GAME PREVIEW: Timbers Host AC St Louis For First Time

Portland Timbers
(1-0-0)

VS
AC St Louis

(0-2-0)

Thursday April 22nd @ 7pm
TV on FSN
Online @ PortlandTimbers.com

The Portland Timbers will play AC St Louis for the first time in history this Thursday evening at PGE Park. With a season opening victory and a PGE sellout already under their belt, the team will now set its sights on the inexperienced, first-year St. Louis franchise.

Although only an expansion team, AC St Louis is in a city with a relatively rich soccer history. With organized leagues existing as far back as 1891, St. Louis soccer fans have supported all types of amateur teams, collegiate level teams, indoor teams, and even a team from the original NASL. So, perhaps it isn't too surprising that even though only in its inaugural season, AC St Louis has found a small, but supportive fan base already burgeoning at its home games. The team plays in modest Anheuser-Busch Stadium, which sits just over 6,000 fans, and the team nearly sold out the place for its home opener this past Saturday. St. Louis soccer fans have shown a great collective spirit and passion for soccer thus far - singing songs, waving flags, and lighting off smoke bombs in the stands. The city has also expressed desires to join the MLS at some point, so don't be surprised to see big things from this franchise in the near future.

However, the future certainly isn't now. AC St Louis has lost both of their USSF regular season games so far, dropping their opener 2-0 against Carolina and losing 2-1 in their home debut against Austin. They have a handful of players with local ties to the city (an essential strategy for any new team), as well as former USL players like one-time Portland Timber Luke Kreamalmeyer. To sum up quickly, they're a jumbled roster full of journeymen players, young prospects, and aging veterans and are lead by a coach in Claude Anelka, with minimal experience and credentials. They'll have to work hard, come together quickly, and find a little magic in a bottle in order to be competitive this year.

With 4 days off since their emotional home opener, the Timbers should have had a lot of time to settle down and take a quick step back from everything. The team should be looking to improve on its offensive cohesiveness, such as player spacing, controlling possession, and taking better care of the ball. Of course, Mandjou Keita will most likely be back in the lineup and that will help. With the jitters of opening night gone and Thursday's attendance likely to be much smaller (especially with the Blazers playoff game scheduled for the same start time), don't be surprised to see the Timbers get off to a much quicker start and look more comfortable in general out on the field. All things considering, this is a game Portland should win if the team play well and stays focused.

Random notes: The first official AC St Louis goal in franchise history was scored by defender Anthony O’Garro in their 2nd game against Austin.... In that same game, former NY Red Bulls keeper Alec Duffy played the role of "dodgy keeper" as he let two preventable goals slip by him, including this game winner, take a look......



Players to Watch
Manuel Kante - The 23 year old midfielder has played for 7 different clubs all over the European, but may be most famous for missing the first thirty minutes of the 2-nil season opening loss to Miami, in which he had to go back to the team's hotel to pick up his ID, oops.

Luke Kreamalmeyer - A Timber midfielder in the 2006 & 2007 campaigns, rang up 50 appearances and 10 goals in those two seasons. He saw solid minutes for the Rhinos in 2008 and last year season for Carolina.

Anthony O’Garro #8- In his professional debut, O'Garro scored the first goal in the AC St. Louis history. At only 22-years of age, the defender may become a bright spot for AC this season.

Alec Duffy - Duffy will have a lot to prove after his poor performance this past weekend. Timbers fire away.

Steve Ralston - The 14 year MLS veteran is now a player-assistant coach for AC St Louis. Ralston is currently out nursing an injury, but will try and make his impact from the sidelines.

*** Checkout this site by an AC St Louis Fanatic, its great. And also checkout Paul's AC St Louis write-up from earlier this year.