richmond Kickers 2000 13-0-0
12 Montreal Impact 2006 8-0-4
12 Puerto Rico Islanders 2008 6-0-6
12 Charleston Battery 2009 6-0-6
11 Charleston Battery 2002 11-0-0
11 Seattle Sounders 2007 9-0-2
11 Rochester Raging Rhinos 2006 5-0-6
10 Toronto Lynx 1997 10-0-0
10 San Diego Flash 1998 10-0-0