Man, if this man knows his business, as the Portland Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese, today he made all the right moves for his initial eleven in a match considered central for his team.
It’s when Gio had to make several moves after putting some of his star players in this tournament, that started on the bench and in the end, these made a world of difference in the match final result.
The Rose City team’s first goal came early in the game when Timbers newcomer striker Jaroszlaw Niezgoda, scored his first goal in the Green and Gold in the 7th minute thanks to Sebastian Blanco and Marvin Loria assisting.
The Timbers went into halftime down a goal after LAFC scored back-to-back goals in a four-minute span put them in the lead courtesy of Bradley Wright Phillips in the 36th minute and later Mark Anthony- Kaye in the 40th.
However, as the second half went underway, and just as it appeared LAFC’s dominance would see them take Group F, Gio’s ingenuity went hard at work, despite giving several of his star players in the tournament a break for this match, these coming as substitutes, in the end, made the difference.
With Yimmi Chara coming for Marvin Loria in halftime, following Jeremy Ebobisse in the 58th minute for Jaroszlaw Niezgoda, and then Diego Valeri and Erik Williamson coming on in the 69th.
These moves became fruitful for the Rose City side and turned the tables against the LAFC backfield, after taking the initiative offensively late in the game.
They came close a couple times through Jeremy Ebobisse In the 76th minute and then Dario Zuparic in the 80th.
Everything was to be set in the 81’ minute with a corner kick sent by Diego Valeri, was headed in by Jeremy Ebobisse allowing the Timbers to draw and win their Group.
Goals
Jaroslaw Niezgoda 7’, Bradley Wright Phillips 36’, Mark Anthony- Kaye 40’, Jeremy Ebobisse 81’
Highlights
Giovanni Savarese making all the right moves, that paid off in winning the Group
Jaroslaw Niezgoda opening the scoring giving the Timbers more attacking options.
Yimmi Chara becoming the man in Gio’s offensive attack, the man can make a world of difference
Jeremy Ebobisse, the man is on fire and his third goal of the tournament delivers once again
Diego Valeri, El Maestro making the difference in the offensive attack late in the game
Sebastian Blanco being a vital playmaker for the Timbers with the assist for the first goal
Eryk Williamson becoming an important referent in the defensive midfield
Men of the Match
Jeremy Ebobisse and Jaroszlaw Niezgoda
Portland Timbers
