Porter on scoring woes: “We are in a funk.” Fanendo Adi would agree.
By Matt Hoffman
Most American soccer fans have become intimately familiar with Audi’s logo courtesy of it’s familiar (“Goooooool!”) logo.
These same folks might not be as familiar with Audi’s slogan:”Vorsprung Durch Technik.” While Volkswagen made a considerable social impact when they introduced “Farfegnugen” to the American context, Audi (who Volkswagen owns) has opted to use that phrase in every country but America, apparently.
Still a music lover from the 90’s (and aren’t we all truly music lovers of the 90’s?) might be familiar with it. It’s been both playfully uttered in Blur’s “Parklife,” but more than likely you might recognize it as the first line in U2’s album and song Zooropa.
The early 90’s were an interesting time as democracy was loosed upon the crumbling confederacy of the Eastern Bloc. U2 had shed their image of righteous do-gooders, forever enchanted with America to a postmodern band of merry, neo-political sputniks up to and including whatever this is.
Emboldened by the success of Achtung Baby, U2 pushed the envelope to 11. Make no mistake, Zooropa was a hit but you might not remember it as such. Only one single broke into the Billboard Top 100 and that song–Stay (Far away, so close)–peaked at 61. Contrast that with Achtung Baby which had five singles in that same list.
In hindsight,”irrational exuberance,” a phrase most of us are keenly aware of, could also be applied to the whole Zooropa experiment. Sure they album was a hit but there were enough missteps along the path they had departed upon that two albums later a plaintive Bono pleaded to Time Magazine (of all outlets): “[We’re] reapplying for the job. What job? The best band in the world job.”
It all culminated with the group getting stuck inside a 40-foot mirror-ball lemon dangling perilously over a stage. Quite literally the very modern definition of hubris.
Everybody hurts. Sometimes.
Audi also owns the naming rights to the playoffs which the Timbers hope to compete in next month. However, by laying a lemon at home last week–losing 2-0 to New York–the Timbers are the verge of falling below the red line depending on this week’s results.
By beating the Timbers last week, the Red Bulls became the first team to qualify for the post-season. The Timbers aren’t panicking, yet they can be the same maiden for Columbus who need either a win or draw to ensure their spot in the postseason (Saturday, 4:30 PM).
The stakes are high for the Timbers this weekend. Should the Timbers falter, Real Salt Lake, San Jose, or Houston could overtake Portland, putting Portland back to, well, “same as it ever was.”
With five games left, Columbus could be the last, best test of whatever playoff aspirations Portland may have. Columbus is on the precipice of a playoff spot because they are good. However, playing in Columbus the Crew is very good.
Columbus has lost only three games at home (Montreal, FC Dallas, the Red Bulls) while outscoring their opponents 32 to 23. Only the Galaxy (36) have more home goals.
The Crew performed admirably last year ending a playoff drought before losing to the eventual Eastern Conference champions New England. Last year’s Crew was a good mix of both veteran talent combined with a good core. All they were missing was firepower; in 2014 Columbus forwards contributed fewer than five goals.
The Crew found the missing piece in Kei Kamara.
Kamara has 21 goals and eight assists through 29 games. With six multi-goal games and five games remaining in the season, the MLS single-season goal record is within reach for Kamara.
Kamara clearly has a nose for goal, but it’s channel running that makes him truly special. He doesn’t have the size of you’re prototypical “fox-in-the-box”, but he’s so quick and agile that perhaps a more adept comparison would be a big-play wide receiver.
The way teammates lob the ball his way it’s not hard to see Kamara making the subtle adjustments a seasoned wide receiver would make in the NFL. He reads the passes well and is able to shift his weight in such a way that he is already past the defender after the ball is in front of him. At that point it’s a foot race and Kamara does not lose footraces.
But to say the Crew are a one-man show would not be paying credit towards Gregg Berhalter who is only in his second year coaching in Columbus.
Yes, they certainly have the game-changer in Kamara, but the Crew can score in other ways as well. The team remains patient in the attack, pushing up as many as nine players into the final third.
With two excellent young holding midfielders Wil Trapp and Tony Tchani will try to draw defenders out. Not only does this lure defenders away from the box, but it sets the table nicely for Frederico Higuain to set the table and work his magic.
If any of this sound familiar, you are not alone.
The Crew aren’t afraid to take shots from distance. Their shots not only have accuracy (they have at least five shots on goal in their last two games), but enough torque that create opportunities for rebounds.
Speaking of long-distance, the Crew are among the best in the league at switching the field from distance. The wingers on this team truly excel at finding players in advanced areas on the far wing and getting the ball to them. The Timbers fullbacks will have their hands full dealing with these sorts of situations.
But, apart from the magic word of “execution,” don’t expect a lot of changes from the team that took the field on Sunday.
“In a lot of ways, the things that we needed to against New York are the same things we need to do against Columbus,” Porter revealed.
That might be problematic as the Timbers sit on a 212 minute goalless streak. Fortunately, if a full-strength Columbus team has a weakness, it would be their team defense, though Berhalter recently praised the defense for a near shutout against DC United last week (the goal allowed was a penalty kick).
Steve Clark has performed admirably in goal, but can be left on an island if the the defense gets too stretched out. The Timbers have a height advantage particularly among the back-line that could result in creating chances by taking advantage of the Timber’s height in corner and set-piece opportunities.
The Timbers had better strike early while keeping Columbus off the board; Despite allowing the bulk of their goals between the 45th and 75th minute, the Crew have only lost once when going into the second half with a lead.
However, like Audi’s slogan, the Timbers must advance and show some progress. As Porter admitted last week, the Timber’s playoff ambitions are hanging by a thread. Critics have pointed to the Zooropa/Pop phase as period where U2’s commercial and critical success lagged as the band lacked an identity.
Call it rut. Call it a funk. But finishing just outside of the playoffs in consecutive years is not an identity anyone on this squad wants filtering through the locker room.
Columbus Crew SC
Portland
