After a four month pause in MLS action, the Timbers took to the field for their opening match-up against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS is Back Tournament down in Orlando, Florida. Sebastián Blanco was critical in securing the result, assisting Jeremy Ebobisse’s 59th minute goal and hammering home the would-be game winner in the 66th minute. A late goal from the Galaxy’s Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez kept things interesting for a Timbers team that had to play a man down after Portland defender Dario Župarić saw a second yellow card in the 72nd minute.
The Timbers went with a mixed line-up of predictable starters like Diego Valeri and Diego Chara and other players like Eryk Williamson and Marvin Loría, who have worked hard in training to earn the nod from Coach Giovanni Savarese.
How would the Timbers react to playing in their first game after such a long break? Coach Gio described the unique competitive atmosphere when speaking to reporters last week:
“It’s a completely different tournament… this match feels like it’s going to be a first preseason match, but we’re playing for everything in this match, so it is something very unfamiliar, but nevertheless we have experience.”
That crucial experience Portland needed came in the form of keeper Steve Clark in the 11th minute. Clark showed he was up for the challenge early in the match when Župarić was called for a handball in the box and the referee whistled for a Galaxy penalty. Clark was able to push away Chicharito’s attempt and kept focus on the remainder of the play, as he snuffed out a quick second attempt from the Galaxy off the initial rebound.
The Portland goals were byproducts of likely the best 15-minute stretch of Portland Timbers soccer this season. The Ebobisse goal stemmed from a perfectly placed Diego Valeri pass in front of Galaxy keeper David Bingham to a sprinting Blanco, who crossed a nice ball to Ebosisse for a one-time finish among a sea of Galaxy defenders. The second goal was trademark Blanco. He was relentless in heading the ball down into a path of his choosing, giving the Galaxy defender the slip on his way to a left-footed blast to the of the back of the net.
For the Timbers, a three-point result this early in the group stage significantly increases their chances of advancing. Fellow Group F teams, Houston Dynamo and LAFC, played earlier in the evening and split the points after a 3-3 draw, leaving the Portland at the top of the group to close out the day.
Next up for Portland is a match-up against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, July 18th at 5 pm. The game will be televised on ESPN.
