The Portland Timbers coming to last night game at Providence Park, they were making a statement with back to back win on the road against the NYCFC and LAFC.
With cellar stricken Colorado Rapids in town, the Timbers playing at home, they were labeled as favorites and many thought that everyone looked like a sure win over the Rocky Mountain squad.
However, for Colorado interim manager Conor Casey, since taking over in the helm, he has seen a positive turnaround with his Rapids, in spite of losing in their last outing.
Still this match was not to be an easy affair for the Portland Timbers, as every side has its high and lows and last night the visiting Coloradans almost deliver.
A possible upset at Providence Park.
For this match manager Giovanni Savarese opted to seat some of his starters after a busy week.
In this match the Portland Timbers really struggled and with a few defensive lapses, the game these were showing off in the past matches, last night they were a far of that defensive gems.
If someone deserves a total recognition was the amazing defensive work performed by an inspired and hard at work Timbers goalie Steve Clark, man is this lad is earning his starts.
Unfortunately, he could not held his leads after the Timbers defensive backfield was put on constant pressure by the Rapids wingers among one of them Andre Shinyashiki speed.
All night long kept the Timbers defensive backfield on check and in high alert.
As the Timbers going up the score with an Own Goal play by Tommy Smith with a corner kick by Diego Valeri in the 27′ prompting to the play but Colorado answer back a minute later with a Jonathan Lewis goal 28′.
The fortunes of the Timbers came back in the 62 minute when Diego Valeri penal over an obvious handball by Lalas Abubakar inside the area, put the locals ahead, but not for long.
As a one on one between Renzo Zambrano and Colorado Sam Nicholson, he found a space and shooting a beauty of a goal the game again was tied, in the 76′ minute.
In the end the Colorado Rapids played a smart game and drawing the whole of Portland into its trap and worked, but in the end the Timbers players showing fatigue and less one man.
This result in the end, became a fortunate one for the Portland Timbers with a share of spoils.
Goals
Tommy Smith (OG) 27′ CR, Jonathan Smith 28′ CR, Diego Valeri (PK) 63′ PT, Sam Nicholson 76′ CR
Highlights
Steve Clark with no doubt the man of the match with 6 whooping saves
Brian Fernandez coming as a substitute he ignited his squad offensive game but no effect
Claude Dielna in every match the man is starting to catch his game
Man of the Match
Steve Clark
Next Match: Portland Timbers (7, 8, 3, 24 points) vs Colorado Rapids (5, 10, 5, 20 points)
Providence Park, Portland Timbers Thursday July 18, 2019 7:00 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
