Many people in Portland today will be packing a suitcase. While filling the case with all kinds of green and gold items, the most notable feature will be the inerasable smile on their faces as they prepare for a 5,000-mile round trip to Atlanta and back in just a few days.
9
9What to expect?
The biggest MLS Cup final in the leagues 23-year history. Hosts Atlanta will welcome a capacity crowd to the state-of-the-art Mercedes Benz stadium, with 73,208 fans in attendance.Not only will the match feature two of the most exciting teams that play a counter-attacking style of play but the build-up and parties will be such that fans from Portland are scrambling to travel some 2,500 miles to get there.To be fair, the famous Timbers Army would travel halfway around the world to watch their team play in a back garden.
9Who are Atlanta United?
An expansion team in only their second season in MLS, this isnt your typical new club needing time to build.Backed by the billionaire Arthur Blank, also owner of NFL side Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United have immediately raised the MLS bar on standards for facilities, fans and first-team players. But, most importantly, they got the front office and coaching staff right.The appointment of Gerardo Tata Martino, former boss of Barcelona and the Argentina national team, as their manager in 2016 raised many eyebrows in regards to the standard of staff this league could now attract.This will be Tatas final match with the club – with reports claiming he has agreed a four-year deal to become the Mexico national teams head coach. But for one more match, Atlanta fans can enjoy what has, in a short time, become one of the most exciting MLS teams and deadly youthful attacks the league has ever seen.
9What about Portland Timbers?
The exact same praise can be applied to the Timbers. Just replace youthful with experienced. Although their main men are the other side of 30, they are looking as youthful as ever while playing some of the best soccer of their careers.Big credit must go to Giovanni Savarese in his debut year in MLS and his staff for how quickly they have figured out this league.What about the victory log?
One of the most popular members of the Timbers team is not a player. It is their lumberjack mascot, Timber Joey, who celebrates each goal (and clean sheet) at home games by sawing off a slab of wood from what is called the victory log, which sits behind the goal at one end of the ground and in front of the Timbers Army.These sacred emblems denoting success are then presented to the players following a match. Players who carry a log slice back into the locker room following a match have been recognised with great honour.So important is the victory log that it has been put on the back of a pick-up truck and hand delivered the 2,500 miles from Portland to Atlanta for this one match. The hope? A return to Portland much smaller than when it arrived.
9A little bit of home is here in Atlanta. #MLSCup #OnwardRoseCity #RCTID pic.twitter.com/x3enero3Nc— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) December 6, 2018
9So who brings home the MLS Cup?
For a one-off game, it is difficult to predict. Atlanta have progressed to this stage with relative ease, which is a result of them being at the top of their game. For the Timbers, the unheralded fifth seeds in the play-offs, its been the story of perseverance under extreme pressure. Atlanta will have home advantage, but the unnerved Timbers players are used to upsetting the odds.Who are the key men for Atlanta United?
Miguel Almiron – #10A reported target for several Premier League clubs – with Newcastle said to be his biggest admirers – the Paraguayan playmaker is lightning-quick with the ball and has a beautiful left foot. On the counter attack, hes deadly.
9
9Who are the key men for Portland Timbers?
Diego Valeri – #8The 2017 seasons MVP, the man they call El Maestro has been irresistible in this play-off run. He possesses wonderful passing ability, is willing to take risks, and offers a cool head in front of goal. He was part of the Timbers team which won the MLS Cup in 2015.Sebastian Blanco – #10A fizzy pop that never loses its bubbles, Blanco is diminutive in size but his personality on the pitch more than makes up for it. He has endeared himself to the Portland faithful with his fierceness and fiery temper. It also helps that he can score a screamer when the chips are down. Left foot, right foot, it doesnt matter to Blanco as he can wiggle in and out of space and present a wide range of passes in the final third.SPEECHLESS. #SKCvPOR // @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs https://t.co/7FHPXRawdk— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 30, 2018Liam Ridgewell – #24The veteran English defender carries the most experience in arguably the toughest league in the world, with more than 300 Premier League appearances to his name. Thats more than any other player in this match (Brad Guzan, Atlantas goalkeeper, is a close second). Perhaps the best ball-playing centre-half in the league, he has a lovely left foot and a masterful way of managing the back-line and is playing some of his best football since moving to MLS. He lifted the 2015 MLS Cup as captain of the Timbers.
9
Liverpool news and transfers RECAP - Sadio Mane Real Madrid update, truth behind Coutinho rumours, Henderson slammed Mane Latest. Guillem Balague says rumours linking Sadio Mane with a move to
LIVE Senegal Sadio Mane News | One News Page
Former football star Martin Keown recently praised the 22-year-old Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira and he told he has not seen the same kind of 'drive and determination' in the Gunners jersey since the retirement of Patrick Vieira. Patrick Vieira scored his first goal for the club in their 4-2 victory against Tottenham Hotspur last night.
Lucas Torreira: Arsenal legend makes huge comparison after
1000 years of the beautiful game simulated in Football Manager 15. (the soccer sort) has used Football Manager 2015 to simulate 1000 years of Premier League PC Gamer is part of Future US
What will football look like 50 years in the future? : soccer
Ian James Rush, MBE (born 20 October 1961) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a forward.At club level Rush played for Liverpool from 1980-1987 and 1988-1996.
Liverpool legend Ian Rush full of praise for Manchester City
Neymar has been stripped of the Brazil captaincy for next month's Copa America and been replaced by Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Dani Alves. The Copa America will be played from June 14 to July 7
Harry Kane's second-half winner settled Tottenham as they beat Dortmund 1-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate in their Champions League last-16 second leg in Germany. Hugo Lloris kept Dortmund out
Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham Hotspur - Football Match
SIR ALEX FERGUSON reckons Manchester United have their DNA back under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Marcus has the ball as soon as it was given." talkSPORT is available via DAB digital radio and on
Sir Alex Ferguson says Man Utd have their DNA back under Ole
How Real Madrid could look next year under Zinedine Zidane - including Hazard, Neymar, Mbappe, Kante Written by: fpnews Posted on: March 12, 2019 The footballing world was shocked on Monday with the news of Zinedine Zidane reappointment as manager of Real Madrid.
Years after fall-out at Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho and Iker
Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1 LIVE on talkSPORT: Full commentary with special guests plus free live stream Written by: fpnews Posted on: January 24, 2019 Chelsea host Tottenham in Carabao Cup semi-finals tonight as they look to overturn the one goal deficit from the first leg and it's live on talkSPORT.
Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1 live on talkSPORT: Full commentary with
Jose Mourinho takes swipe at Gary Neville and Paul Scholes over managerial struggles. Former Manchester United legends Neville and Scholes are among a number of top pundits to struggle in
Jose Mourinho: Man Utd boss bites back at Paul Scholes for
Watch RB Leipzig Vs. Bayern Munich Live Stream: DFB-Pokal Final Start Time, Watch German Cup Live Online. 11 hours ago. For the second time in two weeks, German champions Bayern Munich will face off with the Bundesliga's fastest rising team, RB Leipzig - but this time the German Cup trophy will be on the line
DFB-Pokal final 2019: Are RB Leipzig the new pretenders to
Chelsea have poked fun at Steven Gerrard ahead of their clash with Liverpool.. The Reds sit on the summit of the Premier League and can take another step towards their first top-flight title since 1990 with a win over Maurizio Sarri's side.
Liverpool Vs Chelsea: How Jose Mourinho TAUNTED Steven
dailyactive.info/2019/04/14/liverpool-vs-chelsea-how-jose-mourinho-taunted-steven-gerrard-over-title-race-slip/
However, Liverpool fans will be hoping history does not repeat itself, as the fifth anniversary approaches of Steven Gerrard's infamous slip in 2014. The move, which gifted Chelsea's former frontman Demba Ba a goal and ultimately secured victory, was arguably the catalyst to Liverpool's demise in the title race against City.
Liverpool vs Chelsea: How Jose Mourinho TAUNTED Steven
Tottenham Hotspur fans should not feel too disheartened about going behind in their first ever Champions League final. Liverpool found themselves 1-0 up inside two minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano after Mohamed Salah slammed the ball past Hugo Lloris. A ridiculous Champions League campaign got off to a fitting start in Madrid.
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold reveals how he learnt from
0 Comments