MLS is back in full swing, and after a dramatic night of action on Saturday, Week 16 closes with the defending champion Portland Timbers hosting the Houston Dynamo in a critical Western Conference match-up (6 pm ET; ESPN2). Here are three storylines to follow during the game:
It Starts At The Back
Portland are unbeaten in their last four, but they still have a ways to go to overcome a distinctly underwhelming start to the season. They remain below the red line on both total points and points per game, but can change that with a win on Sunday night.
Though transfer rumors are swirling around some of their attacking players, the production on the field hasn't faltered much. The Timbers are yet to be shut out this year, and the attack looked good in picking up two goals at Real Salt Lake last weekend as Fanendo Adi continued to show why he is one of the league's most effective No. 9's.
The big question for Portland comes at the back, where the defense is more than happy to concede shots and limit the quality of those shots, as my colleague Matt Doyle argued in his Friday column. The strategy hasn't quite panned out this year, and with Houston presenting a somewhat unpredictable threat in terms of their attacking personnel, the Timbers backline will have to be organized and on its toes on Sunday.
Road Woes No Mo'?
The Dynamo have managed just two points from eight efforts on the road this year, making them the worst road team in the league alongside Chicago. But appearances can be deceiving, because while the overall record leaves much to be desired, the Dynamo have earned both those points in their two most recent road games.
Those two results, in Dallas and in Vancouver, both came after interim head coach Wade Barrett took the helm following Owen Coyle's departure. Barrett has solidified the team with a more defensively sound 4-1-4-1 formation with a dedicated defensive midfield presence in Collen Warner, who will have the tough task of facing up against Diego Valeri on Sunday. While much remains to be seen with regards to who'll step up in attack, the team's "make it difficult to beat us" mentality has served them well so far under Barrett. To succeed again, they'll likely need to blanket both Adi and Valeri, as the San Jose Earthquakes did so effectively in a June 1 loss, while still accounting for nine other players on the field.
Playoff Implications
The Timbers, as noted earlier, can move just above the red line in a brutal Western Conference race with a win on Sunday. Anything less, though, will surely start to raise some doubts about whether they're a serious contender to defend their title. Five home wins from eight is by no means terrible, but dropped points at home can be killer when push comes to shove later in the season, especially when you haven't won on the road in eight tries.
As for the Dynamo, a quick glance at the standings would suggest that they are already out of the playoff race. Yes, there is still lots of season to play, but that eight-point gap already looks to be a bridge too far for a team that's still figuring out its identity under a new coach. A first road win of the season, though, would be a huge step in the right direction and give Houston a more tangible prize to fight for as the summer grind plays out.
