Fanendo Adi (9) and Nat Borchers are jubilant as the Timbers open the scoring.
By Matt Hoffman
The cloudburst had subsided leaving only a slight breeze to mitigate the relentless sunshine when the Timbers began defense of their title on this Spring-like afternoon in what was so recently February.
Above the Timbers usual emblem in the center of the field, a group of volunteers held aloft a gold star. Above them, another group, much larger, consisting of more than 50 volunteers unfurled two banners reading “Portland” and “Timbers.” Combined, the two banners stretched a contiguous 100 yards.
From the North End, Timber Jim and Timber Joey removed the veil covering “2015 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS.”
Timbers head coach Caleb Porter had remarked that what happened last year has limited bearing on where Portland goes from here.
The Timbers Army surely understands their manager’s sentiment. All the same, the Supporters Group delivered a stirring and remarkable tribute following an riveting rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Across four sections, fans wore yellow shirts with fans in the middle wearing green making three green hearts in a sea of yellow.
As the tifo was lowered, an image of MLS Cup with the touching message, “You always remember your first” scrawled across it.
Behind the cup were raised three separate tifos each with one word read : Play, Kiss, and Love.
Ethan Finlay’s run was thwarted by Adam Kwarasey. Photo courtesy of Mark Murray.
The revelry concluded with an exclamation point in the third minute. Diego Valeri made a run at goalkeeper Steve Clark, reminiscent of the Timbers first goal 27 seconds into the MLS Cup final. Clark, was harried, but ultimately was able to get rid of the ball. The crowd roared with delight all the same.
With that, the 2016 was ready to take center stage. The memories of 2015 gracefully exited stage left.
The first 15 minutes proved electric. Both sides moved the ball and created remarkable chances. Columbus were poised to appear on the board first. Harrison Afful had the ball and, it would appear, to have the better of Adam Larson Kwarasey but Kwarasey knocked it away to Kei Kamara. Kamara could not believe his good fortune. However his flailing kick missed the mark, his shot sailed safely beyond the crossbar.
Nagbe challenges Federico Higuain. Photo courtesy of Mark Murray.
The Timbers would have their chances in the first half as well. The Timbers would have what appeared to be first goal off a deflection in the 18th minute. It would be ruled offside as the deflection would be off Valeri.
Valeri would rectify that later. As Dairon Asprilla was fouled outside of the Columbus box, Valeri’s free kick bent directly into the small window between Clark and his defenders. The crowd was sent into a frenzy and there were no flags calling this one back.
Columbus goalkeeper Steve Clark corrals a loose ball under pressure. Photo courtesy of Diego Diaz.
The frenetic pace would continue for the remainder of the first half with Columbus proving an opportunistic opponent and the Timbers not able to put the game away with multiple goals being called back due to offside rules violations and a handball.
Concluding the first half, the Crew held the edge in possession and had nine shots to the Timbers ten. Marksmanship being the issue as Kwarasey was forced to make only one save while the Timbers had three shots on goal.
The Timbers clung to their single goal lead as the second half begun as the sun’s radiance began to dim as the afternoon clouds began to descend over the park. It took only five minutes for Valeri to try his luck once again. He emerged unmarked at the top of the box as he shot went wide to the left.
A bizarre sequence of events transpired in the 54th minute between Kwarasey and some Columbus players ultimately calling on the referee Baldomero Toledo to intervene and award Columbus corner.Columbus’s set piece game was less than spectacular on Sunday. This corner would share that trait with the ball floating harmlessly into the upper regions of the North End.
Kei Kamara needs a minute. Photo courtesy of Mark Murray.
Federico Higuain would instead make his impact on the game by serving himself. Receiving the ball in the box, Higuain’s bicycle kick was a lovely dagger that, while deadly, was ultimately not fatal.
The 68th minute strike leveled the field but did not diminish the Timbers pride. Portland would attack even more going forward until the 79th minute to make it 2-1; The same result when these teams met in Columbus three months ago.
Desperate to get a point, Columbus coach Gregg Berhalter used his third substitute to bring on former University of Portland product Casey. On the opposite bench, Caleb Porter wouldn’t bring on his first substitute, that being Jack Jewsbury for Valeri, until the 87th minute.
By now the rain had returned. No one seemed to notice. Chants of “Timbers! Timbers!!” filled the concourses as the Portland Timbers left no doubt of their legitimacy as the kings of Major League Soccer. A soaking wet Caleb Porter circled win Park with another first for the young manager: his first opening match win at Providence Park.
The whistle blew and the Army persisted all the same. Flags waving and voices only growing louder as the entire North End moved frenetically right, and then left with the words to the Tetris chant hanging in the air as an unforgettable day came, regrettably, to an end.
