After the Portland Timbers 2 and the Portland Thorns put on exciting shows Friday and Saturday against the SeaTac side of their respective leagues, the Portland Timbers had a chance Sunday to try to hit the trifecta for a nine-point PTFC weekend. Unfortunately, that’s not how the day played out.
Timbers head coach Phil Neville has been very open about the team’s struggles and his frustration with Portland’s lack of results and disastrous performances. Going into the weekend, the Timbers were winless in their last eight games.
Fortunately, the Seattle Sounders have struggled mightily all year. They have had trouble to scoring goals, while the Timbers have problems keeping the opposition out of their net.
The cumulative issues meant that this edition of the Cascadia Clash featured the two worst teams in MLS’ Western Conference. Portland and Seattle had 10 points apiece and sat in 13th and 14th place, respectively.
The Timbers’ head coach said to expect lineup changes, and they arrived in a new center back pairing of Dario Župarić and Kamal Miller. He also started Eric Miller in the place of the injured Claudio Bravo. Antony and Cristhian Paredes also made their returns to the starting XI. Evander would return, but only to the bench.
One thing about Neville: he is never afraid to make changes.
In the 15th minute, Župarić played a long ball in to find Jonathan Rodríguez, who chested it to Felipe Mora in-stride to make it 1-0. Mora has shined since coming back from injury, scoring five goals in six games.
Unfortunately, in the 19th minute, Cristian Roldan equalized off a deflection.
At halftime, it was tied at 1-1, with both teams tallying five shots. However, Portland was sound defensively and was unlucky to concede. Seattle offered very little in attack and were hesitant moving forward.
Still, it was the Sounders who took the lead in the 50th minute, thanks to Raúl Ruidiaz. The Timbers refused to close him down, and Max Crépeau had no chance to stop the goal.
Ruidiaz’s tally made the match Portland’s eighth consecutive game where they allowed two or more goals.
Evander made his return in the 56th minute. This team has struggled mightily without him. But beyond his return to the pitch, the remainder of the game and the entirety of the second half was one to forget. The drive and urgency was nowhere to be found.
The inconsistency of the backline is the only consistency this season has provided. In this game, they actually played well, but when your team isn’t performing, the luck or bounces don’t tend to go your way either. This team needs to create their own good fortune, but they refuse to shoot the ball to create opportunities. It’s a complete mess right now.
“Massively disappointing. I think the run that we’re on at the moment, I’ve got to take full responsibility for this run,” said Neville. “There’s no time for sulking. Any criticism that comes our way begins with me. I select the team, I pick the system, I pick the tactics. The last nine games, we’ve got to be better.”
Tillamook
What an announcement to make before kickoff! The Timbers faithful have been hoping for a new shirt sponsor that everyone can get behind since DaBella was dropped for allegations of sexual harassment against the company’s CEO.
There was one unanimous dream: Tillamook. That became reality when Diego Chará was shown on the jumbotron with the beautiful new kit on.
All credit to the Timbers and Tillamook for listening to the incredible supporters of the club and doing what’s best for business and everyone involved.
Make no mistake: this doesn’t make up for everything, but it is a step in the right direction.
New backline
The Timbers started the quartet of Juan David Mosquera, Župarić, K. Miller, and E. Miller for the first time all season.
Župarić has made it clear that he wants to play and earn every penny of his paycheck. He has made a trade request if the club does not see that as a possibility.
He provided the ‘hockey’ assist on the lone goal for Portland.
Although the scoreboard is unpleasant, his partnership with K. Miller was a definite positive for the Timbers. Neville will need to make sure he comes back to this partnership later on.
At this point, however, Zac McGraw being benched and without a chance to regain his form could hurt this team a lot. Neville teased a three-back early in preseason, but he has not tried it in regular season play. McGraw, K. Miller, and Župarić could execute this very well. The formation would also allow Mosquera to attack even more without worrying his defensive duties as much—though (sigh) this is the case anyway.
E. Miller provided a ton of stability on the left in place of Bravo. He is underappreciated for what he brings to this team on and off the pitch and for his consistency in what he brings to every match. His fullback counterpart, Mosquera, had a decent game, but Mosquera’s attention on the defensive side of the ball was below par—and has been for the majority of the season.
Rivalry week
As with every Cascadia Clash, these teams absolutely despise each other. The game is played on another level physically, no matter what.
This game was no different. Unfortunately referee Alan Chapman allowed too much rough play to continue all match long, inevitably leading to at least some kind of skirmish.
The game got incredibly chippy in the 54th minute when Nouhou Tolo and Mosquera went at it. The Sounders’ defender picked up a yellow card for multiple shoves.
However, the play was ultimately uninspired from both sides. I’m not quite sure either team deserved three points. The only thing that met expectations was the intensity in the challenges, fouls, and rough play that we’ve come to expect from this rivalry.
Lone bright spot
The only true positive from this match was Mora scoring his fifth goal in six games.
Honesty
“I’ve got to be better, but the one thing I’m absolutely convinced of is that we will get this right,” Neville said. “I’m more convinced today than I’ve ever been.”
The grace period is over, and the excuses for this team need to stop. They need to start getting results, or they’ll be heading for the No. 1 draft pick in the MLS SuperDraft very soon.
What evidence do we have to believe they’ll get this right?
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