Month: March 2023

Categories
Soccer

Takeaways: Thorns 4, Pride 0

Photo by Nikita Taparia.

The Portland Thorns’ 2023 NWSL campaign started with an absolute bang on Sunday at Providence Park against the Orlando Pride. Historically, the Thorns have dominated in games against the Pride since Orlando joined the league in 2016, putting more than four goals past them on four separate occasions.

This time was no different: The Thorns picked up right where they left off in 2022 and came out firing. In that victory, Portland emphatically told their fans that they need not worry about the mentality of the team and its off-field messes. 

Inspired by the four goals that four different Thorns scored last weekend, here are four key takeaways about the first league game of the year. 

Morgan Weaver, 16’: High pressure and following shots is key

In the pre-game press conference, head coach Mike Norris said that the Thorns were going to play a much more forward game. This new style of play was evident from the first whistle. The Thorns had 27 total shots, 16 of which were on target, compared to Orlando’s nine and one, respectively. The high volume of shots came from the high press the Thorns implemented. Every ball played out of the back was contested, and anytime a player took a shot, other players consistently flooded the goal, ready to put away any rebound or bobble by the keeper. This is exactly how Morgan Weaver got her first goal of the 2023 season from within the six yard box. 

When asked about her goal, Weaver said, “I think it was something very special. Shot, save, and then I was right there.”

If the Thorns are able to keep up this intensity of play throughout the entire season, then their relentlessness will tire defenses out, forcing them to make more mistakes. Being able to see the fruits of their labor work against an admittedly young and weak Orlando defense will hopefully inspire them to continue to apply the same pressure for future games.  

Sophia Smith, 22’: Christine Sinclair, you have proven yourself. 

When Christine Sinclair was named in the starting lineup, I was skeptical. In the three open-door preseason matches, Sinc consistently seemed a step behind the rest of the team in terms of pace and passing precision. Luckily, Sinc seems to have taken personal offense to the RCR discord messages about her and came onto the pitch with something to prove. She was an absolute machine in the midfield, plowing through the Orlando defense and setting up dangerous opportunities for her teammates. Even when her goal  from the top of the box was called back for a foul, you could see the drive emanating from her. 

“I love seeing Sincy like that,” Weaver said when asked about the aggressiveness of Sinclair’s play. “It’s my favorite. She’s just someone very special to play with, and I’m very fortunate to be with her. It’s just so much fun because I can just look at her and she’ll just be like, ‘Let’s go. C’mon. Keep going.’ And it’s something that’s really refreshing for me, honestly, because if I’m down on myself or anything, I can just give her a look and she’ll be like, ‘You got this. Keep going.’ It’s very supportive and I enjoy it.”

Similarly, Norris said Sinclair “brought a calmness on the ball. She brought a different gear in terms of defending. Just being a bit more front-footed and we did that as a collective group.”

Going forward I will remember to not doubt Sinc’s abilities even in her twenty-plus season of professional soccer. 

Hina Sugita, 49’: HINA HIVE ARE YOU READY??

I am a card-carrying member of the Hina Hive and am absolutely stoked to watch her play this year. She already had the sauce, the skills, and the swagger and has now fully embraced the speed and physicality of the NWSL. This combination is a guaranteed recipe for success, and Hina Sugita’s talent was on full display against the Pride. 

Sugita had a 94% passing accuracy rate and won nine duels, an exceptionally strong number compared to her numbers last season. What continues to amaze me is Sugita’s ability to get out of tight spaces when there is heavy amounts of pressure being applied. Her skill and comfort on the ball has grown tremendously, and Norris recognized that. 

“It’s what you see on the field there,” he said. “I mean, how she got out of that pocket in our half I’m not quite sure. I just turned to the bench like, ‘how did she do that?’ But, I mean, she does that in training. She just brings that energy every day, just a smile that she has and so I’m not sure about maturity. I just think it’s probably a comfort in our environments and being able to express herself.”

Now being asked to play winger in Janine Beckie’s absence, Sugita will continue to grow into that role over the course of the season. 

Michele Vasconcelos, 76’: Substitutes carry the same quality and drive as starters

The Thorns included new nomenclature on their starting XI graphic this season. Instead of just a bench displayed in small print underneath the starting lineup, the Thorns’ have chosen to call the players their “finishers” in order to underscore their importance to playing a cohesive game. Michele Vasconcelos was one of those finishers against the Pride, coming on for Weaver in the 63rd minute. Vasconcelos is poised for a lot of time this year, as it is understood that she is likely going to be one of Norris’ first choices off the bench for the forward line. Being able to maintain the same level of quality and pressure that the three starting forwards bring is a high ask. Luckily, Vasconcelos was able to meet it. 

“Whether we’re playing well or down, just trying to always come in with that same mentality of bringing energy and fire,” Vasconcelos said. “Hoping to always come in that way.”

Her statement encapsulates the drive that all Thorns players must have, whether or not that see many minutes on the field. The Thorns’ advantage in the NWSL is their deep bench and squad mentality, and in order to make a convincing run for that fourth star, all players must fully embrace it.

Categories
Soccer Timbers

Takeaways: Portland 0, LA Galaxy 0

Photo by Kris Lattiore.

The Portland Timbers had lost three games in a row heading into their home game Saturday versus the LA Galaxy. The Galaxy came into the match winless in their opening three games, with their last two ending in draws. Both teams desperately needed a result coming into the game.

Both teams would play to a scoreless draw at Providence Park.

In order to inject some life into the club, Timbers head coach Gio Savarese inserted Diego “Guti” Gutierrez and Pablo Bonilla into the lineup. Nathan Fogaça earned his second consecutive start.

The Portland Timbers and LA Galaxy had an injury list that looked like an NFL midseason injury update.

LA had their fair share of issues too. They were missing seven players: Chicharito, Douglas Costa, Jonathan Bond, Marcus Ferkranus, Dejan Joveljić, Kelvin Leerdam, and Eriq Zavaleta.

The Timbers went extremely direct with their play in the first half, and all of the statistics backed it up. It was an ugly display of football and highlighted how sloppy they were with the ball.

Both teams were extremely physical, and there were a ton of fouls committed and not called in the opening 45 minutes. Guti and David Bingham were the two bright spots for the Timbers.

In the first half, the Galaxy dominated proceedings with 10 shots on goal, while Portland had one. The Timbers were out-possessed 29% to 71%. In the 13th minute, Portland got lucky when Galaxy forward Preston Judd’s shot hit the post after he got past the backline of Portland.

In the second half, play continued to be chippy. For 80 minutes, the Timbers were outplayed by the Galaxy.

In the last 15, though, Portland found some magic and dangerous moments. Tega Ikoba brought a spark to the game when he subbed in for the Timbers in the 76th minute. Portland outshot LA Galaxy 9-7 in the second half.

The final possession numbers were terrible for the Timbers: Portland with 32.8% and LA with 67.2%.

Identity crisis

I will ask continue to ask until we get an answer: who is this Portland Timbers team? What are they trying to accomplish on the pitch? Where is the creativity? Is the counterattack completely gone?

The performance early on was sloppy, and they couldn’t manage to escape a single line of pressure. In the second half, the Timbers were a lot better and finally showed the trademark counterattack in the last few minutes.

With the team finally getting healthy, we could see improvement coming sooner rather than later.

“I thought it was a performance of a team that wanted to get a win three points,” Savarese said. “When we have players missing, then players have to step up, and I saw a lot of players stepping up today. It wasn’t perfect, but when you have the desire, the heart, the commitment and determination to give everything that you have, what else can I ask?”

Jazzy benched

Through the first five games of 2023, goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič has made one start, while Bingham has made four.

Although Bingham has been good in goal, he does not possess the immense upside that Jazzy does.

However, Bingham is as reliable as they come. Savarese knows exactly what he can expect from Bingham each time he’s in goal.

He made huge saves throughout the match to keep the game scoreless. His positioning was very good and played a fine game in goal.

This was his second clean sheet on the season, but unfortunately the turf monster claimed its next injury in Bingham.

We wish him all the best in his recovery.

The tension between Ivačič and Savarese could land him on the bench for the near future. Not a good look for a struggling Timbers side.

Could we see 20-year-old Hunter Sulte start, instead? It looks like it.

Guti & Bonilla start
Diego Gutierrez made his first start against LA Galaxy. Photo by Kris Lattimore
Diego Gutierrez made his first start against LA Galaxy.
Photo by Kris Lattimore

Guti has been strong for the Timbers in the minutes he has received. Those opportunities earned Gutierrez his first start. Juan David Mosquera, who is on international duty with Colombia, was replaced by Pablo Bonilla.

Gutierrez and Bonilla were both active and energetic throughout the game. Bonilla did not have many opportunities to come forward, but he was efficient in defense. He also led the team in crosses. Guti had many bright moments with his dribbling and passing.

After the match, Gio said Guti could see more minutes moving forward if he continues his current form. “Gutierrez played very well,” he said. “Now he’s going to compete and push others, and that’s what we want.”

Injury list

At this rate, the Portland Timbers could field a whole injured side. That’s how long their list is. Players continue to get healthier each week, but so far, when they get players back, more go on it.

“Right now, we’re unlucky with the injuries,” Diego Chará said after the match. “That’s really disappointing for us.”

Still, the Timbers have no choice but to continue on.

Standouts
  • The Post: Soccer is a brutal game, especially when it comes to the score. You could dominate a match and still not get the desired outcome. The Galaxy hit the post twice, and that was the difference in the game.
  • Diego Gutierrez offers something very different as a winger and it will help the Timbers this season. Guti has the ability to dribble and keep possession or take players on. He keeps putting up good performances and should have a role on the team moving forward. He led the team with six dribbles and three successful dribbles on Saturday. He also was near the top for completed passes, crosses attempted, recoveries, and touches.
  • David Bingham got the nod over Ivačič, and it paid off. Bingham was clutch throughout the game, and his positioning was solid throughout. He came up with four saves, all in crucial moments. His injury at the end was the worst news you could get at the end of the game. He has two clean sheets in four starts this year.
  • Tega Ikoba continues to bring the energy and excitement. In his 14 minutes, the Timbers were the better team in the game. Savarese said he will see more minutes in upcoming games.
Tega Ikoba rises over everyone to win a header. Photo by Kris Lattimore
Tega Ikoba rises over everyone to win a header. Photo by Kris Lattimore
Stock down
  • Injuries: Another game, and two more injuries.
  • Officiating: This got out of hand and overly-physical. Referee Chris Penso needed to set the tone earlier and refused to do so. It was very fortunate to not see more players injured. The only consistency was that he was bad for both sides. The game ended with 29 total fouls.

Key stats: Team leaders
  • Claudio Bravo paced the team with 13 possessions won and 64 touches.
  • Zac McGraw led the team with four tackles and three blocks
  • Diego Chará conducted the show with the team’s strongest performance in passing accuracy in the final third.
  • Santiago Moreno was Portland’s most active player in the attack, with 17 passes in the final third.
Quote of the Night

Perhaps the game was best summed up by Savarese: “We are in a good place in our mind and our hearts, and now we have to get more players in.”

Categories
NWSL Soccer Thorns

The Thorns’ Keys to 2022

The Portland Thorns. Credit: Nikita Taparia
Photo by Nikita Taparia.
To view this content, you must be a member of the Rose City Review Patreon
Unlock with Patreon
Already a qualifying Patreon member? Refresh to access this content.
Categories
NWSL Soccer

Racing Louisville: Playoff Bound in 2023?

The Racing Louisville Defense after the conclusion of the preseason game against Portland Thorns. All Credit Goes to Taylor Vincent of the Equalizer and BGN.
The Racing Louisville Defense after the conclusion of the preseason game against Portland Thorns. Photo by Taylor Vincent.

This year’s preseason tournament at Providence Park saw the Portland Thorns hosting OL Reign, Racing Louisville, and the U-23 Women’s National Team.

While Seattle and Portland finished first and second in the league, respectively, in 2022, Racing Louisville had a chance showcase the ways they have improved since last season.

In 2021 and 2022, Racing Louisville finished ninth in the NWSL.

As a club entering their third season, making the playoffs is a goal they feel is attainable, and rightfully so. Their welcome to the NWSL has resulted in a rough first two seasons, thus far.

Racing Louisville are closer than ever, and this could be the year it all comes together.

Blockbuster trade & backline
Carson Pickett against Portland Thorns in their preseason match. All credit goes to Taylor Vincent of the Equalizer and BGN.
Carson Pickett against Portland Thorns in their preseason match. Photo by Taylor Vincent.

This team completed a blockbuster trade this offseason by sending superstar Emily Fox to the North Carolina Courage for one of the greatest defenders of all time in Abby Erceg and left back Carson Pickett.

After having a shaky situation at center back in their first two years, they’ve made it a strength in one offseason.

Although it is impossible to replace a USWNT left back starter in Emily Fox, they somehow still managed to get an elite one in Pickett.

The backline was Racing’s biggest question mark after surrendering the the third most goals in 2022, and it has looked remarkably improved in 2023.

Erceg’s partnership at center back with Finnish defender Elli Pikkujämsä was excellent in preseason. Her leadership was been on display: she’s vocal, directs the defense, and showcased her superb play.

“I enjoy coming in and helping people,” Erceg said. “I like seeing people reach their potential and get better as a player. I enjoy that aspect of it.”

Pickett and Lauren Milliet have been tremendous coming forward and delivering dangerous crosses. The fullbacks have more reign in attack, and it’s paid off in preseason. Defensively, their speed has been on display. The recovery runs have been impressive. This pair is going to cause problems all season.

Goalkeeper Katie Lund has been lights-out and will only get better from here. After leading the league in saves, she has solidified herself as a top NWSL goalkeeper.

Head Coach Kim Björkegren has been extremely impressed with Lund, who he says has made so many world class saves.

“The funny thing with [Lund] is she still has much higher potential,” he said. “In three to four years, I don’t know how good she could be because in my opinion she’s already one of the best goalkeepers in this league.”

These four players have a chance to make this backline from a question mark into a strength.

Abby Erceg and Elli Pikkujämsä against Portland Thorns in their preseason match.All credit goes to Taylor Vincent of the Equalizer and BGN.
Abby Erceg and Elli Pikkujämsä against Portland in their preseason match. Photo by Taylor Vincent.
Familiarity with the system
Racing Louisville Kim Björkegren during their match against OL Reign.All credit goes to Taylor Vincent of the Equalizer and BGN.
Racing Louisville Kim Björkegren during their match against OL Reign. Photo by Taylor Vincent.

Björkegren will be entering his second season as the head coach. In 2022, the team had to adjust to a brand new system, and we saw a ton of growing pains as a result.

For most of 2022, they struggled to adapt to what Björkegren was asking of them. Players who did not fit the system, struggled and some were let go or traded away.

In order to get more information on the system, I reached out to Michael Shaw who covers Racing Louisville for Fleur-de-lis FC. One key note is that they play a traditional 4-3-3 formation, which is a staple for both Lou City and Racing Louisville.

Björkegren’s expectations and system is explained in detail by Shaw: “Staring with the front line, he expects defensive effort to try to force the issue when opponents have the ball deep in their territory. When you think about the forwards that Racing released last season, I believe it was more for their defensive effort than their goal scoring ability.”

Shaw expects the midfield to have some versatility, but the main pieces are in place. “At times, the midfield played with two in front of the back four, and that may be how they play at times this season, but Howell is a classic central defensive midfielder, DeMelo is a classic No. 8, and Wang is a classic center-attacking mid,” he said. “I expect him to play to their strengths.”

On the defensive end, this team is looking for players who fit the philosophy.

“The full backs will push forward,” Shaw said, “especially now with Pickett. Indications are that Milliet could start on the back line, too. More than any other player, Milliet explains [Björkegren’s] type of player. She always gives full effort and doesn’t shut off mentally. That’s why she has been ever-present in his lineups.”

At the end of the day, the talent and ability of each player will be highlighted and valued. “When playing out from the back, [Björkegren] values the technical ability to allow the team to keep possession,” Shaw said. “I would say that he tends to prefer the wide areas when building from the back. Now that he has Pickett, Milliet, and [Paige] Monaghan as options on the wings, expect that to continue.”

Even after the team’s 13-game winless streak last year, they never wavered or stop believing in one another. The team’s belief in each other is powerful.

Down the stretch of 2022, Racing Louisville started to figure it out. They won three of their final four games, including the finale over NWSL Championship finalist, Kansas City Current.

That seems to have carried over into the preseason tournament. They narrowly lost to Portland 0-1 on a late set piece goal by Meaghan Nally. Louisville rebounded nicely by coming out 2-0 over OL Reign. Closing out their final preseason game against the U23WNT, they won again.

This is the first time, the staff will have the players they need to make it work. Everyone is going to be more confident and have their roles clearly defined going into Coach Kim’s second season.

Talented roster
Sav Demelo takes on OL Reign in their preseason match. All credit goes to Taylor Vincent of the Equalizer and BGN.
Sav DeMelo takes on OL Reign in Racing Louisville’s preseason match. Photo by Taylor Vincent.

This team also returns two of the best young players in the league: Savannah DeMelo and Jaelin Howell. Both also signed long-term contract extensions to remain with the club. DeMelo and Howell have already had stints on the USWNT and will be part of the the squad after this 2023 WWC cycle.

DeMelo said she wants to keep improving in her second NWSL season. “I have some things that I want to take from year one and apply to year two, but also add a couple pieces to my game,” she said.

In regards to the her and Howell’s role, DeMelo said, “I think just us being so young, I think we want to just provide energy and that little spark that the team needs.”

The club has made numerous high-profile player acquisitions in recent years: Monaghan, Nadia Nadim, Wang Shuang, Pikkujämsä, Ary Borges, Rebecca Holloway, Thembi Kgatlana, Alex Chidiac, Satara Murray, and most recently Uchenna Kanu.

Racing Louisville’s roster is very talented, and they possess one of the top rosters in the NWSL.

The Bev Yanez Effect

In a league where former players are now starting to become coaches, one of the highest-regarded ones is Bev Yanez. As a player, Yanez was a former best XI and won multiple NWSL shields. When she is ready, there will be a head coaching job waiting for her.

The respect she has from the team has been very apparent.

“She’s awesome,” Erceg said. “I think, especially for such a young team, to have a coach come in and just drill us on technique and technique and technique, it’s really good. I really enjoy her style of coaching. It’s very direct; there’s a lot of information, and it’s really good that she breaks things down. And I’ve really enjoyed that the training is different. Each time we go in, the drills are different, they’re challenging, [and] you’ve got to think.”

Yanez has made sure it a priority to help players as much as possible. She is also known to bring a lot of clarity to the squad, if needed. Whenever there may be any confusion or questions, Yanez makes herself available.

“She’s given us a lot of feedback, a lot of detail around our performances and the shape of the team,” Erceg said. “I think the girls are really thriving with that. She’s just a really good personality to have on the team as well… So I think people enjoy having her on the field and off the field.”

Team unity

A NWSL season requires you to be around your teammates for nearly the entire calendar. There are teams who are close, but the 2023 Racing Louisville squad has something special.

Their training sessions are filled with laughter, fun, and joyful vibes. They enjoy being around each other so much, and most of them want to be around each other all the time.

“I think just us being so close makes us want to work for each other,” DeMelo said. “We all want to win for each other [and] for our coach. So I think it just adds that level of family to it and makes it a little bit more special and more meaningful. And it’s not really about like one specific player. We all like want to do well just for the club and the team.”

The final lap

In 2022, the Kansas City Current went from last to nearly winning the NWSL championship. They were one game from a fairy tale ending.

After everything Racing Louisville players and fans have been through, it would be quite the story if they were to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

“What would that mean?” DeMelo said. “The world. I think we’re trying to grow something really special here in Louisville. And I think we’ve been like puzzling in a lot of good players, and then extending people’s contracts. And I think we really want to build something here.”

“It would be pretty cool,” Erceg said. “I think playoffs for any team is cool. You lose that specialness, a little bit, when you’re repetitively doing it. So I think for a team like this, they just, they just want it so bad.”

Erceg said the team’s positive culture helps. “The team culture is really good,” she said. “And I want nothing more than for this team to be rewarded for that. You don’t get that all the time. It’s not common, especially in pro teams.”

This team has all the ingredients to be a playoff contender: improved backline, studs in the midfield, and options on the frontline.

Racing Louisville supporters, be proud of the team you have because they’re going to make you proud this season.

Categories
Soccer Timbers

Takeaways: Atlanta United 5, Portland Timbers 1

Congrats on your 30,000 minutes with the Timbers, Chará! Photo: Matthew Wolfe.
Congrats on your 30,000 minutes with the Timbers, Chará! Photo by Matthew Wolfe.

Nightmare at Mercedes-Benz Stadium! Atlanta embarrassed the Timbers on Saturday night, trashing them 5-1.

Saying Portland had a bad game would be an understatement. Everything was fine the first minutes after kick-off. Eryk Williamson scored a banger at minute two, and it looked as if the Timbers were about to leave their two back-to-back losses behind.

But then… the referee called Williamson’s goal off due to a teammate’s offside position, and everything went downhill from there.

What could’ve been a dream start away from home ended up being a 90-minute nightmare.

Back five formation

With a formation of a back five, Timbers head coach Gio Savarese expected to stop Atlanta and, most importantly, keep United’s Thiago Almada at bay.

The score doesn’t lie… or maybe it does. The gap between a depleted Portland and a fully loaded Atlanta was that big, and the visitors were lucky not to have been scored on more.

Portland’s chosen formation has its strengths and weaknesses, as happens with every formation. In this particular case, the space between the center backs and fullbacks is pivotal and can be exploited by the opponent if a team is not deploying it right. That is because the wingers can have more room to go forth, and a team needs to be very disciplined to stop them.

And that’s one of the things that went south with the Timbers on Saturday night.

 

Notice the huge space that opens up between Claudio Bravo and Zac McGraw. The opening allows Atlanta to find time and lots of space to pass the ball and shoot.

A five-back maybe could’ve stopped Atlanta with the right personnel. Of course, with that formation, it is expected for the fullbacks to go back and forth on the wings. When under attack or when building from the back, they need to stay back and when they have the ball.

Bravo and Juan David Mosquera were going to be key in that regard, but Bravo coming back from injury clearly wasn’t up to the task. Mosquera didn’t do that well, either.

Savarese said at the post-match press conference that he assumes full responsibility for the loss, but he also thought that some players could’ve done better.

Among those players was Bravo. He lost six duels—tied with Nathan with most duels lost—and only won two and had 66.7% passing accuracy, the lowest of the entire backline after the goalkeeper. He made four crosses, and all of them were unsuccessful. Bravo also conceded two fouls and won a yellow card.

In transition

Over and over again, Atlanta put the Timbers under the test with fast transitions that left players out of position and running like hell to go back to defensive formation. This was especially on display in the second half.

“They were dangerous in the moments when we lost the ball and were high up the field. In their transition, [Atlanta United] created so many moments in the first half as well,” said Savarese about this.

Almada deserves a special mention here. He not only scored a golazo with the filthiest swerve you’ll ever see from a free kick, but he also scored a brace and registered two assists that night.

Almada was a fundamental part of that fast transition to the attack and had Portland’s number all game long. As you can see in the clip above, he assists Wiley after Bravo and Mosquera obstruct each other and lose the ball.

It was 3-vs-3 in this attack. The Timbers should’ve been able to do something more, but they were caught in a fast attack. Mosquera didn’t help much either. He tries to close down Almada but ends up obstructing Bravo, and no one can recover the ball for Portland. In doing so, Mosquera also left the left side of the field totally uncovered, giving Luiz Araújo all the space to add himself to the attack.

Not the best goalkeeping

Aljaž Ivačič started on goal for the first time in the season after recovering from injury.

It wasn’t the best of games for Ivačič who, besides being scored on five times—which wasn’t entirely his fault—had problems distributing the ball. Against Atlanta, he had 51.6% passing accuracy—and 15.4% in the opponent’s half. Of course, that is far from ideal.

Ivačič's distribution map. Source: Opta
Ivačič’s distribution map. Source: Opta

Also, this. It is true that Almada’s kick was pretty much unstoppable, but Nick has a point here:

Switching the point of attack

Besides fast transitions, Atlanta added another layer to their offense by switching the point of attack. This is something that worked well in the first half but especially brought results in the second half with Atlanta’s third goal.

Notice how the Timbers focus on that switching ball to Wiley so much that they don’t even pay attention to Giorgos Giakoumakis, who heads the ball and beats Ivačič.

The last two of Atlanta’s goals were similar in the fact that both goalscorers were marked closely but found space to shoot, nonetheless. Justin Rasmussen came into the match for Bravo and didn’t have the desired impact. He was the one marking Araújo, but Araújo beat his mark easily. At minute 86, something similar happened with Larrys Mabiala while marking Almada.

The Timbers got one back through Tega Ikoba, who beat Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan with a header. This goal was special because with it, at the age of 19, Ikoba became the youngest goalscorer in the team’s history.

Congratulations, Diego Chará!

In the midst of so much negativity surrounding the game in Georgia, there was something to celebrate last Saturday.  Diego Chará has always been essential for Portland, and his presence in the midfield is something the team can rely on.

Now, he’s not only a club legend but also an MLS legend after becoming the only field player to amass over 30,000 regular season minutes, all of them played with the Timbers.

Categories
Soccer Thorns

Preseason Takeaways: Thorns 4, USWNT U-23 1

Photo by Nikita Taparia

The Thorns met with the USWNT U-23 team Wednesday night and came away with a sound 4-1 victory. Still, the game was not as comprehensively dominant for the Thorns as the scoreline would suggest.

The U-23s got on the scoreboard early, in the 13th minute, with a chipped ball from inside the box that sailed into the side netting. The Thorns wouldn’t score their first goal until nearly an hour later.

Portland’s starting XI was heavily rotated from Sunday night’s game against Racing Louisville:

Hogan

Nally- Menges – Provenzano – Beckman

Sinc – Porter – Rodríguez

Beckie – Bedfort – Vasconcelos

Here is a quick breakdown of how these starters played:

Players I want to see more from

Hannah Betfort: Betfort is the definition of a player who doesn’t quit. She is often taken to the ground and is unlucky to not be rewarded with more fouls. However, for the amount of chances she had on Wednesday alone, she should have had more positive output. There was one moment in particular when a loose ball made its way to her feet within the six yard box, the U-23 keeper caught off her line. Instead of tapping it in, Betfort ended up completely skying the ball, unable to tie the score. Before Betfort can compete for a starting spot in the Thorns, her scoring and shooting needs to be much more consistent. 

Michelle Vasconcelos: Vasconcelos was one of the only players to start both preseason games so far. Unfortunately, neither performance has been that convincing. She played on the left wing on Wednesday, but was often caught losing the physical battles to the U-23 defenders, getting the ball poked out from under her, or unable to round the corner to get off a cross. With the forward pool so deep for the Thorns, I don’t foresee Vasconcelos getting many minutes, but it does seem that Mike Norris rates her and is giving her plenty of opportunities to show her skills.  

Christine Sinclair: Sinc is an absolute legend of the game; that I cannot deny. However, watching her play, especially against a team of entirely college students, her age and speed are on full display. While her soccer IQ is still undoubtedly high, her body seems to be moving much slower than her mind is. Her first touch was often off, and she played the ball backwards more frequently than she did forwards—a problematic distinction for an attacking midfielder. She had a shot or two on goal, but both were tame, rolling straight at the U-23 keeper. Unless Sinc can show she can keep up with the pace of the game, she is much more adept in a role of mentor and supersub for the Thorns. 

Players I thought played well

Izzy D’Aquilla: The newly-signed Thorn was subbed on in the 20th minute after Janine Beckie was injured. From the moment she stepped on the field, which is always more difficult when you’re coming on at the last minute to replace an injured player, D’Aquilla showed her pace and nose for goal. In only her second preseason game, she has shown her quality and her readiness for the league. With Beckie’s devastating injury, I would expect her to immediately get deserved minutes. 

Natalie Beckman and Gabby Provenzano: The two 2022 draft picks have been showing consistent growth as they begin their second year in the NWSL. The two played next to one another on the left side of the backline and had good chemistry and communication. Provenzano has the necessary calm presence of a veteran center back, and Beckman’s high press on the wing caused frequent turnovers and created dangerous opportunities in the box. 

Taylor Porter: Porter is starting her first full year under contract with the Thorns strong. She is a solid back-up No. 6, and in the second half, was able to show her talents alongside Sam Coffey in a double-pivot. Against the U-23d, she was able to dictate play forward toward Rocky Rodríguez and D’Aquilla. I would like to see her get minutes with the likes of Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver up front in the next games. 

The goals

One of the largest takeaways from the night was that the Thorns’ starting XI, largely comprised of players who got limited minutes in the 2022 championship campaign, are just as strong as the super team of the best college players in the country. In a year where depth will be paramount to success, seeing all the Thorns players put on a strong showing provides reasons for optimism. However, it must be said that all four of the Thorns’ goals came after their starting players from the championship game took the pitch. Sam Coffey and Natalia Kuikka came on in the 64th minute, while Smith, Weaver, Crystal Dunn, and Reyna Reyes came on in the 72nd minute. 

Portland’s first goal was a pinpoint cross from Dunn to D’Aquilla, which was deftly redirected away from the keeper. The second, third, and fourth goals—all of which were scored after the 84th minute—came from recycled balls that the veterans preyed upon. Smith, Weaver, and Hina Sugita, respectively, were able to settle rebounded balls and calmly slot them home. To me, this is one of the most positive takeaways of the night, as it showed a linear improvement from last season, where the team often almost immediately lost set pieces and recycled balls. 

Categories
Soccer Timbers

Takeaways: Portland Timbers 1, St.Louis City 2

Zac McGraw against St. Louis FC on March 11 at Providence Park. Photo taken by Kris Lattimore.
Zac McGraw against St. Louis FC on Mar. 11 at Providence Park. Photo by Kris Lattimore.

After a 2-3 defeat at LAFC, the Portland Timbers faced off against MLS’s newest expansion side, St. Louis City SC. The Missouri side came into the game undefeated, with victories over Austin FC and Charlotte FC.

In a game the Timbers could have won, they were left with no points and a home defeat. The injury list continues to pile up and their identity continues to be a mystery.

With the Timbers bringing a makeshift lineup into the game, there were a lot of questions and concerns. Still, they saw the return of Claudio Bravo and the first start for Nathan Fogaça in 2023.

One of the biggest question marks is the identity of this Timbers side: Who are they? Unfortunately for Portland, St. Louis knew the answer.

St. Louis has capitalized on mistakes early this season, and this game was no different. Their side is physical, tough, and opportunistic. As a result of their ability to grit out results, they’re currently the only 3-0-0 team in MLS.

St Louis City head coach Bradley Carnell said the club has spent preseason trying to prepare their players for MLS. “We played a very competitive opponents in pre-season,” he said. “We’ve been committed to a style of play for over a year now. We’ve had a very committed group of guys and this style of play is not easy. It demands a lot of commitment, not just to the philosophy but to each other as a teammate.”

The takeaways were plentiful, but I broke it down into a few.

Injuries and Officiating

With Evander less than 100%, Portland opted to insert Cristhian Paredes in the game. Sadly, that plan quickly went awry, as the Timbers were forced to make a change in the 11th minute, with Evander coming in for Paredes.

Timbers head coach Gio Savarese said the team was “very unlucky” in terms of injuries. “We felt maybe that we still had our group to put a fight, and all of a sudden this first sprint [Paredes] gets injured,” Savarese said. He said this is the team’s second hamstring injury—the previous being to Yimmi Chará—though he is optimistic that Paredes’ is less severe.

“And then we have this situation with Evander during the week,” Savarese said. “He couldn’t train, and then we were able to make it to the game. In the game, he was feeling a little bit of groin tightness, and we didn’t want to risk in any way to get another injured player.” Saverese said the move to sub Evander out in the 69th minute was a reflection of that precaution.

“We’re very thin,” he said, “but we still have to continue to work a good fight.”

The officiating allowed physical play throughout the game without much repercussion. In a game with five yellow cards, head official Victor Rivas could have set the tone way earlier. Portland was very fortunate to not have more injuries.

St. Louis won 61.6% of duels, while the Timbers only won 38.7%. To make matters even worse, the Timbers only had nine tackles with four won, compared to St. Louis’ 29 and 17 won.

Nathan Fogaça started his first game of 2023 for the Portland Timbers versus St. Louis City SC on March 11.Photo Taken by Kris Lattimore.
Nathan Fogaça starts vs. St. Louis City SC on Mar. 11. Photo by Kris Lattimore.
Fogaça for Niezgoda 

Fogaça has provided a much-needed spark in the Timbers’ attack in each opportunity he’s received this season. He continues to have an insane work rate and relentlessness that is unmatched by any other Timber on the frontline.

Fogaça allows the Timbers to play their press higher up and consistently throughout the game, but he also has the ability to open lanes in the counterattack. This was evident early in Saturday’s match, when Fogaça almost put one away in the second minute.

The Timbers have not been able to find their trademark counterattacking this season, and it showed again this game. If they are going to sit back and counter, it has to be way better.

Fogaça should be the starter moving forward, unless another option presents. He gives them the best chance to win right now.

Jarosław Niezgoda could very well regain his finishing form, but it needs to come soon; unfortunately for Portland, he has not looked like himself this season.

CB1 and FB1: Zac McGraw and Juan Mosquera
JDM against St. Louis City SC on March 11.Photo taken by Kris Lattimore.
JDM against St. Louis City SC on Mar. 11. Photo by Kris Lattimore.

Going into the year, the Timbers’ backline was a question mark, with Juan David Mosquera and Zac McGraw being two notable exceptions. Mosquera and McGraw continue to be the two bright spots on the team.

Against St. Louis, McGraw scored his second ever goal in third minute off a beautiful corner kick by Eryk Williamson, and Mosquera routinely created chances and dominated the right side of the pitch.

Backline Changes and More of the Same

After Timbers rolled out a traditional four-back for the first two games, Savarese threw a changeup to St. Louis in the form of five defenders. The new formation allows the Timbers to maximize their attacking fullbacks in Bravo and Mosquera.

By replacing an attacker in the starting XI, the Timbers were also able to add veteran Larrys Mabiala as the third center back.

What does this formation not solve? Their set piece defending. In the 75th minute, the Portland Timbers surrendered another one, conceding their second goal of the match. If this team wants to finish in the top half of the table, this needs to be cleaned up.

Still, we must give credit to St. Louis; they played this game on their terms and made sure the Timbers were particularly ineffective coming forward.

Missing: Portland Timbers

What is this team’s identity? Where is the counterattack? Where are the dynamic runs? Where is the creativity?

Whatever product the Timbers are putting out on the pitch right now is not good enough, and there’s absolutely no rhythm to it. Portland has a lot of soul searching to do before the results start pouring in.

They can’t move forward until these questions are solved.

Standouts

Zac McGraw Opened his scoring account for 2023 and has been the best CB for Portland.

Juan David Mosquera continues to be excellent moving forward and helping on defense. As always, he was dominating the right side of the pitch and even paced the team with four chances created.

Santi Moreno led the team in four shots, with one shot on goal, and two tackles.

Santi Moreno against St. Louis on March 11.Photo taken by Kris Lattimore.
Santi Moreno against St. Louis on Mar. 11. Photo by Kris Lattimore.
Bonus Stat

On a positive note, Portland has somehow continued to find the back of the net consistently:

 

Categories
Soccer Thorns

My Dream Starting XI

With very few offseason moves from the Thorns after their championship winning 2022 season, creating The best Starting XI for the 2023 season is rather easy. 

My ideal starting XI is a 3-2-3-2. Early in the 2022 season, Portland deployed a three-back, and it was effective. Having traded Yazmeen Ryan, the Thorns’ strongest pure-winger, I think it would be to the Thorns’ tactical advantage to use their outside backs as true wingbacks, playing the length of the field to send in crosses and dropping back provide cover. This will free up the attacking midfield and forward four players to creatively interchange through the center of the park.

Here’s why that works on a player-by-player basis.

Bella Bixby, goalkeeper
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

You can’t go wrong putting any Nadine Angerer-trained keeper in goal, but Bixby has earned her spot as the Thorns’ first-choice keeper. In her 22 games last season, she had 10 clean sheets and recorded a 75% save record. She conceded only 21 goals, making her tied for least number conceded for players with over 22 games played. She has a commanding presence in goal and ensures that her backline is in the right place to make her job easier. One of the skills that sets her apart from other keepers is her ability to not only save the ball, but catch it so that there are no easy rebounds for the opposition. Her calm demeanor gives a sense of security for fans and players alike.

Becky Sauerbrunn, center back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Despite her years of experience, Sauerbrunn has shown no signs of slowing down. Her ability to pinpoint sliding tackles and deftly clear the ball are intangible skills that have not diminished. In the 2022 season, Sauerbrunn had an 88.1% passing success rate, an incredibly high number for someone who plays under so much direct pressure from NWSL forwards. Of those passes, 46% were forward and only 5% backwards. Having Sauerbrunn has the stalwart of the backline will help to ensure that play will build from the back accurately and quickly. And you cannot forget that she scores goals as well, having a 50% conversion rate. She truly does it all. 

Kelli Hubly, center back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

The Thorns’ 2022 Ironwoman has more than earned her spot in the starting lineup since joining the team as a discovery player in 2018. She had 110 clearances and 35 interceptions last season and won nearly 60% of her duels. Hubly is a gritty player who consistently puts her body on the line in order to protect her goal. Working alongside Sauerbrunn at the back has increased her ball awareness exponentially, and when Sauerbrunn is absent for the Women’s World Cup, Hubly will be an excellent leader of the backline. Plus, her TikTok skills have increased her swagger tenfold—and, hopefully, that will translate to the pitch this season.

Meaghan Nally, center back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Nally is one player that I really wish had gotten more game time than she did last season. She started the season running, with both Menges and Sauerbrunn out with injury, and she handled the starting role with grace and confidence. In her 12 games played for the Thorns in 2022, she had 11 starts, recording an 82% passing success rate and winning 75% of her duels. Having only played 19 minutes in her rookie season the year prior, Nally showed how much she is capable of growing during an offseason—and hasn’t even hit her ceiling yet. With the opportunity to get more time at the back, she has the ability to become a pillar of the Thorns’ backline, much like Hubly. 

Meghan Klingenberg, left wing back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Reyna Reyes will be hot on Kling’s heels to win that LWB starting position, but for now, Kling has put in the time and the heart to show that she deserves her place. She made 17 appearances (16 starts) for the Thorns last season, controlling the left zone of the field. While technically a defender, Kling’s biggest asset is her ability to win the ball and carry it up the field to send off a cross. Without Ryan on the left this season, the chance creator role will fall more heavily on Kling’s shoulders. She had 29 open play crosses last season, 25 of which were key passes. If she can keep those numbers up, she will be threatening in her final few seasons as a Thorn. 

Natalia Kuikka, right wing back
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Kuikka has been one of the Thorns’ best international signings in recent years. While her passing rate sits at a 75% accuracy, her invaluable nature comes from the tenacity of her tackles. She is 10th in the league for her number of progressive carries and eighth in the league for successful tackles of dribblers. As the Thorns’ right wing back she consistently is able to get into the attacking third and play a dangerous ball in. Kuikka also has the ability to track back and stop attackers mid-stride. The ability to be deadly on both sides of the ball will make her a strong asset for the Thorns yet again. 

Sam Coffey, defensive midfield
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Coffey had one of the strongest debut seasons in the NWSL, ever. She transitioned to defensive midfield—a role that she had not played before—with ease and learned on the job extremely quickly. She ranked second in the league for passes into the final third with 113 and fourth overall for progressive passes with 121. Her confidence on the ball is incredibly high, as is her IQ of the game itself. Only 24 and coming off her rookie year, Coffey’s ceiling is sky-high, and her value to the team will continue to grow exponentially. Despite her being more than deserving of a spot on the USWNT’s WWC roster, I would not complain if she stayed with the Thorns for an entire season.

Hina Sugita, center midfield
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

It took Sugita a few games to adjust to the speed and tempo of the NWSL, as well as its physicality. She started 20 of the 23 games she appeared in in her first season with the Thorns, scoring five goals and providing four assists. Sugita’s ability to turn out of dangerous situations is uncanny, and her left foot has some killer power behind it. Giving her the ability to play interchangeably up the middle with Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver will give her the freedom to both drive the ball forward herself and make dangerous runs to the top of the box, where she has proven to be a threat. Hina Hive sound off!!! 

Rocky Rodríguez, center midfield
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Rodríguez has quietly been one of the most consistent Thorns for years, and I think that last year was when people began to realize that. Not only is she regularly scoring bangers, like in the semi-final game against San Diego, but she is one of the best progressive dribblers in the league. Her control in the middle of the field is second to none, and with her impressive performances with Costa Rica over the offseason, she is coming into the 2023 season in incredible form. 

Morgan Weaver, forward

In some ways, it has felt as though Weaver has been living in Smith’s shadow since she joined the Thorns. Being picked second overall behind her and playing the same position, it is easy to see why the two players are constantly being compared. But in 2022, Weaver showed how different of a player she is from Smith. She had the second most goals on the team last season with seven, showing that her accuracy and consistency in front of net—something that she has been criticized for and is actively working on—is rapidly improving. Weaver has an engine that never quits and some of the best celebrations on the team. If her finishing numbers continue to increase, as they have every other season, she will be a force to be reckoned with. 

Sophia Smith, Forward
Photo by Matthew Wolfe

Do I really need to elaborate here? Smith is the best soccer player in the world, currently. Of course she will start for the Thorns. 

Categories
Soccer Thorns

All Paths Aren’t the Same

Photo and edit by Nikitia Taparia.
To view this content, you must be a member of the Rose City Review Patreon
Unlock with Patreon
Already a qualifying Patreon member? Refresh to access this content.
Categories
Soccer Timbers

Takeaways: LAFC 3, Portland Timbers 2

Evander made his Portland Timbers regular season debut versus Sporting KC. Credit: Matthew Wolfe
Photo by Matthew Wolfe.

The Timbers forgot how to play soccer in the first 45 minutes, but they got their memory back in the second half. Even if it wasn’t enough for them to come away with a point against LAFC, Saturdays match saw Evander score his first goal as a Timber, and Cristhian Paredes also put his name on the score sheet.

The odds weren’t right

The Timbers went to California searching to spoil the LAFC title party, but they fell short. According to The Analyst, Portland was the underdogs, with only an 18% chance of winning against the MLS reigning champions, and they just couldn’t beat those odds.

LAFC started to move the ball fast and find spaces from the get-go, putting the entire Timbers XI to work to stop the fast transitions. Portland could only break the pressure twice before LAFC scored the first goal of the game

The host showed they can use the half spaces very well, as we could see in the previous play to the goal. It was Kellyn Acosta who sent a long pass through the half-space, full back Juan David Mosquera lost Denis Bouanga, who got to the ball before it went out, forcing Timbers goalkeeper David Bingham to make the save and send the ball to the corner.

Defending set pieces

One of the many weaknesses the Timbers showed in the first half was their defense of set pieces. That’s how Giorgio Chiellini scored the match’s first goal. Justin Rasmussen lost the mark on Chiellini, and the Italian finished with a tap. Marvin Loría and Zac McGraw contributed to the defensive mistake, obstructing one another and favoring the bouncing of the ball toward Chiellini.

Before the end of the first half hour, the hosts could’ve scored their second goal, but the referee deemed it as a foul. This time, Portland double-marked Chiellini, with McGraw helping Rasmussen. It was the latter who couldn’t clear the ball and gave LAFC’s Ryan Hollingshead the chance to tap it and score. Loría was marking him, but for some reason he stopped following Hollingshead closely and let him get to the ball. The visitors had to thank the referee for calling it off.

Not long after that, LAFC had another corner. Bingham got to punch the ball but it fell to Kwadwo Opoku. Santiago Moreno came too aggressively on him, and the referee granted the home team the PK. LAFC star Carlos Vela took it and scored, and it seemed like the Timbers would have a long afternoon.

Set pieces and defensive problems aside, some of the players looked slow when taking decisions. LA was pressing high during the entire first half, and they were taking advantage of turnovers in the midfield, which led to fast transitions in the attack. So, you would expect the Timbers to pass the ball quickly and be aware of their surroundings.

Well, that wasn’t always the case.

Moreno giveaway. Credit: Fox Sports.
Moreno giveaway. Credit: Fox Sports.

We had to wait almost 50 minutes to see a decent chance from Portland in the attack. This started with Rasmussen sending a good service to the far post. Loría headed the ball but goalkeeper John McCarthy reacted quickly and made a save with his chest. The Timbers created one more chance, but weren’t able to finish it.

Starting the second half with a bang

Just seconds after the start of the second half, Vela could’ve scored a brace, but a great tackle by McGraw denied him of the opportunity.

But LAFC was on a mission, and the slowness of some players was this time reflected in Diego Chará, when José Cifuentes stole the ball from him. The turnover led to Portland’s defense being outnumbered and to Opoku scoring. (Fun fact: Opoku was the LAFC player most involved in attacking sequences in 2022, with Vela coming in second, according to Opta.)

Defense outnumbered and bad positioning. Source: Fox Sports
Defense outnumbered and bad positioning. Source: Fox Sports

So yeah, LAFC was actually the one starting their second half with a bang.

The impact of the subs

By 54′, it was obvious the Timbers needed some subs to change the dynamic of the game… and quickly.

Župarić with the giveaway when trying to build from the back. Source: Fox Sports
Župarić with the giveaway when trying to build from the back. Source: Fox Sports

Head coach Gio Savarese moved the bench. Christian Paredes replaced Loría, Larrys Mabiala entered for Moreno, and Claudio Bravo came in for Rasmussen.

The Timbers finally put one in in minute 62 with a fast transition, outnumbering LA’s defense. Paredes showcased nice off-the-ball work, and left the ball to Evander after sucking the attention of LAFC defenders. That made it possible for the Brazilian to shoot, unmarked.

Jarosław Niezgoda didn’t have a good game in the attack. True, no Timber did in the first half, but at the end of his 72 minutes, he registered zero shots on target, zero duels won, and zero chances created, and he barely stepped a foot inside LAFC’s box.

No wonder he was replaced by Nathan Fogaça. The Brazilian didn’t do well in duels or passes—he missed three out of seven passes total and lost nine duels—but he made his presence notorious in the last 10 minutes of the game. After a corner, McCarthy couldn’t get ahold of the ball and left his goal open for Mosquera to score. The defense reacted, but Fogaça kept the ball inside the box and, by doing so, assisted Paredes.

After that, both teams could’ve scored at least one more, but the hosts kept the three points at home.

What Gio said

If anything, the game against Sporting KC showed us Savarese has some decisions to make regarding the Timbers’ starting XI.

The coach spoke about Fogaça, Paredes, and Bravo and what they brought to the game after the LAFC loss. “[Bravo] didn’t look off at all,” Savarese said. “It looked like he was comfortable, and he created a lot of good moments going forward.

“Bravo and Paredes brought a lot of energy into the team,” he said, “and I think that’s also the reason why the team elevated their level at a particular time.”

Claudio Bravo vs LAFC. Credit: Timbers FC
Congrats on your 50 games as a Timber, Claudio Bravo! Credit: Timbers FC

Fogaça surely made a case to be in the starting position next game. “Nathan is competing very well,” Savarese said, “and he’s putting himself in a situation that he’s pushing me to get more playing time.”

It is true that the Timbers were missing Sebastián Blanco, Dairon Asprilla, Felipe Mora, and Yimmy Chará, but part of the coach’s job is to find a way for the team to work without them. And this game against LAFC showed that maybe there’s a way for Savarese to do so.

Two of the things to look at are the style and system of play. “We pressed completely differently,” Saverese said. “We pressed 4-4-2 last game. We played more with a 4-3-3 [in this game] that ended up being with five midfielders. That’s why we changed, to be a little more aggressive, to press a little bit higher.”