Shocking, but true the way this game went for the Portland Timbers coming as the heavy favorites to deliver another goal rout against a cellar prone and unlucky Sporting Kansas City.
However, things didn’t work the way the visitors were hoping for as the SKC delivered a blow and took advantage of the Timbers’ poor performance in the first half leading to three unanswered goals in the closing minutes.
The last time these two sides meet was in May where the Portland Timbers went berserk against SKC in Providence Park, scoring six goals in the second half for a 7-2 win, there would be no repeat Sunday in Kansas City.
After a season that manager Peter Vermes wants to forget and be over with, SKC came ready on Sunday and played well offensively and defensively in both halves and even containing the Timbers’ surge in the second half.
Once again, the Portland Timbers lacked drive and inspiration in the second half and despite its manager blaming himself for the poor performance, still the fault lies at the players lacking ambition and a winning mentality.
Forgetting the first half and in the second half again the Timbers came ready to play serious ball and despite the number of close at goal opportunities, they were denied strongly by goalkeeper John Pulskamp.
Simply put, SKC was superior and controlled the game since its beginning. In the 31st minute William Agada opened up the scoring. Nine minutes later, Andreu Fontas extended the lead in the 40th minute. Two minutes after that, Erik Thommy almost sealed the match with the third goal going into halftime with a commanding lead.
After halftime, the Timbers came prepared to try to at least salvage the match with a draw, but in the end were met by an inspired John Pulskamp finishing with four saves considered as important.
To conclude, Sebastian Blanco broke Pulskamp’s clean sheet with a late goal in the 90th minute thanks to an assist from Dairon Aspirilla. But before that, William Agada already sealed the match with his second goal of the match for the final 4-1 score.
Suddenly, the hottest team in MLS suffered its second consecutive loss on the road and with six matches left in the season, these suddenly embattled Timbers really need to play one match at a time for the remainder of the season.
Goals
William Agada 31’ SKC, Andreu Fontas 40’ SKC, Erik Thommy 42’ SKC, William Agada 75’ SKC, Sebastian Blanco 90’ PTFC
Man of the Match
Sebastian Blanco
Next Match: Friday, August 26, 2022 vs. Seattle Sounders, Providence Park
Portland Timbers
Sporting Kansas City
