Portland Timbers v LAFC by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika.com
Portland Timbers 2, LAFC 1
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
What a way to wrap this one up for the Portland Timbers and continue with their perfect march so far at home in the 2018 campaign. For manager Giovanni Savarese ever since instituting his new game plan and strategy working as a well-oiled machine. The spells of positive results have delivered for the Rose City squad its fifth consecutive win. Suddenly we have a defensive backfield shinning in every match until yesterday in the 74 minute. Despite keeping the LAFC’s top playmaker Carlos Vela at bay for most of the match the Mexican international found a gap and sent an impossible volley past Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella to to tie things up at one.
Do not call these new Portland Timbers quitters as they can start a comeback when you least expect it. After LAFC manager Bob Bradley making three substitutions, Portland manager did his usual two by sending Samuel Armenteros in for Fanendo Adi and Andres Flores for Andy Polo. Whenever these two come to the field amazing things happen. On a counter attack suddenly Armenteros found the right moment to sending a 20 yard shoot into the back of LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller’s net. After scoring his first goal, the Swedish international went up to the Timbers army and celebrated with the fans. While he did earn a yellow card for time wasting, he and the supporters did not seem to mind.
Saturday in Providence Park was the first for both Armenteros and Paredes scoring their first goals as Timbers. Despite the efforts of LAFC to try to rescue a tie, once again the defense stepped up its game with the leadership of Julio Cascante who delivered a one of a kind match. The Costa Rican came in the sixth minute for an injured Liam Ridgewell and created a level of consistency and order while under significant pressure.
Goals
Cristhian Paredes 52′ PTFC, Carlos Vela 74′ LAFC and Samuel Armenteros 81′ PTFC
The Highlight of this Match
The way manager Giovanni is handling his substitutions and using his one two-knockout punch. As Samuel Armenteros and Andres Flores are delivering every time, these come to the field. These two somehow inject a sort of new life and motivations to the Portland initial eleven. Another highlight to mention is the defense stepping up and with a new leader in Julio Cascante who stepped up and deliver a lot of security to his goalkeeper. Gio Savarese is in heaven with the depth his bench provides when needed. In addition, to mention in Samuel Armenteros this time not only provoked and assisted for the goal. he scored it in a counter play that fooled the whole of the LAFC defense and scoring the game winner.
Next Match: Portland Timbers (5, 3, 2, 14 points) vs Colorado Rapids (2, 6, 2, 10 points) at Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO 6:00 PM PST/ 9:00 PM EST
