Caleb Porter talks to midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri, team captain, on tactics for the 2nd half.
by Matt Hoffman
Maybe it was the influence of the coming full moon or the big brother-ish presence of instant replay hanging perilously over the refereeing crews shoulders, but when Kevin Venega received a straight red card in the 62nd minute of the Timbers Minnesota United tilt, it marked the fourth penalty kick of day one of the Simple Invitational as well as the second straight red of the game.
A one-sided affair for Timbers
Ensuring player safety is a critical role for the referee and any action that would imperil that should certainly merit punishment. Unfortunately that enforcement meant that the reigning MLS Cup champion Timbers were not only playing a lower division club, but with a two man advantage to boot.
The result didn’t necessarily dull the Timbers shiny new star, but it also didn’t make it a match worthy for the 13,000-plus fans attending the Timbers first match at Providence Park since winning MLS Cup.
Liam Ridgewell watches the Chicago Fire’s win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Ridgewell did not feature for the Timbers due to a calf issue. Photo courtesy of Diego Diaz.
Saying you can only play the match in front of you, Caleb Porter remarked that the situation made it, “hard to really evaluate the defending very much.”
There was some thought that perhaps the Timbers would, in a gesture of kindness, allow Minnesota to put on an extra player or, even perhaps, that Porter would withdraw a player. The prevailing theory being that it’s the Timbers tournament, the team would certainly have some say in undocumented rules.
The awarding of an extra man in the second half did not happen and Kevin Venegas’s challenge seemed, frankly, to justify that decision. Further reckless play saw a later challenge on Darlington Nagbe draw a yellow card as frustration took hold in Minnesota’s camp.
Lucas Melano claims the 2nd goal of the night assisted by Dairon Asprilla.
More than a few positives
“I thought our attacking play today was a real positive” -Caleb Porter
The Timbers offense looked poised and firing on all cylinders even before Minnesota went down a man. Both Dairon Asprilla and Lucas Melano looked poised and confident swapping wings and even coordinating on a beautiful goal scoring sequence.
Porter was enthusiastic that the curvy shapes of the jigsaw puzzle are fitting together so well. The middle three of Nagbe, Diego Valeri, and Diego Chara all played 90 minutes. With Fanendo Adi playing as a distributor while posting up with his back to the goal like a young Bill Walton (but with much better knees), the team was hitting on all cylinders and Porter said as much
“We’re a team that’s explosive wide. [Dairon] Asprilla, [Lucas] Melano, bring that penetration wide and we’re a team that, when we come central [to Adi], we have a player that can bring Nagbe and Valeri into the game.”
Minnesota’s Sammy Ndjock had eight saves, some of which were at point-blank range. The Cameroonian kept his cool and did what he could to organize a defense that was outgunned even when the teams were level. Not a great game for Minnesota which could be a continuation of the paradox of where the team that’s bound to be promoted finishes out with a poor record.
Final result 4-0. A log for every goal scorer, and for the Adam Kwaresey, Portland Timbers keeper, for the clean sheet.
Notes
It’s uncertain where the left back position battle is with Chris Klute not suiting up due to injury. Zarek Valentin–primarily a right back in his young career at Chivas USA, Montreal, and in Norway–seemed up to the task though we are obliged to point more to the context than the content.
Liam Ridgewell’s calf kept him out of the match. Porter will see how Ridgewell feels on Saturday to put him out. Ridgewell will not be playing in Wednesday’s game.
