The Portland Hearts of Pine head to Chattanooga on Saturday night to take on an opponent that excels at one of their biggest weaknesses: set pieces.
The sixth-place Red Wolves (13-9-3) have scored the second most goals (15) from set pieces in USL League One. Portland, sitting in 11th place, has conceded the fourth most (11 this season).
“They’re built on just defending well, and they’re really relying on set pieces,” Portland coach Bobby Murphy said after Thursday’s practice. “They’re comfortable not having the ball and defending deep.”
Portland (7-11-8) got an up close look at Chattanooga’s set-piece prowess in its June 13 match in Portland. From at least 40 yards out, Red Wolves’ midfielder Wynand Wessels lofted a perfect pass to forward Pedro Hernandez, who flicked home a header in the 90th minute (a goal that would prove an omen for how several of Portland’s late-season losses would unfold).
Of course, playing Chattanooga also means being prepared early and often to defend attacking midfielder Omar Hernandez, who has scored the third most goals in USL1 with 11 so far. The Hearts are already quite familiar with him after witnessing his vicious left-footed one-timer that essentially went through Hearts’ goalkeeper Hunter Morse in that June 13 loss, stunning the hometown fans only a minute into the match. Officially, it was considered an own goal but in reality, it was all on Omar Hernandez.
Omar Hernandez is currently on a goal-scoring streak, having hit the back of the net in four of his last six matches. During the streak, he’s had a knack for early goals as he scored in the second minute of one match and the sixth minute in another. Factoring in assists, Omar Hernandez has been responsible for a goal in seven straight games.
Portland is going to have to be extremely disciplined, particularly when defending in its own third of the field, Murphy said.
“We have got to defend the box well, set pieces and that type, not foul in silly areas, and then try and drag them out a little bit if we can,” Murphy explained.
One advantage for Portland is Chattanooga played Wednesday while the Hearts have been off since last Sunday.
Based on what he saw in that match against AV Alta, Murphy said he is optimistic about his team’s performance.
“I thought we could have created more, but I thought the pressing was good, the field tilt was in our favor,” Murphy said. “(AV Alta) likes to have 60% of the ball, and to outpossess them, primarily just through our pressing, that’s really good. Not that we were brilliant on the ball, but we just never let them settle and get into a rhythm. We always had people rushing, closing people down, keeping their heads down.”
The key for Portland may come down to making smart plays offensively.
“The big thing is when we have it, we just have got to be good on the ball,” Murphy said. “We’ve got to make them move around a little bit, be a little patient, and pick our moments to go. You know, it’s just a matter of making them make choices they don’t want to make defensively. So don’t stand next to people, get in the pocket, get overloads down the sides, and try and create some chances.”
Quick hits:
Anytime a team plays in Tennessee, the weather has to be factored in. Early reports call for high humidity, which is expected to ease as the evening goes on. There’s also a chance of rain, although it’s more likely that will happen earlier in the day.
Portland center back Serigne Faye was chosen for the USL1 Team of the Week.
USL1 said: The Senegalese defender was Portland’s hero on Sunday night, scoring the game’s lone goal in second-half stoppage time. Faye helped Portland post a clean sheet against AV ALTA FC by leading the club with five clearances.What is a red wolf, you ask? The canid is a critically endangered animal native to the Southeastern United States. The animal’s fur is a mix of cinnamon-red, tawny, and black coloration, with a distinct reddish-buff hue concentrated heavily behind its ears, along its neck, and on its legs.
Chattanooga selected the team moniker as a way to bring attention to its local wildlife preservation.Saturday’s game is set for 7 p.m. It can be watched on ESPN+.