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Soccer Timbers

Takeaways: Portland Timbers 1, Seattle Sounders 2

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.

Crépeau, Mosquera, Zuparic, K. Miller, E. Miller Moreno, Chara (C), Paredes, Antony Mora, Rodríguez Subs: Pantemis, Mabiala, McGraw, Ayala, Evander, Williamson, Asprilla, Fogaça

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
Photo Taken by the Awesome Kelsey Baker

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
Photo Taken by the Fantastic Kelsey Baker

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
Photo Taken by the Incredible Kelsey Baker

“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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Soccer Timbers

Takeaways: Portland Timbers 2-2 Seattle Sounders

The Timbers traveled to Seattle after last Wednesday’s win at home in search of the elusive back-to-back win. What looked like the end of their unbeaten streak at Lumen Field took a wild turn, helping Portland gain a point and spoil Seattle’s party.

This was interim head coach Miles Joseph’s third game in charge of the Portland Timbers, and he made changes to the starting XI after Wednesday. Eric Miller, Yimmi Chará and Felipe Mora started instead of Claudio Bravo, Franck Boli, and Sebastián Blanco.

Source: Timbers FC
Graphic via Timbers FC

In terms of attacking prowess, Bravo brings more to the table than Miller. But after some poor performances by the full-back, it was understandable that the coach wanted to see what Miller might bring to the table. That and the match being the team’s third game in one week might have been the reasons to let Bravo rest a little.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best of games for Miller—losing Raúl Ruidíaz’s mark less than 10 minutes into the match wasn’t good at all—but he didn’t give the ball away as easily as Bravo, which is always welcomed. Miller also didn’t get into as many duels as the Argentine does, but the times he did, he was more successful. (He won 67% of his duels, while Bravo only won 37.5% last match.)

Seattle’s first half was a party

Of course, the Timbers handled the ball to their rivals. That’s how they play and how they’ll probably keep playing until the end of the season. Still, seeing Portland playing catch against the Seattle Sounders wasn’t fun at all. What also hurt was to see five-and-a-half-feet tall Ruidíaz beat Miller in a set piece.

Eric Miller marking (?) Ruidíaz. Source: MLS / Apple TV
Eric Miller marking (?) Ruidíaz. Source: MLS / Apple TV

When you see that caption, you might wonder, ‘What is Miller doing trying to cover Ruidíaz from behind?’ Well, I don’t have the answer for that question, other than that he tried to zone mark but ended up leaving Ruidíaz in a perfect position to head that ball home.

And speaking of full-backs, Juan David Mosquera going forward is good and all, but most of the time he was caught in transition when the Timbers lost the ball in the midfield, and he wasn’t fast enough to backtrack on time. Other times he would just fail to read the play well and cut pass lanes, leading to most of Seattle’s attacks coming from the Timbers’ right flank.

Y. Chará didn’t have the best of games either and contributed little to nothing on the attack.

Thank you for the celebration, Léo Chú

Half an hour into the game, Cristhian Paredes checked his back twice, saw Albert Rusnák nearby, and when Diego Chará passed the ball to him, he checked João Paulo’s position but never registered Léo Chú’s.

Source: MLS/ Apple TV
Paredes checking Paulo. Source: MLS/ Apple TV

The Sounders attacker came from Paredes’ blind side to steal the ball, and the rest is history. At the half-hour mark, the home team was already up 2-0. The minute the goal was scored went to the books, but Chú’s celebration did not, although that was crucial for the final outcome of this game as well. Chú took off his shirt and earned a yellow card—setting the stage for the second half.

It looked as if the Sounders were unbeatable in the first half. The Timbers had a great opportunity in the 40th minute, but the ball refused to go in, and João Paulo had a lot to do with it. Then, Portland had a free kick near the end of the first forty-five that was so close to goal! You could say it was the prelude to the golazo Evander would score in the second half.

A three-minute spell

You might say the foul on Zac McGraw was soft, but that didn’t matter to the referee, who didn’t hesitate to show a second yellow to Chú for tackling McGraw when he already won the position and the possession of the ball.

Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer couldn’t believe it either.

Source: MLS / Apple TV
Source: MLS / Apple TV

In the 67th minute, Joseph made a triple substitution and put on the pitch a player that has built a reputation around scoring important goals for the Timbers. That’s right: Dairon Asprilla stepped on the field along with Blanco and Boli. The Colombian would prove to be key once again only seconds after he got into the game.

“Asprilla comes in and scores the goal,” Joseph said. “As long as I’ve been here, he’s amazing. I just couldn’t have been more pleased at that moment to get that goal that turned around the half for us.”

Kudos to McGraw, because he flicked the ball, and by doing so, he discombobulated Seattle’s defense—a move that left Asprilla unmarked to head that ball home. The Colombian received a yellow card for his celebration, like Chú, but there was a difference between those two.

Source: MLS/ Apple TV
Kids, don’t take your shirt off when celebrating a goal if you don’t know how to play on a yellow. Source: MLS/ Apple TV

Three minutes later Evander tied the game. His goal was incredible, but so was the Sounders’ apparent short-term memory. Just before halftime, the Brazilian was close to scoring—which he has from that spot (screen capture below) many times now this season.

How did Seattle give him so much space and time? That is a real doozie.

Evander's shot. Source: MLS/ Apple TV
Evander goal’s xG= 4.15 (Opta). Image: MLS/ Apple TV
Final thoughts

In a year where almost everything seems lost, games like this have the power to make people believe again… or at least make them come back home with a smile on their faces. Spoiling Seattle’s party is always fun and this match will go into the Cascadia rivalry games history book  as one to remember.

A point on the road is not much. Due to this draw, Portland lost the Cascadia Cup (congratulations, Vancouver), and they’re four points shy of the playoffs. But having come back from being down 0-2 against the Sounders in Seattle tastes sweet.

A lot has been said about how this draw also extends Portland’s unbeaten streak at Lumen Field, but not much has been said about how this draw might have given the Timbers the momentum they needed.

“It’s been a long week,” Joseph said. “Guys are tired, and this is a huge point for us. And that carries us through to next weekend against LAFC.”