Timbers mdifielder Evander Ferreira takes a shot on goal during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
There was an air of excitement coursing through Providence Park ahead of kickoff against the Philadelphia Union. Period earlier in the week, the Timbers had announced the signing of a new Designated Player, Uruguayan forward Jonathan Rodriguez, who was quickly made available to start the match.
Philadelphia was missing eight players due to international call ups. Portland was missing starting goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau and defender Kamal Miller, both playing for the Canadian Men’s Team.
Timbers forward Jonathan Rodríguez controls a long ball during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
The Timbers started off with Rodriguez making a great run in the 11th minute to get a pass off to Evander, who’s shot from the center of the goal missed to the left. Evander had another opportunity in the 17th that was saved by Philly keeper Oliver Semmle.
Portland continued to send shots towards the goal with near misses and a post. Juan Mosquera missed two attempts in the 18th and 22nd with a shot to the right and one over the goal.
Philadelphia’s goal keeper attempts to clear a corner taken by Timbers midfielder Evander Ferreira during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
A series of smart plays in the 21st minute led to Jonathan Rodriguez getting his first shot at goal in Providence Park. It started with a big run and shot from Antony on the far right that was deflected with Evander collecting the ball and serving it to Jonathan in the center of goal. His shot hit the left post.
Timbers forward Jonathan Rodríguez regrets a missed goal chance during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
Diego Chara, with a beautifully smart Chara foul, was the first to be entered into head referee Cristian Campo Hernandez’s book with a yellow card. Union midfielder Markus Anderson broke away along the left side and Chara fouled him from behind, knowing he wasn’t going to beat him to the ball. This was Chara’s 114th yellow card.
Philadelphia Union forward Julián Carranza opens de score in their 3-1 victory at the Portland Timbers in MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
Philadelphia drew first blood in the 28th minute off a double corner kick. Kai Wagner served a great ball to the center of goal where Julian Carranza found it with a header to the back of the net.
Timbers defender Juan Mosquera regrets a missed goal chance during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
The Timbers tried to respond on the following play. Mosquera played to Santi Moreno who passed back to an unmarked Mosquera who’s shot was deflected by Semmle.
Timbers keeper, James Pantemis, made a great one on one save in the 35th minute against a shot by Mikael Uhre.
Timbers midfielder Anthony deep run in the right wing during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
The Union’s first yellow card was given to Quinn Sullivan for a late high kick towards Timbers defender Dario Zuparic’s face in the 32nd minute and their second was in the 40th when Jack Elliott fouled Rodriguez.
Moreno was run down and stepped on in the 44th minute resulting in a nonproductive free kick for the Timbers about 30 yards out. The rest of the first half, including 4 minutes of stoppage time, continued to be physical.
Evander went for his second Olympicio attempt in 45+5 that sailed over the wall but was pushed away by Semmle. During the following corner kick, Zuparic took a shot at point blank range that missed to the right.
Timbers mdifielder Evander Ferreira takes a shot on goal during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR Photo by Diego Diaz
The second half started with the rain and five Philadelphia shots on goal. Pantemas pulled off two big saves in the 52nd off a direct shot and following corner kick header. The third shot came from a long distance strike from Rafenello in the 58th that Pantemas was able to push away but not far enough to clear Sullivan, who scored on the rebound.
Santi tried for a bicycle kick from the center of goal in the 58th but it went wide to the left.
Timbers forward Felipe Mora controls a ball in the Philadelphia box during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
Portland coach, Phil Nevell, made his first substitutions of the match in the 65th minute bringing on Felipe Mora for Diego Chara and David Ayala on for Eric Miller.
Carranza scored again in the 67th minute off a long ball to Uhre putting the Union up 3 to 0 over the Timbers. Uhre tried for a goal himself in the 72nd but it went high.
Timbers winger Dairon Asprilla controls a long ball during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
Portland made two more substitutions in the 75th replacing Mosquera with Asprillia and Williamson with Paredes. Bringing on these substitutions added some energy to the Timbers and an intensity that they had not had since the first 20 minutes.
Rodriguez capitalized on the energy shift and continued to make smart runs and create chances. His attempt in the 77th min went over the goal but his header off a great ball by Moreno went in. Timbers 1. Union 3.
In the 84th minute Philadelphia replaced Anderson with Donocan for their first substitution of the night.
Timbers midfielder Cristian Paredes takes a shot from outside the box during the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
Christian Paredes took a left footed shot in the 88th minute that went high. Semmle was given a yellow card for poor sportsmanship via time wasting in the 88th following Paredes’ attempt. Paredes had another chance in the 90+7 that was saved in goal.
Nathan Fogaça was subbed in for Antony, who seemed to be cramping up a bit, in the 7th minute of stoppage time. Evander had one last chance to score in the 90+9 but his shot was saved by Semmle.
Timbers new DP Jonathan Rodríguez gets his first slab in his debut in the Portland Timbers vs Philadelphia Union MLS Regular Season match at Providence Park, Portland, OR. Photo by Diego Diaz
1 Comment
I think Ayala should be starting and we badly need Bravo back. He’s sometimes like a second keeper out there and he’s very disruptive on defense. Also, a bit of an offensive threat at times. BTW, why the hell is Mosquera handling the ball so much? He can’t shoot and he’s not a great passer. Yet, Neville had the ball going through him a lot. Makes no sense to me. If Max was in goal and we had Kamal on defense it might have helped a lot. We still can’t seem to defend corner kicks well and we don’t score well enough on them, either. All in all, a sucky performance by the home team.