The Portland Timbers endured a series of reversals in their first game of the MLS is Back Tournament and still came out victorious playing a smart football to calm a late LA Galaxy rally despite a late Chicharito Hernandez goal.
The Timbers were lifted when Steve Clark stopped a penalty from Chicharito and the ensuing rebound in the 12th minute of the match.
Going into the half scoreless, the second promised to have fireworks by both sides and with the Timbers taking advantage with the right moves by manager Giovanni Savarese after making notable substitutions.
The Timber’s first goal came in the 59th minute with a play that involved Diego Valeri for Sebastian Blanco and sending a ball into the middle and for a wide-open Jeremy Ebobisse to push the ball in for the first score.
Sebastian then beat out Galaxy’s defenders Emilio Insua and Giancarlo Gonzalez to shoot past keeper David Bingham in the 66th minute to make it 2-0. The Rose City side was cruising to a win and a clean sheet, but in the 75th minute, the Timbers were reduced to ten men when Dario Zuparic saw his second yellow card of the match.
After the hydration break in the second half, the Galaxy looked like they scored via Gordon Wilde but the goal called off due to an offside and later defender Rolf Fletcher’s goal nullified too, Chicharito’s goal did stand up in the 88th minute.
In the end, the Portland Timbers dodged the bullet on several occasions, but in the eyes and mind of its manager Giovanni Savarese, his side had an excellent performance as well the substitutions and close spaces were the key factors for today’s result.
Goals
Jeremy Ebobisse 59’, Sebastian Blanco 66’, Chicharito Hernandez 88’
Highlights
Giovanni Savarese had all the right moves, with his game-changing substitutions being the key factor
Steve Clark raising to the occasion and stopping Chicharito penalty and rebound
Sebastian Blanco scoring in an individual play that became the cushion goal in the end
Yimmy Chara experience somehow is helping the club and today the man-made the difference
Eryk Williamson is proving to be starting material and in every game, he is proving is readiness
For Gio’s initial 4-2-3-1 formation switching to a 4-4-2, these latter one is the one to use
Today the team showed off consistency and great game plan that earned them the win
Not bad for Chris Duvall in the starting lineup in defense
Men of the Match
Sebastian Blanco, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Steve Clark
Portland Timbers
