Timbers-Impact Preview
The Montreal Impact haven't played an MLS match in nearly a month while they've been occupied with additional competitions. Whether it's prepared them to return to league play with any level of success remains to be seen.
Their schedule goes from reasonable to hectic with Saturday's visit from the mending Portland Timbers serving as the second of four matches in 11 days.
After a March and April slate dominated by CONCACAF Champions League play, the Impact (0-2-2) opened May with Wednesday's 1-0 win over Toronto in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinals.
Jack McInerney scored his fourth goal in six matches for an encouraging shutout after the club surrendered 14 goals over a 0-3-2 span - including a 5-3 two-leg loss last month in the Champions League final to Club America of Liga MX.
"We had a slow start to the game, but it was important for us to get the win and the clean sheet," coach Frank Klopas told the club's official website.
"After the emotional loss in Champions League, it was tough and you saw that it took us a little longer to get into the game. We tried to be smart with the rotation that we had and we were confident, but it was key to get the game under our belts."
Despite the Champions League run, Montreal needs to prove it can succeed in MLS play, which it hasn't participated in since a 3-0 home loss to Houston on April 11. The Impact have just two league goals, and dating to Sept. 27, they're 0-3-6 with six goals scored.
Portland (2-3-4) has been protecting its own goal but could provide an opportunity for the Impact to at least further correct their defensive issues. The Timbers hosted a 0-0 draw with Vancouver last Saturday, and they've scored once in four matches with a 191-minute drought following them to Montreal.
The offensive struggles have come with key attacking midfielders Will Johnson and Diego Valeri sidelined. Johnson broke his leg Sept. 27 and has returned to training with the club's T2 USL squad. Valeri tore an ACL on Oct. 25 and played 38 minutes as a substitute against the Whitecaps. Valeri, the club's creative force, had 11 goals and 14 assists a season ago.
The Timbers have managed to keep things close lately by conceding once in three matches.
"We're not giving up a lot of chances, not giving the other team many looks, so that's a real positive," defensive midfielder Jack Jewsbury told the club's official website.
"Now it's just a matter of getting things going on the other end. The reality is over the course of the season there are times when the defense needs to be better and times when the offense needs to be better. And right now we're looking to find more opportunities and more goals, and hopefully we can continue to keep the clean sheets as well."
While Montreal plays its next three league matches at home, this contest begins a stretch of three on the road for Portland.
Since the former USL clubs moved to MLS, the Impact own a 2-1-0 edge, though Portland won 3-2 in Montreal on July 27. Johnson and Valeri each scored.