The Rose City Boys
will indeed have their hands full in this edition of the CONCACHAMPIONS tournament,
with five American squads representing Major League Soccer. Some of the American clubs already placed in their
group of play, some were more fortunate than the others were.
Being one of them the
PTFC, seeded in Group B and with top-notch rivals one unknown in El Salvador
Club Deportivo Dragon and one club known for its hardened and competitive style
of play in Club Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica.
As you recall
Saprissa played in the semifinals with the Montreal Impact and despite the Canadians
win over the Costa Rican side, this was not an easy foe to mess with for the
City of Mary chaps. This club has a reputation of being a tough club to play as
well one that plays one on one against the Mexican clubs considered the best in
these competitions and the CONCACAF region.
The Purple Monster
has an impressive record as well the experience in these tournaments, where
they have collected three shields in 1993, 1995 and 2005 along of several runners
up finishes.
For Caleb Porter and
his PTFC, Saprissa will be one tough customer, especially when they go to play
at always difficult and tough Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma, considered a tough
venue to play as a visiting entity with 24,000 in its seating capacity. Alongside
of a club known to provide players to the Costa Rican National squad as well an
exporter of top Costa Rican players to various world renowned clubs.
When the Timbers and
Saprissa meet this will be a good match up between both Managers in Caleb Porter
and his colleague in the S Boss Carlos Watson, seen as a mano a mano between
these two top-notch strategists.
For the PTFC second
rival and unknown in its game, the Mythological of Club Deportivo Dragon will
be another challenge in both of their compromises when the Rose City Boys head
to El Salvador Province of San Miguel. The high levels of difficulty by playing
in Estadio Juan Francisco Barraza with a capacity of 10,000 seats were the crowd’s
would not be too friendly to the PTFC.
Still this club comes
as the 2016 champion from the league of El Salvador ahead of Aguila, Luis Angel
Firpo, Metapan and Alianza considered the best clubs from this Central American
nation. In addition, this club once had in its ranks a very familiar name in
MLS once famous striker in Raul Diaz Arce.
Very well, for the Timbers
Boss Caleb Porter going against his Salvadorian colleague will be another
potential challenge and looking forward to much disputed matches with the Manager
of Dragon Omar Sevilla. As the Portland Timbers will be seeing a lot of competition
and much tough play in their second adventure in the always prestigious CONCACHAMPIONS
Cup.
Not easy will be the
challenge ahead in this edition of CONCACAF utmost tournament to select its representative
in the upcoming World Cup of Clubs. Will the Portland Timbers do the miracle of
being the first MLS squad to win it, you never know.
One thing this club
has is an arsenal of players capable of doing a good performance and really makes
a living hell to their foes to meet in this excellent event, nothing written
and maybe this time Caleb Porter and his Timbers can advance to the next
rounds.
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