Portland Timbers

Breakdown

After a very successful 5 point trip to Minnesota, Rochester, and Montreal, the Timbers were bit by injuries and an inability to score in recent matches, but the return of a few of their injured players, and a successful match against English Championship side Coventry City have put a little momentum back into the Timbers season. The Timbers travel to the low country of South Carolina to take on the Battery this week in two matches, first a US Open Cup match on Wednesday, followed by a regular season match there on Friday. The Timbers have done well against Charleston in the past, with a record of 3 wins and 1 loss against the Battery, though a few of the matches were not without their share of controversy. In the May 12, 2005 match in Portland, tied 0-0 late, a collision in the box between Portland's Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar and Charleston's Josh Smith had Smith on the turf just before Fadi Afash put in the game winner for the Timbers, though TV replays showed it was Smith who had initiated the contact. Another controversial result was back on June 4, 2004, when a questionable late red on Byron Alvarez had the Timbers down a man in a 1-1 match, but in stoppage time Charleson's Mark Watson was called for a foul in the box for holding Portland's Alan Gordon, though it seemed to be a touch foul at best. But the foul would end up being the difference as Alex Bengard buried the penalty for the late 2-1 winner for the Timbers.

After losing the first three matches they played against the Timbers, the Battery finally got their first win against Portland on August 27, 2005 in Charleston when a late goal by Alon Lubezky was the difference in a 1-0 victory for the Battery.

After having a pretty healthy club for the first part of the season, the injury bug finally caught up with the Timbers in recent weeks as six regulars went down with injures, all six missing the 1-0 loss at home to Miami (plus two more players out of town with other committments). But defender Josh Brown and midfielder Mamba Chisoni returned to play in the Coventry City match, and forward Oral Bullen is also expected to be returning to the lineup. Defenders Jacobi Goodfellow and Michael Nsien are still out injured, but both were seen warming up with the team before the Coventry City match, which is good news for Timbers fans. Scot Thompson and rookie Mike Randolph in the outside defender positions are showing themselves to be among the best in the league, though it will be up to Salim Bullen to help fill the defensive gap left by the injury, though he has played well.

The return of Mambi Chisoni should add a spark to an anemic Timbers offense, who has not scored a non-penalty-kick goal in over four matches, going back to the second half of the game in Rochester on June 17. Oral Bullen should also see time in midfield during the matches in Charleston, which means that the Battery defense will have to deal with Bullen, Chisoni, and Luke Kreamalmeyer, all among the quickest midfielders in the league, and of course perennial league assist leader Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar in central midfield.

The Timbers forward combination of Byron Alvarez and Drew McAthy has not scored in awhile, but the Timbers are looking for Jaime Ambriz to join the Timbers strike force soon. Ambriz, who has not been able to play in a league game because of work permit issues, was causing havoc for Coventry City defenders on Saturday, though as of the writing of this preview, his status for the Battery matches is unknown

The Timbers are still carrying three goalkeepers, with regular starter Josh Saunders having shared the time in goal with Bayard Elfvin and Martin Hutton during the Coventry City exhibition. With 3 matches in four days (the Timbers play Atlanta on Saturday), it's possible we will see a start from Elfvin or Hutton. Bayard played very well during his only 2006 start so far, a 0-0 draw at league-leading Montreal. Hutton has not seen time in goal during a regular Timbers match yet.

Current form

After going undefeated in eight matches, including an impressive 5 points on a trip to Minnesota, Rochester, and Montreal, and only a late goal by Rochester prevented the Timbers winning that one as well, the Timbers were then shut out in successive matches, first 3-0 at Montreal, then 1-0 at home to a depleted and Romario-less Miami FC side. The Timbers did have a good showing against English Championship side Coventry City this past weekend, winning 4-3 in penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation, but their goal scoring drought has stretched to four games now, as their only goal was a 67th minute penalty kick by Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar.

Charleston Battery

Breakdown

After winning the 2003 A-League (now USL First Division) Championship, the Battery have struggled through two sub-.500 seasons, missing the playoffs both years. But the Battery did have a successful US Open Cup run in 2004, getting to the semi-finals, as they had also done in 1999. The Battery currently it in fourth place in the USL First Division standings, though based on points per match, they are seventh.

The Battery had been without South African midfielder Stephen Armstrong, who has four goals on the season, but he could be in the lineup tonight after missing the last four games with a sore groin. But defender Shane Crawford will most likely miss both matches and could be out another month with a hernia. Crawford played for the Jamaican National Team this summer, and started six matches for the Battery before getting injured.

Gavin Glinton leads the team with seven goals on the season, with Armstrong having four, along with midfielder Ben Hollingsworth. Midfielder Omar Daley, with one goal on the season, is the only other Battery player with a league goal this year. Hollingsworth has scored three goals in the past four Battery matches.

Battery players who have been regulars this year, with more than 1000 minutes played so far, are midfielders Lazo Alavanja, Christopher Corcoran, Luke Vercollone, and Ben Hollingsworth, forward Gavin Gllinton, and defender Brandon Curran. Timbers fans may also recognize recently acquiried foward Luc Harrington, who played for the Timbers during the 2005 preseason, scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 preseason win over Seattle. The Battery also feature forward and Portland native Ian Fuller, who has no goals in 855 minutes this season, but has picked up three yellow cards and one red card ejection so far.

In goal, the Battery have split time between Dusty Hudock (5 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw, .555 GAA) and Keith Wiggins (1 win, 3 losses, 3 draws, 1.285 GAA).

Current form

After going undefeated in three matches early this month, a 2-2 draw at home against Minnesota, followed by a 1-0 win at Miami, then giving Rochester their first-ever loss at PAETEC Park, a 2-1 result on July 8, the Battery fell to the last-place Toronto Lynx on July 9. The Battery have 4 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws at home is USL matches this year, plus a 1-0 win over Sonoma County in the 2nd round of the US Open Cup on June 28.

Series history

• The Timbers lead the all time series 3-1
• The last three matches between the Timbers and Battery have all been decided by goals in the 88th minute or later