After more than a month away from home the Portland Timbers have emerged from the MLS is Back Tournament undefeated, taking down Orlando City SC 2-1 in the tournament final and booking their spot in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.
Like the Timbers’ other efforts throughout the tournament, their win in the final was built on organized defending, effort, and making the most of the few chances offered to them.
The match started off in exactly the fashion that everyone predicted, with Orlando holding the ball and probing for an opening while the Timbers sat back and made life difficult for them. While breaks down the pitch have been their bread and butter, the Timbers were so committed to staying low and compact that the few passes out of the defensive end they were able to make in the early going were quickly coughed up and turned over by whatever unfortunate attacker was marooned downfield without support.
That all changed in the 27th minute when the Timbers pushed forward in a surprising high press that caught Orlando off-balance and won a free-kick for the Timbers in the attacking end. On the restart, Diego Valeri hit a curling ball wide of the far post that dropped perfectly into the path of Larrys Mabiala. Pushing past fullback João Moutinho, Mabiala threw himself into a diving header that sent the ball skipping off the turf and powered it through the gloves of Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese before finally hitting the back of the net to put the Timbers up 1-0.
The goal seemed to prompt the Timbers to open up their formation, looking to push numbers down the pitch and into the counter attack in hopes of extending their lead. However, that change in approach opened up the Timbers just enough for Orlando to find an opening.
In the 39th minute, with the Timbers slightly out of shape after a foray upfield, Nani received the ball and drove down the Timbers’ right flank, stopping and starting, feinting and hesitating until he reached the end line with just enough room to drive a low cross past Chris Duvall and into the heart of the Timbers’ box. With three players crashing into the box, the ball from Nani found the feet of Mauricio Pereyra in front of goal. Pereyra shrugged off a collision with Eryk Williamson and was able to get off a quick shot at the near post, slipping the ball past Steve Clark and drawing the teams even at one apiece.
While the tying goal might have prompted the Timbers to again turtle up in their defensive end, the team instead remained interested in getting forward. After a foul-filled end to the first half, both teams started the second looking get into the attack.
The decision to press forward for the Timbers paid off in the 67th minute after a barrage of chances netted them a corner kick. After Valeri’s arcing ball over the scrum in the center of the box fell to Williamson on the periphery, the Timbers midfielder fired a low ball into the press of bodies in front of the goal. After caroming off Jeremy Ebobisse, the ball bounced into the small open space that remained in front of goal where Dario Zuparic was lurking. The Croatian center back stuck a boot out to get just enough of a touch on the ball to redirect it between Gallese and Nani, and send it over the goal line, putting the Timbers back into the lead.
With the Timbers back in front, Orlando pushed for an equalizer but could find only limited opportunities as the Timbers worked hard to put their opponents off. In the final minutes of the match, Orlando substitute Kyle Smith even had a chance at a shot from the edge of the six-yard box, but could not put his volley on frame with Duvall rushing toward him.