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Dairon Asprilla

Claudio Bravo provided his second assist of the 2022 season on Sunday.
Portland Timbers

Timbers put playoff hopes in jeopardy with heartbreaking 2-1 loss to LAFC

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

Denis Bouanga is slick.

His hair is slick, his footwork is slick, and his touch is slicker than almost any in Major League Soccer. Since joining LAFC over the summer, only one thing has evaded him: a goal.

It was his 95th minute winner that made the difference, though, winning his team a trophy.

Match Summary

Gio Savarese gambled with his starting lineup against LAFC Sunday afternoon.

The Timbers gaffer selected Cristhian Paredes, Larrys Mabiala, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, and Juan Mosquera for the crucial meeting with MLS’ table-toppers over more established names like Sebastian Blanco and Yimmi Chara. Eryk Williamson and Zac McGraw had been regulars for the Timbers, as well.

Mosquera made his first MLS start after an impressive substitute debut in Columbus last game.

Portland created a few good chances to start the game, but LAFC battled into control of the first half. The best chance belonged to the visitors — Bouanga darted past Mabiala and Dario Zuparic, but couldn’t chip Aljaz Ivacic.

The game would always be defined by its second half, though.

Vela received a cutting pass from Kellyn Acosta. He took a touch, faked a shot, and perfectly placed one past the outstretched arm of Ivacic, who could only manage one hand on it. Bravo and Paredes failed to really pressure Vela, but that’s a moment he’s produced over and over during his time in MLS.

Portland took a while to respond. Savarese sent on reinforcements in the 74th minute (Eryk Williamson and Yimmi Chara), and they immediately got involved. Seven minutes later, the Timbers had their equalizer.

Claudio Bravo whipped in a cross for Dairon Asprilla, who smashed a header past Crepeau to make it 1-1. The energy was back. A draw or better for Portland felt inevitable.

But the Timbers never showed much bite after the equalizer. LAFC controlled the match, and were nearly rewarded with a penalty as stoppage time began. Thankfully, Ismail Elfath saw no wrongdoing on the part of Bravo.

Even with the break, Portland still never looked great.

In the end, LAFC’s talent won out. Denis Bouanga, a borderline star in Ligue 1, scored his first MLS goal with a weaving run through the Timbers’ right side of defense. He nutmegged Zuparic and slid his shot past Diego Chara, Bill Tuiloma, and ultimately Aljaz Ivacic.

Unfortunately, it was a sobering reminder of the wide talent gap in MLS, and that the Timbers aren’t the type of club to lure the biggest names.

Worse, it meant the second time in the past 10 months that a team not named the Timbers celebrated a trophy in Providence Park.

And worst, the Timbers could have clinched a playoff spot with a win. even a draw would have put them in a good spot. But the loss renders the final match at Real Salt Lake as a de facto play-in. The Timbers must get at least a draw from RSL, if not more.

Standings provided by SofaScore

Notes

  • Portland conceded Bouanga’s goal in the 95th minute after scoring in the 95th minute last week.
  • This is LAFC’s second Supporters’ Shield in four years.
  • Carlos Vela scored his 12th goal of the season. Asprilla scored his ninth.
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Dairon Asprilla celebrates his goal against Minnesota.
Portland Timbers

Timbers hold off pesky Loons for crucial 1-0 win

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

Nothing about Portland Timbers’ 1-0 Saturday night win over a depleted Minnesota United FC was easy.

The Timbers scratched and clawed their way to victory thanks to a Dairon Asprilla header off a corner kick in the 61st minute. They held on despite 20 total shots from the visitors to earn their fourth straight win.

The Loons were without two of their best players: midfielder Bakaye Dibassy and attacker Emanuel Reynoso both missed the match due to injury. This was Portland’s chance to put out a dominant showing; a playoff-caliber performance en route to three points could inspire confidence for the rest of the season.

The Timbers didn’t get the playoff-caliber performance, but they did get the win.

Match Summary

The first half was all about Minnesota’s Mender Garcia. The 23-year-old Colombian had four good-or-better chances in the opening 45, forcing two saves from Aljaz Ivacic and putting another two shots into the side-netting.

In all, Minnesota totaled 13 first-half shots. Claudio Bravo and Bill Tuiloma each saved a shot off the goal line.

Santiago Moreno struggled to settle into the game, as did Sebastian Blanco. Yimmi Chara was inconsistent on the ball, while Eryk Williamson provided his usual flare. But it was Mr. October who stepped up a month early.

Asprilla weaseled between Michael Boxall and Luis Amarilla at the near post, redirecting the fellow Colombian Moreno’s in-swinger past Dayne St. Clair for the night’s only goal. It was Asprilla’s eighth of the season and third in the last four matches.

Minnesota pressed on, but only offered one or two dangerous moments. Portland’s back line held together despite shakiness on set pieces.

In the end, though, who cares about the performance? Portland are temporarily fifth in the Western Conference.

Standings provided by SofaScore LiveScore

Notes

  • During this four-match win streak, Portland have scored only one of their seven goals from open play (Zac McGraw’s tap-in against Austin was against the run of play, as well). It hasn’t always been pretty, but it’s winning games.
  • Ivacic made five saves and now leads MLS in total saves. He hasn’t stopped calling himself the best in the league.
  • Bravo had three tackles and continues to lead MLS in total tackles.
  • Zac McGraw is suspended for the next match due to yellow card accumulation.
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Santiago Moreno celebrates with an "M" after scoring his penalty.
Portland Timbers

Sanntiago Moreno shines in Portland’s third straight 2-1 win

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

Santiago Moreno is a star in the making.

Portland’s 2-1 win over Atlanta United was dominated by the diminutive Colombian wingback in the first half, and it was his penalty earned and scored that made the difference in the match.

An otherwise sloppy and sleepy affair, Portland put away two penalty kicks and held on for a crucial win at Providence Park on Sunday.

Match Summary

This was a sluggish match. It woke up toward the end of the first half, then stayed in a weird limbo after Moreno’s penalty. Speaking of Moreno…

Santi was all over the place in the first half. An underrated part of his game this season has been his ball recoveries up the pitch. Even in a wingback/midfielder role, Moreno’s been good at pressing opponents on the ball. He was Portland’s most dangerous player by far, sending crosses into good areas and creating more chances off the dribble.

One of those tight turns created a chance that ended with Santi being brought down in the box for a penalty. He stepped up to take it himself, and confidently buried it in the top left corner.

Even with a lead, the Timbers surrendered (mostly useless) possession to Atlanta for free. Luiz Araujo had Atlanta’s best chance saved well by Aljaz Ivacic, who didn’t need to do a whole lot over the course of the afternoon.

Diego Chara was fouled in the box by Santiago Sosa, and Dairon Asprilla scored the insurance penalty to put Portland up 2-0.

It was an odd way to score two of Portland’s most important goals of the season. A look at the table will show the Timbers clinging to the final playoff spot out West by the thinnest of margins.

Standings provided by SofaScore LiveScore

Ultimately, Atlanta didn’t throw a whole lot at the Timbers. Josef Martinez didn’t make an appearance until the 62nd minute, and he didn’t get his goal until the 88th.

Portland may consider themselves lucky in that sense, because the Five Stripes will be the last non-playoff team they face all season.

The tactics seem to be sound by now. Portland’s hybrid back-three-sometimes-four defense utilizes the wingbacks’ abilities in attacking spaces (especially Moreno’s), while keeping their current three best center backs on the pitch.

Asprilla starting in place of Niezgoda has been useful, as well. Dairon offers more tactical flexibility than Niezgoda, and his constant energy is very useful in the high press.

Zac McGraw held things down on the back line, playing a full 90 for the third consecutive match alongside Dario Zuparic and Bill Tuiloma.

Notes

  • Juan David Mosquera made the 18 for Portland, but couldn’t play because his work visa wasn’t approved in time by MLS.
  • Giovanni Savarese was not on Portland’s bench — he was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
  • Eryk Williamson also missed out on yellow card accumulation.
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Sebastian Blanco with his first Cascadia Cup since joining the Timbers in 2017.
Portland Timbers

Timbers 2, Sounders 1: Portland reclaim Cascadia Cup

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

It took some guts and a whole lot of nerves, but the Portland Timbers clinched the Cascadia Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders Friday night. This is portland’s first Cascadia Cup since 2017, and it had been held by the Sounders ever since.

Let’s get right into it. This match stuck out for so many reasons.

TA vs FO…again

Firstly, there’s the ongoing conflict between the Portland Timbers Front Office and its own fans. Whether or not you paid any attention to some Timbers Army Twitter drama this week, just know the tensions have never been higher following yet another report of foul play amongst Portland’s higher-ups.

The Timbers Army made it clear that they would not stop vocally and visually supporting Timbers players anytime soon, though. Another legendary tifo kicked off a heated match between North American soccer’s most bitter rivals.

 

The Match

Opposite of the typical game structure between Portland and Seattle, the Timbers controlled the run of play for the entire first half. Also opposite of the Cascadia norm was Seattle nabbing an early goal (a header from Yeimar) before sitting back to absorb pressure and send the ball long.

The Timbers’ offensive efforts (65% possession, 9 shots, 3 on target) did not go unrewarded, though; Eryk Williamson was taken down in the box in the 40th minute before Dairon Asprilla buried the penalty in the 41st.

Speaking of Asprilla, the Timbers switched things up; starting Asprilla instead of Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Zac McGraw instead of Larrys Mabiala in a back-three/five, and no Josecarlos Van Rankin at right back.

It was a series of bold moves by Gio Savarese, and they paid off.

Although Seattle came out of the halftime break on the front foot, Portland nabbed the go-ahead goal in the 51st minute via a Williamson free kick, Asprilla assist, and Sebastian Blanco finish.

Portland continued to press after taking the lead, but Seattle gained momentum with their substitutions (making three before Portland’s first).

The Timbers did not help themselves in closing out the match, squandering every chance they took. But as Raul Ruidiaz’ shot from distance sizzled wide in the eighth minute of added time, Portland had held on for a victory.

A tale of two tapes

This match was far from the top-of-the-table joust between LAFC and Austin FC which comprised the first half of ESPN’s doubleheader. Gareth Bale and Jordan Morris are very different players.

Once the match kicked off, it was an old-school MLS classic. The touches were sloppier and emotions ruled the game.

The Timbers and Sounders traded blows, and referee Ismail Elfath did not calm things down at all. In short, it was a classic Cascadia match.

And you know what? That’s ok!

Sam Stejskal, whom I respect very much, published an article this week outlining why MLS needs less parity (in short, more parity equates to a larger national audience). I’m oversimplifying his piece, which you should read, but it opened up a larger conversation about parity versus big-name clubs.

I’ll keep my point short: It’s an extreme example, but this game was the best defense you’ll find of parity.

Oh right, the standings!

This match was absolutely crucial for Portland. As I type this, they sit at seventh in the West.

Standings provided by SofaScore LiveScore

But no matter what happens during the rest of this season, Timbers fans will always have this. A double over Seattle, especially after they won the Concacaf Champions League, is priceless.

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View from the Timbers away section in Seattle.
Portland Timbers

Timbers in pole position for Cascadia Cup after huge win in Seattle

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers have not claimed the Northwest’s premier regional soccer trophy since 2017.

Since then, the annual round-robin competition between the Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps has been claimed by the Sounders each year (the Cup was not contested in 2020 due to lack of fans in attendance).

On Saturday, the Southern-most Cascadia club took a massive step toward reclaiming it.

A first-half header by Jaroslaw Niezgoda gave the Timbers an unlikely lead in Seattle last Saturday afternoon before Santiago Moreno’s penalty and Dairon Asprilla’s breakaway goal sealed the deal in the second half.

Portland now have six points from their two away legs of the Cup. A 3-2 win in Vancouver on April 9th also included goals from Niezgoda and Asprilla, who are now joint-top scorers in the competition alongside Seattle’s Raul Ruidiaz, who bagged a brace against the Whitecaps earlier this season.

Seattle sit in second with three points, while Vancouver are yet to earn a point.

Moreover, the Timbers have both remaining Cascadia matches at home. They host Vancouver this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and Seattle on August 26th at 7 p.m.

A win against Vancouver plus a win or draw against Seattle could see the Timbers mathematically wrap up the Cup before the Sounders visit BC Place in September.

Visit thecascadiacup.com to view the full table and tiebreakers (head-to-head results, then head-to-head goal difference).

Portland have the fewest Cascadia Cup claims (four) since its inception in 2004. Vancouver have won it six times, while the current holders have seven times.

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pablo-bonilla-stability
Portland Timbers

Opinion: Timbers need stability after latest loss

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 Sunday afternoon in Providence Park.

This result was unacceptable on many levels to Timbers fans, who have dealt with waves of club scandals over the past few seasons. Even national anthem singer Madison Stanley voiced her opinion against the club’s recent actions.

Off-field frustrations can often boil over to overly-harsh on-field criticisms. Some fans are more concerned with the community aspect the Timbers provide than the on-field results. Others couldn’t care less and are purely concerned with goals in nets and points on the table.

But absolutely no one is happy when the team is losing.

Portland now have six points from six matches in 2022. Their undefeated home streak since October 20th, 2021 officially came to an end Sunday, though losing MLS Cup to NYCFC on penalties hardly felt like a draw.

Excuses

Let’s get this out of the way. The Timbers have a TON of injuries. No single combination of this back line has played consecutive full 90s together this season.

The two starting center backs, Dario Zuparic and Larrys Mabiala, both began the season injured. Only the former has returned. Pablo Bonilla just got back into the squad after a visa issue.

Sebastian Blanco, Portland’s best player, is not fit. He made his first start last weekend, but was taken off after 73 minutes with a planned substitution. The game changes when he’s on thew pitch, and he’s only been there about a third of the time this season.

Eryk Williamson just got back from injury. He hasn’t fully recovered from a torn ACL last year.

Felipe Mora, Portland’s leading goal scorer last season, has not played a single minute yet. Portland’s third-string striker, Tega Ikoba, hasn’t either.

There are dark clouds hanging over the organization. None of the current players or coaches are at fault for that.

That being said, goals drive progress.

Necessary improvements

Bluntly, two of Portland’s Designated Players are underperforming, while the other one is injured.

There’s an argument to be made that Yimmi Chara is performing at a DP-level this season, but not in the last few weeks. Other than his bicycle kicks (which, yes, we do need to acknowledge and appreciate), Yimmi only makes the easy pass in the final third. He’s not going to break a team down like Blanco can.

I’ve defended Jaroslaw Niezgoda in the past, especially during his first season when he had an insanely good scoring rate (1.04 per 90). But he hasn’t reached that level since tearing his ACL in November of that 2020 season.

He has the skill to do so, too. That amazing flick in Dallas showed us his quality. But we need to see it on the pitch, otherwise he’s never winning the starting spot over Felipe Mora.

I tend to think Gio knows what he’s doing tactically, but I still don’t understand dragging “Jaro” out wide. I guess he created the chance that led to a penalty against Orlando from the wing, but still. It’s weird.

Aljaz Ivacic hasn’t been good enough, either. We knew he wasn’t going to be as good as Steve Clark, and I still commend the club’s decision not to splash money for an aging goalkeeper, but Ivacic needs to be better. His PSxG-GA number (+0.02, 52nd percentile in MLS) is bang-average. I’ll stop short of blaming him for any of the Timbers’ problems (we’ll get to the back line in a second) but he can certainly be part of the solution.

Dairon Asprilla reached an elite level last season, but he’s been nearly invisible since scoring in week one. He’s another guy who could step up.

Alright, time for the defense discussion. Portland brought in both Claudio Bravo and Josecarlos Van Rankin prior to the 2021 season. They were supposed to hold down starting spots with consistent performances, and did for much of last season.

But 2022 has been a disaster for both of them. Each have a red card and have struggled to do what their position says — DEFEND!

Moreover, the replacement options have also been rough. Pablo Bonilla’s sending off may not have been deserved, but it wasn’t like he was having a great match anyway. Justin Rasmussen is their only other fullback option, and he’s a rookie. He replaced Bonilla at right back despite being left-footed.

Both Bravo and Van Rankin have the ability to play well. We saw it last year when Portland made MLS Cup. (Bravo in particular has some great attacking movements.) But it’s time for them to start doing it, because it hasn’t been here yet this season.

How can the Timbers change?

(Despite the obvious changes that could but won’t occur at the highest level of the club, of course.)

Have the players play better. I have full confidence in Gio Savarese. That’s the good news. These matches barely matter if the Timbers can get hot going into the playoffs, which his Portland teams do more often than not.

This Saturday’s match in British Columbia is a chance to turn things around. Vancouver have four points from five matches. It’s a rivalry. Both teams are in really bad spots despite making big signings in recent years.

I would love to see Gio shake up the starting XI and remind usual starters that they need to perform better. These are the types of matches that can either bury a team mentally or spark better performances.

Point of clarity

Before this rant is over, I’d like to make just one more point: There seems to be a disconnect in discourse which conflates the “Timbers Army” and 107IST.

As it’s broadly understood, the Timbers Army is the people occupying sections of general admission seats in Providence Park. The Timbers Army waves flags and chants, but 107IST makes the decisions for the Timbers Army. Personally, I consider myself a member of both. As of this year, I’ve paid my dues to 107IST and can join in on meetings should I choose to.

There’s obviously a ton of crossover between people sitting in GA and 107IST, but the difference was apparent during the “five minutes of silence” against Orlando City. Prior to the match, 107IST sent out an email detailing the planned demonstration. But many fans sitting in the TA section didn’t know about it, and there was understandable confusion.

I don’t see a clear solution to this. Some fans don’t want to pay the yearly 107IST fee to be part of the more “official” fan club — constantly purchasing tickets is enough of a financial barrier. I was also in this boat until last December.

But there is something to be said about everyone in the section being on the same page. It makes demonstrations more effective and creates a better community. Again, I don’t see a simple solution to this tension.

What I can say, though, is that protecting your own “relevance” as a fan is never worth alienating people. The TA has had its share of gatekeeping issues in the past, and they do no good for anyone. We all go to the stadium for the same reason: to watch the Timbers play soccer.

Thank you for reading this rant. If you’d like more rants, check out the Double Post Podcast, which I run with my friend Reece. We post weekly during the season.

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Dairon Asprilla against LAFC
Portland Timbers

Three problems the Timbers can fix against Austin FC

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers nearly escaped Banc of California Stadium with a win Sunday night. A stoppage time goal by center back Mamadou Fall leveled the tie after Portland held on with 10 men for half an hour.

Portland struggled against LAFC. Gone were the open, free-flowing movements and combinations that gave the defending Supporters’ Shield winners fits in week one. Instead, Portland struggled to create any meaningful bite going forward, save for yet another bicycle kick by Yimmi Chara.

So what are the Timbers’ biggest (on-field) problems? How will this team get back to creating chances like they were against New England (particularly in the second half)?

Problem #1: Discipline

Questions about the severity of Claudio Bravo’s second yellow card are warranted, but everyone can agree that it was a poor gamble for someone already on a yellow. The Timbers have a league-high 10 yellow cards over their first two matches, while no other club has more than seven.

Those 10 do not include a pair of cautions to Gio Savarese, one in each match. If Savarese gets another yellow, MLS rules state he will have to pay a fine and miss the next match.

I’m not necessarily saying this is a Gio problem, but it is certainly a problem. Bravo’s yellow forced the Timbers to park the bus for the rest of the night, even without Carlos Vela on the pitch. MLS is a tough-enough test on squad depth already; adding suspensions to the mix only worsens things.

And if we know anything about the Timbers’ most important player (Diego Chara), he will be receiving at least five yellow cards at some point this season — the first threshold for suspension.

Type of Cautions Number of Cautions
Foul 6
Dissent 3
Persistent Infringement 1

(Numbers via MLS)

Discipline is inherently self-imposed. There hasn’t been enough matches to say how this relates to Austin FC. For what it’s worth, they drew two yellow cards against FC Cincinnati and four against Inter Miami CF.

Problem #2: Buildup play

Portland threatened New England’s goal in the season opener. They struggled to do anything against LAFC. The chart on the left is from the New England match; LAFC match on the right.

Three things stand out to me about these charts:

  1. Outside back involvement is a good indicator of how little the Timbers went forward against LAFC.
  2. Niezgoda was completely on an island against LAFC. 
  3. The center backs were not on the same page offensively against LAFC, despite their heroic defensive efforts.

Everyone from Ivacic to Niezgoda needs to be better in buildup. That means moving off the ball and giving more technical attention to controlling and passing the ball.

Timbers Statistics vs NE vs LAFC
Pass Completion Rate 80.1% 68.1%
Possession 55% 33%
Expected Goals 2.5 0.7

(Numbers via Football Reference)

Portland were down a man, yes, but they couldn’t complete a pass against LAFC. The home team created 17 shots to Portland’s two in the second half.

Austin are goal-hungry. They have an MLS-record 10 goals in two matches, albeit against weak opponents. Portland can’t afford to concede possession and operate strictly from a counterattacking approach.

Problem #3: Goalscoring

This might be a hot take, but Portland cannot rely solely on Yimmi Chara bicycle kicks for goals. With Felipe Mora out for another month or so, Jaroslaw Niezgoda needs to get on the scoresheet in the next month.

Niezgoda was basically invisible against LAFC. Some pointed out that this wasn’t the best matchup for him tactically, but that means he needs to adapt his game. The Timbers are staring down a “Dairon Asprilla at striker” situation if they can’t get things going soon.

Against Austin FC, that means taking the fight to them. The “Verde” have been at home both times, so it will be interesting to see how they respond in a tough road environment.

Stay composed in possession and get chaotic in the final third.

The Timbers can’t “fix” injuries. They just have to wait to get healthier. Savarese said both Dario Zuparic and Larrys Mabiala could be back as soon as this weekend — they’re not expected to start, but getting closer. Eryk Williamson is also farther back than we thought on his recovery.

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Dairon Asprilla against the New England Revolution
Portland Timbers

Timbers fight back for gritty draw in home opener

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

A cold, windy match still had plenty of room for heated moments: bicycle kicks, penalty shouts, cautions, and chances galore littered the turf at Providence Park.

The game was “exciting, competitive, it had great intensity,” according to Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese.

The Portland Timbers opened their 2022 season with a 2-2 home draw against the New England Revolution on Saturday. The reigning Western Conference champions overcame two second-half deficits in spectacular fashion, taking the reigning Supporters’ Shield winners down to the wire.

Yimmi Chara’s spectacular bicycle kick leveled the match in the 78th minute after Revolution debutant Sebastian Lletget finished a left-footed shot into the far post.

After the match, Yimmi called his goal a “chilena” rather than a “chalaca.”

“It was the only moment we got exposed in the wide areas,” Savarese said of New England’s second goal. “They’re a good team, so they were able to capitalize.”

New England’s Brandon Bye headed in a corner kick off the crossbar five minutes before halftime, but Dairon Asprilla finished a lovely feed from Santiago Moreno in the 60th minute to make it 1-1.

Both teams had plenty of chances in the first half — Portland from their fluid play and New England from set pieces. The Revolution created six corner kicks in the first half alone.

The Timbers improved in the second half, outplaying the visitors save for switching off during Lletget’s goal. A draw is never the hopeful outcome for a home match, but considering Portland’s litany of absences, it seemed acceptable.

“I felt we got some very good moments,” Savarese said. “We found more opportunities than they did, but they’re a tough team to play against…Overall, I thought it was very very good as a soccer game.”

Prior to the match, Portland unveiled their “2021 Western Conference Champions” banner. A moment of silence was held for Ukraine.

The Timbers Army elected to not raise a customary tifo, instead sending would-be expenses to programs that benefit victims of domestic violence. This was in response to offseason revelations about former Timbers midfielder Andy Polo, whose contract was terminated.

Match Summary

— Savarese started Aljaz Ivacic in goal over David Bingham after an offseason battle for the position. Santiago Moreno also got a big start as Sebastian Blanco recovers from a late-2021 injury. Jaroslaw Niezgoda and both center backs (Zac McGraw and Bill Tuiloma) got starts due to other injuries (Felipe Mora, Dario Zuparic, and Larrys Mabiala).

— New England were without star goalkeeper Matt Turner, who picked up an injury in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s latest World Cup Qualifying match. Earl Edwards Jr. started in his absence.

5′ — Moreno missed the first big chance of the game, and it was a massive one. The ball was slid right into his path at the top of the box, and Moreno put it where Earl Edwards Jr. could save it.

41′ — Brandon Bye leaps for a headed goal. Portland had trouble clearing their lines on set pieces all night.

60′ — Asprilla finishes with his left off a beautiful feed from Moreno.

63′ — Just three minutes later, the Revs re-took the lead.

78′ — Portland’s push for another equalizer paid off in the best way possible.

— Blanco wasn’t able to start, but he did come on for Moreno in the 83rd minute. Despite late chances both ways, neither team could break through. The match ended 2-2.

Next Up

The Timbers travel to Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles to face LAFC on Sunday, March 6th at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.

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timbers-sounders-preseason
Portland Timbers

Timbers draw Sounders 0-0 in preseason opener

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

Portland and Seattle produce some thrilling shootouts every year, but Wednesday night’s affair was not one of them.

In their first match since MLS Cup 2021, the Timbers played the Sounders to a stalemate. About 2,000 fans showed up to create a surprisingly loud atmosphere at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, AZ on Jan. 26th.

The squad

Both squads heavily rotated a mix of first-teamers, academy players, draftees, and trialists. The Timbers gave 22 different players minutes.

“For young players, it’s a good thing to get them involved in these types of matches,” head coach Gio Savarese said. “It’s exciting to see our young players being able to play a match like this.”

Goalkeeper is maybe the position to watch in preseason, with David Bingham and Aljaz Ivacic competing for the starting job. Ivacic played the first half and Bingham the second.

Dairon Asprilla captained Portland. The full list of players, taken from the Timbers’ official recap, is as follows:

  • POR: Asprilla (Gutierrez %, 45), Bahachille #, Ferguson ^ (McDowd ^, 86), Ivacic (Bingham, 45), Loría (Bodily, 45), McCartney % (Dunne ^, 86), McGraw (Haugli %, 60), S. Moreno (Ikoba, 33), Niezgoda (Duran ^, 45), Toia # (Rasmussen %, 69), Wray ^ (A. Moreno ^, 74)

    % draftee
    ^ academy player
    # non-roster invitee

Who played well?

The match was not streamed, but we can glean some information from both teams’ tweets and recaps. Ironically, the only account posting videos of the match belongs to the hosts, FC Tucson.

It looked like Seattle had the bulk of the chances, but this one from 2021 draftee Diego Gutierrez may have been the night’s best opportunity.

 

Zac McGraw had a solid night, with a pair of clearances in the first half and a 60-minute stint at center back. He also earned a post-match interview.

One name to keep an eye on is trialist Abraham Bahachille, Portland’s only player to go a full 90 minutes. Bahachille is a 20-year-old Venezuelan midfielder who most recently played for Metropolitanos in the Venezuelan first tier.

Academy player Mitch Ferguson and 2022 draftee Dawson McCartney both went 86 minutes.

Next Up

Portland face Sporting Kansas City next on Feb. 3rd at 10 a.m. at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex in Chandler, AZ. There will be no stream for the match.

You can view Portland’s full 2022 preseason schedule here.

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Portland Timbers

Timbers announce initial roster updates

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

Major League Soccer never stops, even right after the MLS Cup final. The Expansion Draft will take place Tuesday, Dec. 14th and free agency opens Wednesday, Dec. 15th.

The Timbers announced a bevy of roster decisions Monday, including the list of unprotected players for tomorrow’s Expansion Draft.

No matter how you feel about general manager Gavin Wilkinson and owner Merritt Paulson, they have a lot of important decisions to make in the coming weeks.

Who’s gone?

Jorge Gonzalez, Ismaila Jome, Manny Perez, and Renzo Zambrano are all not re-signing. We know they’re gone. Gonzalez and Perez never saw action for the first team and Jome barely did. All four of these guys are unprotected for Charlotte FC’s expansion draft.

Who’s staying?

Portland left 10 of its 21 players on the current roster (so, not including the four names above) unprotected. The 11 protected players which Portland will definitely have next season are:

  • Goalkeepers – Hunter Sulte
  • Defenders – Dario Župarić, Bill Tuiloma, Claudio Bravo
  • Midfielders – Blake Bodily, Diego Chará, Yimmi Chará, Marvin Loría, Santiago Moreno, Cristhian Paredes, Eryk Williamson, Dairon Asprilla
  • Forwards – Felipe Mora, Jarosław Niezgoda

Who’s in limbo?

The ones we don’t know about yet:

  • Goalkeepers – Steve Clark, Jeff Attinella, Aljaz Ivacic
  • Defenders – Larrys Mabiala, Zac McGraw, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Pablo Bonilla
  • Midfielders – Sebastian Blanco, Diego Valeri, Andy Polo, George Fochive
  • Forwards – N/A

The Timbers are looking to re-sign Sebastian Blanco, Steve Clark, Aljaz Ivacic, and Josecarlos Van Rankin. I’d be shocked if Blanco didn’t re-sign. Not so sure about the other three. Briefly, here’s why:

  • Van Rankin was on loan from Chivas Guadalajara this season. There have been rumors of him both re-signing in Portland and re-joining Chivas. I could see this one going either way.
  • Clark is 35. He’s had some great moments for Portland, but he’s certainly more replaceable because of his age.
  • Ivacic has barely played for the Timbers. He conceded 12 goals in four starts this season and is clearly the third-best Portland ‘keeper when healthy. The Timbers also have both Hunter Sulte and Jeff Attinella still under contract. I’d say Ivacic re-signing is unlikely.

What should the priorities be?

Priority #1 for Gavin Wilkinson has to be to re-sign Sebastián Blanco. This should be obvious. Getting him on a non-Designated Player deal (like Valeri signed a few years ago) would be ideal, but might not be feasible. Either way, keep him in the club.

Diego Valeri’s future might not affect the team on the field much, but it’s crucial for fan buy-in (which has obviously been waning lately).

Beyond that, decisions on Van Rankin and Clark will be most important. If those two are gone, that’s two starting spots to fill. I doubt Charlotte takes anyone from Portland tomorrow.

Portland are not one of the top-five spenders in MLS, but they are consistently near the top. The front office has showed its willingness to spend in the right places and take full advantage of MLS’ wonky roster rules (using the U-22 initiative to sign Moreno, for example).

We’ll see how they approach a pivotal offseason.

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