Tag:

Felipe Mora

Portland Timbers

Timbers fight hard but fall to Club América in Azteca, 3-1

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers fell to Club América in Estadio Azteca Wednesday night after a gritty performance.

Portland fought hard, but the exhausted Timbers were no match for the Mexican giants. Two goals from Federico Viñas sealed the deal for Club América, who now advance to face the Philadelphia Union in the semifinals. 

Match Recap

América threatened first, with Jeff Attinella making multiple key saves before Viñas rose to direct a beautiful ball into the  back of the net. In the 21′, it was 1-0. 

Fidalgo was inches from doubling the lead in the 28′, but his shot was just over the bar. 

Despite winning four fouls in the attacking half, Portland couldn’t register a shot on target. In fact, they had just one shot total. 

There was plenty of space for both teams going forward, but Portland were either too tired or too confused to use it. The Timbers resorted to lobbing in crosses toward the end of the first half, which 

It wouldn’t take long for the shooting drought to end. Mora turned quickly to fire a shot at Ochoa’s far post, but it was saved fairly easily. On the other end, Attinella was forced into a save of his own less than a minute later. 

Diego Chará registered a rare shot on goal from distance in the 49′, but he couldn’t beat Ochoa. Portland were certainly on the front foot to begin the half, though. 

Yimmi Chará had a go from the same spot as his brother in the 53′, but Portland’s confidence took a quick turn.

With open space abound, Leo Suarez found enough room to zig and zag at Bravo. Bravo played him tough but was dragged down by Suarez in the box. A questionable call at best, VAR confirmed the contact and Viñas’ penalty barely slipped under Attinella, who guessed perfectly.

Not five minutes later, the Timbers had their make-up call. Mora fired a shot that was saved by Ochoa, but the follow-through from Luis Fuentes was deemed to be a penalty. Valeri stepped up and blasted the shot past Ochoa, and the match was back on.

With the Timbers needing just one unanswered goal to win the series, they pressured América high and allowed Leo Suarez to find more space on the right. He cut inside, took a touch, and fired a shot from outside the box. One big deflection later, his shot rolled past the outstretched Attinella to give América the 4-2 aggregate lead. 

Jeremy Ebobisse made his first contribution of the series right after coming on, flying into his teammate Valeri for a header. He offered more of a threat than Asprilla had, but Portland still struggle to get shots off.

Even when Mora found himself in golden opportunities, he couldn’t pull the trigger. 

Suarez could have really put the tie to bed in the 86′, but the crossbar spared the Timbers. The referees did not. Three minutes were given for a half full of fouls, penalties, and plenty of injuries. 

By the end of it, the Timbers had fought valiantly, but not valiantly enough. A 4-2 aggregate defeat was certainly not the worst we could have hoped for, but it also could have been a lot worse. 

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland Timbers

Resting Timbers drop three points in Dallas

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers lost 4-1 to FC Dallas this Saturday, and that’s OK.

Why? Because with a trip to Mexico City on everyone’s mind, this was the starting lineup:

MLS debuts for Hunter Sulte and Zac McGraw went alongside season debuts for Andy Polo and, later, Jeremy Ebobisse.

Dallas switched from a back-three to back-four after conceding three goals in under an hour against San Jose last week.

Match Highlights

It wouldn’t take long for FC Dallas to strike first (96 seconds, to be exact). Andres Ricuarte put the finishing touches from a simple overload combination through the legs of Dario Župarić.

 

 

In the 12′, disaster struck again for the Timbers. A direct-flight clearance from Phelipe bounced past Renzo Zambrano and perfectly into the path of Jáder Obrian, who chipped Sulte to gain a 2-0 lead.

Felipe Mora and Claudio Bravo, two guys who will probably get starting minutes on Wednesday, each had half-chances

If the overall quality of play wasn’t enough to disgust you, FC Dallas’ third goal before halftime probably did. Sulte fumbled an original save and Bressan cleaned up the rebound to make it 3-0.

Portland made a line change in the second half, bringing on Diego Valeri, Eryk Williamson, Dairon Asprilla, and Josecarlos van Rankin. Mora, Chará, Polo, and Bravo were the departures.

Portland’s attack pricked up instantly, pushing Dallas into danger before their announcers could even finish the substitutions.

Zac McGraw nearly scored on his debut by heading a corner hard and down, but it hit bar-out and Župarić couldn’t get to the rebound.

Portland’s breakthrough would come in the 62′. Williamson played a beautiful one-two with Valeri and slid the finish past Phelipe for the goal. The tone of the game had undoubtedly begun to shift.

Dallas’ own reinforcements would follow in the 67′, as Edwin Cerrillo and Franco Jara replaced the youngsters, Tessmann and Pepi.

Jeremy Ebobisse made his return to the pitch after missing the start of the season. He was subbed in for Bodily in the 75′.

Ryan Hollingshead provided the best entertainment of the night by threatening Gio Savarese with a throw-in. No, I’m not joking.

Dallas were clearly getting frustrated as they had a much harder time against Portland’s fresh legs, but they would get their sealer courtesy of Dante Sealy in the 85′.

For Timbers fans, there’s really not too much to be mad about from this game:

  • The starters only got 45 minutes each (rest for Club América!)
  • The game was over at halftime (low-stress!)
  • Portland were the better side in the 2nd half (validation!)

As for FC Dallas, they deserved this win. Two quick goals, a third before half, and held their own in the second.

Follow @doublepostpod for total coverage of tonight’s match (and every match!), including our postgame reaction podcast later this evening.

As always, RCTID!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland Timbers

Timbers prepare for FC Dallas amid busy week

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

Soccer is a funny sport. Trying to understand the different competitions and scenarios teams find themselves is damn-near impossible for those who are solely accustomed to American franchise models.

So when I tell you the Timbers have a match in Frisco, Texas sandwiched between two games against the biggest club in North America, just know that it’s a very unique time to be a Timbers fan. It’s not every day you get to see your club embark on these types of journeys.

  • Matchup: Portland Timbers @ FC Dallas
  • Location: Totota Park; Frisco, TX, USA
  • Broadcast: 5pm PT; FOX 12 Plus (or ESPN+)

No matter how many times Giovanni Savarese says the Timbers are “completely focused on FC Dallas” I still hesitate to believe anything but Mexico City is on the players’ minds.

Forgive me for looking ahead to a midweek date at the most formidable and historic stadium on this continent—one that will typically suffocate players with crowd noise before the smog and 7,200-foot elevation kick in. One where the Hand of God and some guy named Pele once graced the pitch. No, I’m not talking about Toyota Stadium.

A trip to Estadio Azteca will be looming in the back of everyone’s head as the Timbers match up against FC Dallas, and for good reason. Even without fans, it will easily be the most historic venue the club has ever played in.

Club América supporters have not gone unheard, as a raucous performance at Providence Park ensured. The match itself was ferocious as well, with a pair of penalty kicks providing the only scoring in a 1-1 draw for the ages.

Scouting FC Dallas

Unlike their Texan counterparts, FC Dallas roll with a 3-4-3 formation. Their back-three of José Antonio Martinez, Matt Hedges, and Bressan held Colorado to a scoreless draw in Week 1 before conceding three before the hour-mark in San Jose last weekend.

FCD’s two starting lineups have been almost identical, with Tanner Tessman starting (and struggling) in the midfield against the Quakes over Andres Ricuarte. John Nelson has been on the left and Ryan Hollingshead on the right in wingback roles, while Bryan Acosta holds down the middle alongside one of Tessman, Ricuarte, or Paxton Pomykal.

New attackers Jader Obrian and Freddy Vargas flank Designated Player Francisco Jara up top. Don’t forget about 18-year-old Ricardo Pepi, whose late equalizer helped send Portland packing early from the playoffs last year.

Dallas’ only goal this season was a consolation from Ricardo Pepi. They have looked like one of the most disappointing teams of the season through two weeks of MLS, and that’s saying a lot.

What’s more, their starting goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer strained his shoulder and came out after the third goal last Saturday. Backup Grêmio loanee Phelipe (22 years old) logged a save in the last half-hour, but the match was already over by the time he got in.

Rotation, rotation, rotation…

Portland prepared for the first leg by playing a heavily rotated squad against Houston Dynamo FC last Saturday. An early goal from Dairon Asprilla and Cristhian Paredes’ redemptive strike earned Portland a hard-fought three points in that match, and they will seek to do the same against Dallas.

Portland’s lineup from the Houston match on April 24th

The only players who played full 90s in both of the last two games are Claudio Bravo and Diego Chará. Dairon Asprilla, Larrys Mabiala, Yimmi Chará, Dario Župarić, Diego Valeri, Eryk Williamson, José van Rankin, and Felipe Mora are the other regular starters who played in the Houston match and logged at least 70 minutes against Club América.

For those keeping track, that’s all ten starting field players—not counting Sebastián Blanco and Jeremy Ebobisse, who are both set to make their returns soon. In a press conference Friday, Giovanni Savarese updated the statuses of the two aforementioned:

As you can see, Gio also offered an update on Cristhian Paredes after his nasty-looking injury against his former club. The injury and timeline are not as bad as we might have thought, but it still tests that midfield depth Portland has been touting all offseason.

Andy Polo will finally return to the pitch after being stuck with a tough quarantine timeline coming back from Peru. He has been working with a personal trainer in the meantime, but getting back into the groove with a full squad will be extremely valuable.

Backup left-back Isamaila Jome is out for the season with a torn left Achilles. Jarosław Niezgoda will not make his return until mid-June. In a year where depth was the name of the game, Portland find themselves almost thin in some key spots.

So what will the XI look like in Frisco? Here’s my best shot:

My prediction for Portland’s lineup against FC Dallas

Let’s start with the defense. Župarić is suspended for the second leg because of yellow card accumulation, so he’ll probably go for a full 90 in this one. Bill Tuiloma will have to step up in Dario’s absence Wednesday, so he probably gets a rest. I doubt that we’ll see Bill for more than a few minutes (if at all) on Saturday—meaning it’s time for Zac McGraw to make his first team debut! The 6’4″-205 lb. West Point grad was drafted 68th overall by Portland in the third round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.

Van Rankin was billed as a guy who can play on either side of defense, so Bravo will likely get a rest after two tough 90s in the last four days. I would expect the same from Diego Chará except for the fact that he’s Diego Chará. In a recent press conference, Gio said Diego is “capable of managing himself” in terms of output. Also, we don’t exactly have another backup midfielder now that Paredes is out. Maybe Chará or Renzo Zambrano end up splitting time with Eryk Williamson.

Yimmi and Valeri split time at the #10 spot last week, so assuming Blanco is still out that’s what I’ll expect again. Andy Polo should provide a much-needed break for Dairon Asprilla on the left (even if he can only go for a half), while Loría and Bodily will probably start in the same spots they did last weekend. Depending on Ebobisse’s unclear availability, he may start or at least substitute his way into some minutes.

Prediction Time!

All of this is to say that we don’t know what to expect from the Timbers this weekend. If they can use a rotated squad to beat the team that beat San Jose, then in theory they can beat the team that lost to them.

In terms of how this matchup will make sense tactically, it’s really not worth going over. Portland’s squad rotation may be met with dissatisfaction and rotation from Dallas, as well. So, just like last week, this will be a good ol’ fashioned MLS match, full of unpredictability and zeal.

The Oregon SportsBook has Portland as +235 underdogs, with the home side at +115 and a draw at +255.

Here’s what we do know: Portland will probably be playing a bunch of B-teamers, and Dallas are playing like a B-team (that will also have its B-team ‘keeper).

I’m tempted to throw out a Timbers win, but I really think Dallas will see a rare opportunity to pounce on a depleted squad for points. I’ll go with a 1-1 draw, with Bodily getting his first career goal and Jara opening his 2021 account.

Follow @doublepostpod for total coverage of tonight’s match (and every match!), including our postgame reaction podcast later this evening.

As always, RCTID!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland Timbers

Timbers stun Club América with 97th-minute equalizer

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

Portland’s first Concacaf Champions League knockout stage tie

The first half-chance went to Felipe Mora, who couldn’t control a ball over his head from Dairon Asprilla in the 3′. Mora earned the first caution of the match in the 18′.

The first shot of the match didn’t come until the 20′, as América’s Mauro Laínez scuffed an ambitious effort well wide. José Martínez fired a much better shot in the 23′ that forced Jeff Attinella into a tough save down to his right.

In the first half, Portland struggled to create quick buildup play when they did win the ball back from Club América.

América’s right winger, Leonardo Suárez, received a yellow card in the 33′ for a little extra contact thrown at Dairon Asprilla.

Speaking of contact, América center back Sebástian Cáceres could have received a yellow of his own for heading Mora in the, well, head in the 38′. Dario Župarić would receive one in the 40′ for a rough challenge on Suárez, and he will be suspended for the second leg in Mexico City.

The decisive moment came just before halftime. Claudio Bravo lunged in on Richard Sánchez and missed the ball, giving up an ultra-costly penalty in the process.

Roger Martínez calmly slid the penalty past Attinella and América had a massive 1-0 lead in Providence Park.

Portland’s energy was demonstrably better to start the second half, and it nearly culminated in a worldie from Dairon Asprilla in the 50′.

Yimmi Chará would lift the ball over Memo Ochoa in the 57′, but his effort drifted just wide of the far post.

The game was getting extremely physical in the second half. Players were flying into challenges all-out and giving it their all. The result was nine total yellow cards, with

Portland’s pressure simmered down as the second half wore on, but the intensity continued to rise. Substitutions ca

And then, as the game was literally seconds from ending…a gift.

A scramble in the box produced a handball penalty. Felipe Mora put it in the same corner as Martínez and the match was square at one apiece.

Maybe the most competitive and entertaining night of soccer so far this year (in this hemisphere) ended with flashes, bangs, and a late goal.

Pages: 1 2

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland Timbers

Expectations and Predictions: Timbers vs Club América Leg 1

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers will host Mexican giants Club América at 7:30pm on Wednesday, April 28th in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals.

Few opportunities to play a team of this magnitude are afforded in the history of a club. Timbers fans (and players) are approaching the fixture with uncertainty—Portland find themselves underdogs, even at home, against the biggest club in North America.

The Visitors

Club América are currently second in Liga MX and are the only ones within a sniff of Cruz Azul, who haven’t lost a match since January. In fact, América are one of only two teams that have won a single point from Cruz Azul during that span.

Cruz Azul beat Toronto 3-1 last night, but let’s get back to América. They were recently on an eight-match win streak, not including a 1-0 second leg loss to CD Olimpia which saw them advance from the CCL Round of 16. The aforementioned draw against the league leaders followed, but their latest result is intriguing.

América fell behind 2-0 to Toluca inside 11 minutes, and try as they might to break their opponents’ defense, they managed only three shots on target. An early second half VAR penalty drew them one step closer to getting back in the match, but they could never build up enough momentum to overcome Toluca, who would seal the match with a counterattack goal in the 73′.

América are most often in a 4-2-3-1. Roger Martínez has been the starting striker for the past year or so, and his 13 non-penalty goals in 21 starts make him América’s top scorer. But a recent injury has given others, such as Henry Martín, a shot at the starting job, and there has been an ongoing debate about who deserves the spot. (Martínez started against Toluca and struggled.)

If there was ever a time to be facing América, this is it. The team is having some internal issues with manager Santiago Solari, who is keen to only play his starters and a select few others. Additionally, many players are not as enthusiastic about the Champions League as usual.

Club América’s 23-year-old playmaker Sebastián Córdova will be unavailable for the first leg, which is a huge loss for them.

Pedro Aquino and Richard Sanchez are the central midfielders, with Álvaro Fidalgo playing in front of them as another creator. Mauro Laínez may flank the left side, while Martín could fill in on the right for Córdova.

In defense, Club América’s center backs may be exploitable. Sebástian Cáceres and Emanuel Aguilera are not the speediest, and they may lack the depth to stifle Portland’s dynamic attackers.

The Timbers

Onto the Timbers. Portland got their first MLS win against the Dynamo last Saturday, although it wasn’t always easy. The Dynamo exploited Portland’s left back, Claudio Bravo, quite a bit in the first half. The Timbers adjusted well after halftime, but if Tyler Pasher can give Portland fits, I’m sure Laínez and Martín can, too.

The Timbers are still without Jarosław Niezgoda and Jeremy Ebobisse, and Sebastián Blanco is listed as “doubtful” after Giovanni Savarese said he was “not as close [to returning] as we expected.” Starting goalkeeper Steve Clark is still out after leaving the Vancouver match early with a left thigh strain, but Jeff Attinella is a serviceable replacement.

https://twitter.com/doublepostpod/status/1387153958121050116?s=21

I expect the starting XI to be the same as it has been.

It’s worth noting Jose Van Rankin has experience against this team, having played in Liga MX for years. Hopefully his sage presence will guide the back line, since this isn’t an area of overconfidence for me right now.

But as long as Portland can defend set pieces, they should be fine. Both goals they’ve conceded in MLS have been from corner kicks.

Prediction

Overall, this squad is ready to pounce on an opportunity, and I think this is it. Racking up goals now is also important considering a trip to Estadio Azteca is looming in the second leg.

My prediction is one of the boldest I’ve had as a Timbers writer: give me a 3-0 win for the Boys in Green. Felipe Mora will score one of them.

Follow @doublepostpod for total coverage of tonight’s match (and every match!), including our postgame reaction podcast later this evening.

As always, RCTID!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland Timbers

Timbers draw CD Marathón 2-2 in first leg of CCL Round of 16

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

The Portland Timbers weren’t expecting a normal match in Honduras today, and they certainly didn’t get one.

With a muggy pitch and restricted pace, Portland struggled to find finishing luck in the Marathón box. Goals from Mora and Valeri were highlights for the Timbers, but both were met with Honduran equalizers.

Portland got out to a hot start in San Pedro Sula, but the pitch was a huge detriment to their quick-paced combination play. The Timbers still found success playing throughballs in behind and winning the ball back in the midfield.

A pair of early chances went begging for the Timbers as they tried to acclimate themselves to the horrid pitch conditions. Ground passes farther than 10 yards were virtually out of the question.

Valeri and Yimmi Chará were effective on the right side, with Valeri tucking into the space between midfielders and the back line. He had a decent shot in the 20th minute that skipped up on him and sailed over.

Eryk Williamson had the best chance of the first 30 minutes, flicking the ball over his defender and forcing a great save from Denovan Torrez.

Felipe Mora broke the deadlock in the 34th minute after getting a ball from Josecarlos Van Rankin. Portland’s first goal of the 2021 season included the first assist for Van Rankin in his first start.

Van Rankin’s glory would be short-lived, though. It wasn’t five minutes later before Marathón’s Edwin Solano burst down the left side and beat Van Rankin much too easily. His cross found a wide open Brayan Castillo in the box for a tap-in. 1-1.

Marathón came dangerously close to taking the lead in the 44th minute, as Kevin Hoyos bodied Van Rankin into getting a shot off way too close to Clark’s goal. The shot was blocked and saved by Clark, but it was a very shaky moment nonetheless.

The second half was a much rougher start for the Timbers. Clark was forced into a double-save in the 53’ after the back line left Mathias Techera wide open to get his head on a free kick.

Yimmi Chará missed another chance to score in the 56’, with a beautiful set-piece play finding him in open space in the box. His shot left much to be desired, though, and it was saved well.

Then Diego Valeri did a Diego Valeri thing.

While it’ll go down as an own goal, Valeri couldn’t hold back a smile after this other-worldly strike. With a pair of away goals, the Timbers had a lot to be happy about in Honduras.

That is, until Portland gave up another goal. This one was much worse, as Marlon Ramírez took three touches before slotting the ball past Clark on the fourth. The xG on that shot must be pretty pretty low.

Clark produced another huge save in the 82’ from a Techera header. The towering center back leaped high enough to beat Marvin Loría to the ball, and the result was almost disastrous.

Portland grabbed the lion’s share of possession late in the match, but weren’t able to do much with it. Mora had another chance in the box but couldn’t spot his teammate quick enough to make the flick.

Asprilla had a chance of his own right as we entered stoppage time, but his shot left much to be desired. A 2-2 result with away goals as a tiebreaker is a good one, but fans won’t help but think that it could have been much better.

Portland will be back home next Tuesday for the reverse fixture.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland Timbers

Portland vs Dallas: Playoff expectations and predictions

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

The Portland Timbers will host FC Dallas in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs tonight at 7pm on ESPN. Dallas is one of the only teams Portland is yet to face this season, and this single-leg elimination game is instantly the biggest of the season.


Image by Devin L'Amoreaux and Jared Martinez via MLS

Image by Devin L’Amoreaux and Jared Martinez via MLS

If you’re reading this, you probably know Portland is the third seed and Dallas is the sixth. Bovada has the Timbers as +115 favorites, with Dallas at +220 and a draw at +260. FiveThirtyEight.com gives Portland a 62% chance to advance, compared to Dallas’ 38%.

Remember, though, this match will go to penalties should it go the distance. As of right now, we’ve seen two playoff games go to extra time and penalties: Orlando’s goalkeeper fiasco ended in a field player making the game-winning save against NYCFC, while Sporting KC’s Tim Melia saved all three of San Jose’s attempts in the shortest shootout in MLS history.

The Timbers do have penalty experience earlier this season after defeating FC Cincinnati on kicks from the spot in the first knockout round of the MLS is Back Tournament.

FC Dallas are carried by Andres Ricuarte, a hard-working central midfielder who was signed over the summer; as well as veteran defenders Matt Hedges and Ryan Hollingshead. Dallas also have key players out for the season: Paxton Pomykal suffered a season-ending hip injury, while Czech striker Zdeněk Ondrášek and right back Reggie Cannon were transferred to Europe.

Who’s in and who’s out?

The Timbers flirted with the idea of Felipe Mora and Andy Polo being shunned for this match because of the COVID restrictions surrounding their World Cup Qualifying appearances in South America, but MLS’s chartered flights plan has them on track to be ready for this game.

The official injury report lists Sebastián Blanco (right ACL surgery), Julio Cascante (left ankle), Jaroslaw Niezgoda (left ACL tear) as OUT, but that list will also include Dairon Asprilla after the MLS Disciplinary Committee gave him a retroactive suspension.

Jeremy Ebobisse is listed as questionable, and Savarese was not tipping his hand about who was in or out during his last press conference.

I expect Mora to start up top, with Yimmi Chará on the left wing and either a healthy Ebobisse or Marvin Loría on the right. Diego Valeri in the center supported by Diego Chará and Eryk Williamson is what we can definitely expect. The defense will include Jorge Villafaña (third-best left-back in MLS?), Dario Župarić, Larrys Mabiala, and either Pablo Bonilla or Chris Duvall at right back. Steve Clark will be in goal.

Personally, I think Duvall is better-equipped to get the start tonight. Although he’s dealt with injuries and missed a lot of time this season, he’s more experienced and less error-prone than Bonilla.

Prediction

Dallas is one of the worst goal-scoring teams in the league (only 1.3 goals per match), and Portland’s average is 2.0. The Timbers concede 1.5 goals per game, though, compared to FCD’s 1.1.

Just like two years ago (in a knockout match in Dallas), I think this match will come down to individuals doing insane things. Last time, it was Diego Valeri. Even in 2018, we had naive questions about Valeri’s age that became silenced. Who’s to say he still can’t produce his magic?

3-1 Timbers, and Valeri gets a goal and assist—the assist will come off a corner kick. I don’t know how or why any of this will or won’t happen. But I do know one thing: I’m beyond excited for this match!

Follow @doublepostpod on Twitter for live coverage and postgame quotes.

And, as always, Go Timbers!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland ThornsPortland Timbers

PTFC Weekly Roundup – Surgeries, signings, and more

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers have been idle since drawing LAFC 1-1 on Decision Day last Sunday, November 8th. While nothing has transpired on the pitch, there’s still plenty to talk about behind the scenes of The Only Club that Matters. Let’s review some of PTFC’s most recent news.

Jarek’s Surgery

Timbers Designated Player Jarosław Niezgoda had successful surgery on the torn ACL in his left knee last week. The injury was sustained in the waning minutes of Portland’s 1-0 win over Vancouver on November 1st.

Jarek’s recovery is expected to take 6-8 months.

World Cup Qualifying

Felipe Mora was called up for the Chilean first team’s World Cup Qualifying matches and started in their 2-0 win against Peru. Mora recorded one shot on target and drew four fouls in 84 minutes. Speaking of Peru, Andy Polo logged 13 minutes in a substitute appearance in that same match, completing all three of his passes and a successful dribble with just six touches.

Peru face Argentina tomorrow (Tuesday, November 17th) while Chile will play Venezuela. Both teams are on the outside looking in for the CONMEBOL qualifying spots.

More importantly for Timbers fans, both players will have to miss the first round of the playoffs to comply with the mandatory quarantine period.

Jebo up for humanitarian award

Jeremy Ebobisse was named a finalist for the MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year Award along with LAFC’s Mark-Anthony Kaye and Toronto’s Justin Morrow. The Timbers Army’s Supporters’ Player of the Year was a big part of MLS’ Black Players for Change group forming, as well as forming the Educate, Elevate, Engage initiative on a more local level.

Hunter Sulte signed as Homegrown Player

The Timbers signed 18-year-old Alaska native Hunter Sulte to a Homegrown contract on November 11th. Sulte (pronounced “SULT”) has been with the club since joining the Timbers Academy in 2016 and made 31 saves in 8 appearances for T2 in the USL Championship.

Listed at 6’7” and 195 lbs, Sulte is now the physically-largest player on Portland’s roster. He is currently presumed to be the fourth-string ‘keeper behind Steve Clark, Jeff Attinella, and Aljaz Ivacic.

Thorns: Tobin Heath is gone for good

NWSL’s newest expansion team, Racing Louisville FC, selected the playing rights for Tobin Heath in the Expansion Draft last Thursday, November 12th. Heath, who is currently 32, is currently playing for Manchester United in England and has been one of the key parts of the Thorns organization since the inaugural 2013 season.

Dos Diegos land on best-selling kits list

Diego Valeri and Diego Chará were both included in MLS’ 25 best-selling jerseys of 2020 list. Valeri clocked in at #11 while Chará was not far behind at #13. Carlos Vela, Chicharito, and Josef Martinez were the top three finishers.

Vote!

The American Presidential election is over, but you can still exercise your right to vote on MLS Goal and Save of the Year honors. Andy Polo’s volley against LA Galaxy and Steve Clark’s double-save on Chicharito in the MLS is Back Tournament are up for the respective titles.

Follow @doublepostpod on Twitter for live coverage and postgame quotes.

And, as always, Go Timbers!

[cover image by Jared Martinez, Matt Stith & Devin L’Amoreaux via MLS]

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland Timbers

Timbers grab late equalizer in LA, draw 1-1

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

The Portland Timbers scored a late equalizer to draw LAFC in Los Angeles today after conceding a goal to former MVP Carlos Vela in the 5th minute. Portland finished third in the West and will face FC Dallas in the first round of the MLS Playoffs in two weeks.

Lineups

Good to see Chris Duvall back in the XI

Match Recap

LAFC were off to s hot start in this one, using their trademark high press to force a giveaway from Williamson in the 5th minute. Latif Blessing took the ball into the box, and his saved shot fell right to Carlos Vela, who snatched the tap-in goal.

Portland’s fullbacks were having real problems with LAFC’s high press, but they weren’t the only ones.

Župarić had a dangerous slip that humbly offered the Golden Boot leader—Diego Rossi—a space to shoot, but his shot banged off the near post.

In the 31’, Valeri was booked for clipping Rossi after his own corner kick—this seemed like a pretty good metaphor for the half overall.

Portland failed to clear a ball at the top of the box, leaving Vela an open shot that bounced off the top of Clark’s frame.

LAFC really poured on the pressure, culminating in another open shot for Rossi from the right side of Portland’s box. Clark saved the lackluster effort, but Portland should be very worried.

The second half began much like the first, although at a noticeably slower pace. Rossi hit the woodwork for the second time in the match.

Maybe that served as a wake-up call for the Timbers, who started controlling the ball more and were careful with their passing. LAFC were forced into being a little more physical, but the composure in the final third was nowhere to be found.

Portland took control of possession and finally got their first shot on target in the 80th minute, a well-constructed ball to Valeri that was smashed into Vermeer’s hands.

Vermeer was thrust into action once again just a minute later. Asprilla somehow sneakily dispossessed Vela from behind and played a one-two up the left side, but Vermeer got to the ball first and paid the price—an unintentional stud to the eye from Dairon, which was cautioned aptly.

More heroics from Vermeer as he covered his back post from a Yimmi Chará shot. Clark had a save of his own to make on the other end, and then…

Portland broke forward, Mora with his back to goal played Valeri out wide, whose perfect cross to the WIDE open back post was headed by Villafaña into the net! 1-1!!

Portland held on for the point behind another save from Clark and not too much gamesmanship. All things considered, a solid second-half performance.

Colorado scored a late (93’) winner to jump up to fifth in the West, making Portland’s first-round opponent FC Dallas instead of LAFC. The Timbers finished third in the West, while LAFC ended in seventh.

[cover image via @TimbersFC]

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Portland Timbers

Expectations, predictions for Timbers vs Rapids

by Kevin Nesgoda
written by Kevin Nesgoda

The Portland Timbers will look to deny the Colorado Rapids a playoff spot tonight at 7pm in Providence Park. The match will be shown on ESPN+ nationally and Fox 12 Plus (KPDX) locally.


Image by Carol Munro via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Image by Carol Munro via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

The Rapids were hit by multiple waves of COVID-19 throughout their organization in the past month-plus, and this has forced them to postpone or cancel a whole host of matches.

In turn, this forced Major League Soccer to move to a points-per-game format for standings and playoff purposes. Colorado are clinging to 7th place at 1.38 PPG, just ahead of San Jose (1.29), Vancouver (1.09) and LA Galaxy (1.05). These four teams are fighting for the last two playoff spots.

The Rapids need just a win or draw to lock in their playoff spot, and a surprising 3-1 win over Seattle on Sunday was a huge step towards that goal.

This very well could be a preview of Portland’s first-round opponent, as the Timbers are currently 0.1 PPG ahead of second-place Sporting Kansas City. The MLS playoff format matches teams up by seeds 1-8. There will be no first-round byes.

The Timbers still have an outside shot at winning their first-ever MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the best regular-season team. They currently trail Philadelphia and Toronto (2.0 PPG each) and tied with Orlando and Columbus (1.81 each).

Portland’s new Designated Player, Jarosław Niezgoda, suffered a torn ACL in the late stages of the Timbers’ 1-0 win against Vancouver last Sunday. Many expected head coach Giovanni Savarese to rest players after clinching a playoff spot, but he elected to go for the points and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

I expect the Timbers to do the same down the stretch now. Gio clearly wants the team to be on a hot streak entering the playoffs.

Injury Report

Timbers

  • OUT: Sebastian Blanco (M) – right ACL injury

  • OUT: Julio Cascante (D) – left ankle injury

  • OUT: Jaroslaw Niezgoda (F) – left ACL tear

  • QUESTIONABLE: Blake Bodily (M) – right thigh injury

  • QUESTIONABLE: Jeremy Ebobisse (F) – concussion

  • QUESTIONABLE: Dairon Asprilla (M) – left knee injury

Rapids

  • OUT: Kortne Ford (D) – knee injury

  • OUT: Collen Warner (M) – undisclosed injury

Odds and Predictions

Colorado will come out aggressive, and I’m excited to see how the Timbers will respond. If the Timbers get the first goal, the Rapids will be fiending for an equalizer. Hopefully this will become a chance for Portland to create some counter-attacking opportunities with Colorado chasing a result.

Portland’s odds have slowly dropped (now at +115 via MLSsoccer.com), but Colorado is still lagging as +225 underdogs. Colorado has only beaten the Timbers once in Providence Park in MLS, although they did earn two draws in their last two matches against Portland (2-2 in July of last season and a 3-3 thriller in the snow as 2019’s season opener).

Colorado may be more motivated tonight, but the Timbers are simply the better team. I’m predicting a 3-1 win for Portland, with at least one own goal and at least two successful counter-attacks across the board.

I would also love to see Jeremy Ebobisse as the lone central forward at some point tonight. He’s mainly been used as a winger this season with both Felipe Mora and Niezgoda producing goals at center forward, so I want to evaluate how he performs up top.

Follow @doublepostpod on Twitter for live coverage and postgame quotes.

And, as always, Go Timbers!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts