The Portland Timbers are still perfect in this campaign to a whooping fourteen matches. By entertaining a struggling and desperate Houston Dynamo, Saturday’s affair was indeed a much-contested match. After all the Houston Dynamo is no walk in the park. Ahead for this match for manager Gio Savarese he was already prepared to counter a hungry and desperate Houston.
Among one of his moves was to send a more defensive 5-3-2 formation in the field. The idea was to prevent another defensive meltdown and stop the Dynamo attacking core. As you recall last week the visiting Impact almost deliver an upset until the Timbers comeback efforts.
Still one of the highlights of this match was Fanendo Adi. For this grand player, that has been in many battles with his beloved Timbers. Last night was to be his final match wearing a Portland Timbers uniform. A man of many battles that delivered many amazing moments in his time at Rose City. Despite not being in the initial eleven, still his time was to come later in the night.
This time the great Diego Chara was in the lineup and that made a whole lot of difference. As this is a team effort, so do the whole Portland initial eleven delivered their part. As the Timbers, offensive game started generating some opportunities. Ask that to an inspired and taken a lot of initiative in the attack in Alvas Powell. The man from Jamaica delivered with a nice play for Dairon Aspirilla in the area. For Dairon faint as he was to receive the ball, that took the Houston defense by surprise.
In this play, the space created for Sebastian Blanco to open the score in the 7’ minute. Unfortunately, the lead lasted just for five minutes. As Houston Alberth Elis wisdom became valuable by reading the Portland defense and robbing the ball from Portland’s defender. As this play exposed the whole Portland defense beaten in a play that could cost them three points.
However do not call these Portland Timbers quitters, I must say! As in the second half, the dominance of the home team became very visible until both managers making their substitutions. The highlight of this match was the incursion of Fanendo Adi in the 75’ minute for a hard working but unlucky Dairon Aspirilla. Still I give Dairon an A for his all-around efforts.
To conclude the match decided by an opportune and game hero Fanendo Adi. For Sebastian Blanco starting a drive inside the area and making several moves to beat the Houston defenders and goalie. The time was right and rebound well taken by Adi to push the ball for the game winner in the 80’. This goal and win courtesy of Fanendo Adi maintained the Portland Timbers run with perfection.
Houston Dynamo
Portland
