BEAVERTON, Ore. — Timbers coach Caleb Porter did not have a definitive answer Tuesday to a question that will be at the forefront for Timbers fans approaching Sunday’s second leg of the MLS Western Conference championship:
Liam Ridgewell’s right calf remained sore and tight, the coach said following the squad’s training session.
“It will be a game-time decision. Depends on how he progresses this week,” Porter said.
The injury cropped up in training last week and forced Ridgewell to leave 60 minutes into the Timbers 3-1 win on Sunday.
After that game, Ridgewell promised he would be ready for round two, saying: “I’ll be out there no matter what. Even if I have to wrap it up and take as many tablets as I have to.”
In his postgame comments on Sunday, Porter pointed to the experience of center backs Ridgewell, Nat Borchers and midfielder Jack Jewsbury as one area the Timbers believe they have an edge over a young F.C. Dallas squad.
“They’re battle-tested. They’re experienced,” Porter said. “We did feel, going into the series that (experience) would be a strength of ours.”
The Timbers back four — Borchers flanked on the right by Alvas Powell and Ridgewell flanked on the left by Jorge Villafana — has started the majority of the games together this season, a consistency that boosts the comfort level.
Borchers said he has faith that Powell and Villafana can contain a Dallas team that possesses dynamic speed on both wings in Fabian Castillo and Michael Barrios. With support from Portland wingers Dairon Asprilla and Lucas Melano, the Timbers limited the threat from the Dallas flanks in the first match of the seriod.
Powell and Villafana, Borchers said, “have got to be on an island sometimes on their own. We’ve just got to talk to them.”
Ridgewell said the message is usually a reminder for the outside defenders not to stray too far from their positions.
“If (the wingers) run across into our area we take them. As soon as you start crossing over and getting in bit of a kerfuffle and getting in each other’s way, that’s when you struggle,” Ridgewell said.
Porter said his team doesn’t lose much should Norberto Papratto need to play in place of Ridgewell at Dallas.
Paparatto, 31, is a veteran of seven seasons in Argentina’s top league who has played confidently when called upon this season.
The Timbers only allowed one goal over five regular-season starts for Paparatto, who is in his second season with the Timbers.
Yes, Dallas scored its goal in the opener seconds after Paparatto replaced Ridgewell.
David Texeira got a step in front of Paparatto for his angled finish at the end of two quick Dallas passes.
But Paparatto and Borchers confidently thwarted Dallas’ push for a second goal and Paparatto also got free for the header that Borchers poked home for the third Timbers goal.
