Two young men enjoying a game of football.
By Niall McCusker
In the lead up to Portland’s encounter with Dallas, coach Caleb Porter told MLS:
“I think we’re not where we deserve to be based on our performance in all honesty”.
But as feared assassin Felicia ‘Snoop’ Pearson explained to her young apprentice Michael in ‘The Wire’:
“Deserve’s got nuthin’ to do with it, it’s his time is all”
Last night was the Timbers’ time, did they deserve their 3-1 win, probably. Could the game have easily finished 2-2, most definitely.
Professional soccer, much like drug dealing in Baltimore, is a ruthless profession were the weak quickly fall by the wayside – though these days coaches are generally just fired and not shot and buried with quick-lime in abandoned houses. (except in Italy)
In this match instead of Portland conceding a late equalizer, Kwarasey made a great save and Diego Chara rampaged down the field to secure the game. These are the narrow margins that will cause some to start thinking of this game as a turning point or that the Timbers have developed a new found ruthlessness. The reality is that without that save the narrative would be about them conceding another late equalizer and giving up two goals from corners.
They have played better this season and come away with a loss or a tie. Porter understood this after the game saying:
“I didn’t think we played great football tonight… we dug deep in the second half and scored two great goals”
The goals were both excellent – but this game was won at the back. Ridgewell got a nasty elbow early on that would have taken a lesser hipster out of the game, but the Englishman got the wound fixed and went back in to marshal his defense. Dallas are always going to be dangerous from set plays, they were the best in the league at them last year, but they had limited chances from open play.
Oscar Pareja put dangerman Castillo on the right wing, trying to create a speed mismatch with Jorge Villafana, this move back-fired as it allowed Powell the freedom to attack with only the less speedy Hollingshead to worry about on the counter. Meanwhile Villafana was playing possibly his best defensive game in a Timbers shirt, winning every tackle he went into, Castillo was a non-factor.
Adi and Urruti up front played a little more as unit, but as Porter pointed out they are ‘still a work in progress’, which to be expected in only their second start together. The coach indicated that the 442 experiment is likely to continue in the near future as he feels it is the best use of his available talent. Bad news for Gaston Fernandez who only came in as a clock wasting substitute in stoppage time. Urruti was much improved from his first start of the season in Vancouver, his goal, though from close range, was actually a very well taken technical strike and his work-rate led to several turnovers.
“Scores on his birthday! He only scores on his birthday! – you know the rest”
Nagbe’s dribbles continue to be the Timbers principal weapon in attack, setting up Asprilla for Urruti’s goal and a second counter-attacking goal of the season is very encouraging. They even scored from a set-piece and got the little bit of luck needed to get the win.
A depleted Portland have been competitive in every game this season and playing this way will continue to accumulate points. Just as long as they don’t think they deserve them.
