NYCFC 0-1 Portland Timbers
For the Portland Timbers coming to the colossus of the Bronx-to play a streaking NYCFC sporting an unbeaten 12 game run, was not seen as an easy endeavor.
As both Portland Timbers and NYCFC coming victorious in their previous outings, for the hosts coming from a midweek win over the Seattle Sounders 3-0.
This match exposed both squads momentum, with the odds favoring the local Sky Blues.
However, the Portland Timbers lately with its manager bold moves and rotations in his starting elevens, once again those moves paid off, especially in its defensive game.
The Timbers were constantly putting on the pressure and showing off a dominance in the first half when a free kick in favor of the Timbers, that made the difference in the end.
When Diego Valeri kick the ball and with the New York awful defending, that allow the likes of Sebastian Blanco to shoot the ball way out of the reach of NY goalie Brad Stuver.
In spite of the Cytizens rallying in the second half and with near chances of scoring the tying goal, one of them was a Taty Castellanos volley going wide.
Nonetheless the Timbers had a some opportunities to extend their lead, but a couple of annulled goals to Brian Fernandez via offside and later Jeremy Ebobisse.
To conclude the Portland Timbers, in spite of a rocky start in the road early in the season, today they showed off a more mature and confidence in their game, highlighting this team turnaround.
Now the team will fly back to Los Angeles to their midweek match of quarterfinals against the LAFC, who are suddenly every game between these two squads has the elements of a Derby.
Goals
Sebastian Blanco 14′ PTFC
Highlights
With today’s win the Timbers add their third clean sheet of the season.
The defensive backfield of Valentin, Mabiala, Dielna and Farfan delivered but need to be a bit careful in future outings by preventing non sense yellow cards.
Sebastian Blanco goal
Team work once again highlighted the Portland initial eleven and success lately
Renzo Zambrano becoming in giant steps a referential in the Timbers defensive midfield
The culture of competition internally put in by Giovanni Savarese is paying off in every game
Rotations in the lineup are becoming essential in the Timbers matches
Steve Clark netting another clean sheet with five saves the man is on fire
Man of the Match
Sebastian Blanco
Next Match: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals Portland Timbers vs LAFC
Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, California Wednesday July 10, 2019 7:30 PM PST
