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Giovanni Savarese

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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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Seattle Sounders

Cascadia Clash ends with the Timbers on Top

by Michael Martinez
written by Michael Martinez

It was another beautiful Pacific Northwest night as the Seattle Sounders took on the Portland Timbers again in another Cascadia Cup clash. Last time out, fans saw an absolute beating from the Sounders as they topped their rivals 6-2 at Providence Park. Every match between these two is always a fun battle, so it was interesting to see who would come out on top this time.

Unfortunately for Sounders fans, the Timbers would get their revenge in the end. Thanks to horrible luck, poor finishing, and the post, the score would end 0-2 favor the visiting Timbers. So while the Sounders are still at the top of the table, things are potentially looking problematic for the would-be champions.

Lineups: 

Seattle Sounders: 5-2-2-1

Portland Timbers: 4-3-2-1

Match Report

“We are going to try and push past it. We have to. The team is not going to sit back and dwell on that.”

The setting was beautiful for this Cascadia Cup clash with the Portland Timbers. The prematch festivities were grand; Reign beat the Thorns, tributes for Jimi Hendrix and his family, and record-setting crowds in the stadium. Everything was setting up a potential Sounders win. So, what happened? 

The match started with the usual intensity you would expect with a Cascadia rivalry game. However, it looked like it could have gone either way. The Timbers began with the match’s first chance six minutes in as Dairon Asprilla lets off a wicked shot off the crossbar but ultimately leads to nothing. 

Only minutes later, tragedy struck the Timbers as defender Eryk Williamson suffered an ACL tear after getting his feet caught in the turf. From there, there was not much else that happened the rest of the half. A couple of decent chances for either team, but it was far from a dull fest. 

The second half was a bit of a different story. The Sounders came out ready to fight, but the Timbers came out wanting it. 

Overall, the Sounder’s defense, especially Xavi, was playing well. That was until the Timbers got their first goal after a disastrous back-pass from Yeimar. After that, Cleveland had no good choices to make as Blanco finished off a pass from Mora into an empty net to give Portland the lead in the 58th minute. 

That was when the Sounders turned it on. Seattle took control of the half and had a couple of great chances courtesy of Shane O’Neil and Raul in the 61st and 86th minutes. Unfortunately, O’Neil’s header hit off the post, and Clark stopped Raul’s rocket of a shot. Things were not going their way all night. 

Caught sleeping once again, the defense and Yeimar left Clevland alone with Mora. Cleveland came out to win a ball in the air but misjudged the bounce. As a result, Mora was able to gain control and chip the goalkeeper to double Portland’s lead in the dying minutes of the game. 

Post Match Thoughts

Sounders centerback, Yeimar, clears the ball despite a Timbers push in the first half of this Cascadia Cup clash.

Image via Max Aquino

While the Sounders created decent chances, their overall performance was relatively poor for significant game stretches. Considering their usual standard, this was a poor result. Seattle struggled to connect passes, and players seemed to show an uncharacteristic lack of familiarity. 

This loss feels like quite the letdown after coming off of an exceptional three games away from home. To add to the frustration, Lumen Field was the fullest it’s been since Seattle hosted the 2019 MLS Cup Final, and the stadium played host to an OL Reign 2-1 win over the Portland Thorns earlier in the day with over 27,000 in attendance to make history and set an NWSL record.

The Sounders won the Cascadia Cup series thanks to two wins earlier in the season at Providence Park, but the loss tonight continues a strange trend. You have to go back to May  2017 to find Seattle’s last regular-season win at home against the rags. They’ve had five such successes at Providence Park in that time. It almost certainly doesn’t mean anything, but that won’t make anyone feel better about it. For now, it’s just an oddity.

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Portland Timbers

Scouting Portland’s Newest Signing, Santiago Moreno

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers have a new signing, and his name is Santiago Moreno! This rumor first surfaced a couple of weeks ago and now has enough legs for Tom Bogert to write about it on MLSsoccer.com. That’s officially official in my eyes.

Where does he play?

Moreno has played exclusively with Club América de Cali—not to be confused with Deportivo Cali—in the Colombian Primera A. He has 34 career Primera A regular season appearances (24 starts), seven in the playoffs (all starts), and 11 in international cup competitions (seven starts).

He’s listed as a right winger but has also filled in at the 10 and on the left.

In order to evaluate South American players, it’s always important to understand the competitions in which they play. Primera A is the top league in Colombia, meaning they send their best clubs to the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana (effectively the South American-versions of the Champions League and Europa League, respectively) every year. These competitions are a much bigger deal and have a much higher competitive level than Primera A.

Like Liga MX, each Primera A calendar year is split into Apertura and Clausura seasons, with the aggregated table determining who goes to the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. A team can also qualify for Copa Sudamericana by winning the domestic cup competition, the Copa Colombia.

Separate champions are crowned for each Apertura and Clausura season. América de Cali won the 2019 Clausura and 2020 Apertura titles, both of which Moreno played a minor role in (seven total starts in those two years).

Unfortunately, Moreno’s increased minutes led to a downturn in overall team performance, likely from the departure of fellow winger Matias Pisano. The good news, though, is that Moreno has been one of CD América’s best players since then, grading out as their highest-rated player from the 2021 Apertura season by LiveScore.

How does he play?

Some kind soul made this touch compilation of Moreno’s performance against Club Athletico Paranense (from Brazil) in Copa Sudamericana. This was his most recent appearance for CD América, and it will likely be his last. There’s also a public 10-minute highlight compilation of Moreno for those unable to use Wyscout.

Moreno is the main chance creator for CD América. His biggest strengths are his speed, 1v1 dribbling, and off-ball movement. He also has some nice touch on the ball, as seen in 4:52 of the video below.

Moreno’s ability to turn into space could be a little better, but the biggest attribute that needs work is his decision making. This is a super obvious statement for a young player—especially one from a more chaotic league like Primera A—and he’ll have plenty of opportunity to improve this in MLS.

My first instinct was to compare Moreno to Dairon Asprilla because of their shared tendencies to play one inch out of control on the ball, but there’s another Colombian winger on the roster he reminds me of: Yimmi Chará. I think the best description would be a combination of the two.

There is little advanced statistical insight of Primera A available, but the most promising praise has come straight from the CD América manager, Juan Carlos Osorio:

That’s a good thing to hear if you’re a fan of the club a player is moving to.

Are we getting a good deal?

This is always the toughest question when it comes to young prospects entering MLS. Transfer fees can vary based on how much of a player’s rights you purchase (for future sign-on fee purposes), what the bonuses are, and what mechanism you use to sign them.

Transfermarkt values Moreno at $1.76 million, the highest on CD América’s squad. Rumors have said his fee will be anywhere from $2.5 million to $5 million.

The Athletic reported that Moreno will be on a U-22 Initiative deal. If you don’t know what that means, good on you. You’re not insane. You can read about it in the roster rules, but briefly:

  • U-22 Initiative is NOT the same as a Young Designated Player
  • MLS made it up last year to encourage more investment in young players
  • Portland will save salary cap space while getting a good young player

We can’t quite answer this question without knowing contract details, but the early signs say probably. Obviously it also depends on how well Moreno can perform at the top level of MLS, but this is a great soon-to-be-starting-caliber signing for a squad dealing with a ton of injuries.

 

Catch more thoughts on Moreno and the Portland Timbers on the Double Post Podcast and on Twitter @DoublePostPod. Give us your questions, comments, and concerns about Moreno, the Timbers, or MLS!

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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. 

 

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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Portland Timbers

Timbers hold off Dynamo for first MLS win of 2021

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

It wasn’t always comfortable, but the Portland Timbers held on for a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo in Providence Park on Saturday night.

Cristhian Paredes celebrates with Felipe Mora. Photo via Portland Timbers (used with permission)

Cristhian Paredes redeemed himself from an own goal to score the winner ahead of a reunion with his former club on Wednesday.

Coming off a tough 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in Week 1, the Timbers redeemed themselves with a solid home performance against Houston’s A-team.

Gio Savarese went with a rotated squad for this match with a midweek meeting against Mexican giants Club América awaiting on Wednesday.

Homegrown player Blake Bodily started at center forward in his MLS Regular Season debut and struggled to get touches, though he did make a few good runs. Felipe Mora would replace him in the 59′.

“It was definitely a little different…playing up top is certainly not my first position,” said Bodily. “I think I did an OK job but I think I can improve.”

The night was sadly underscored by the passing of Diego Valeri’s father, Luis. The emotions of the night were felt by more than just El Maestro.

Match Recap

It wouldn’t take long for the Timbers to strike first, as Dairon Asprilla guided a Pablo Bonilla cross into the side-netting from the penalty spot in the sixth minute. Asprilla ran straight to the bench to celebrate with Diego Valeri after the opener.

Houston had a chance of their own in the 16′, but Fafa Picault’s shot from the top of the box went wide.

Houston tied the match in the 28′ when Cristhian Paredes mistakenly flicked a Tyler Pasher cross past Jeff Attinella off a short corner kick. It originally looked like Houston’s Boniek Garcia got the touch, but replay confirmed it hit Paredes.

Pasher was besting Bravo on Houston’s right flank in the first half, beating him twice before recording his second assist in as many MLS starts (see above).

Urruti was greeted with jovial jeers after tactically fouling Marvin Loría and receiving a yellow card. He had 15 goals in 28 MLS starts as a Portland Timber from 2013-15.

Diego Valeri and Dario Župarić swapped in for Yimmi Chará and Larrys Mabiala at halftime. Usual starters for usual starters makes sense for saving minutes; this was probably predetermined.

Things got spicy five minutes into the second half when Bonilla accidentally elbowed (hopefully) Picault in the face. No cards were given, but a foul was called on Bonilla.

A similar incident followed in the 54’—Bonilla caught another player in a similar way. Tempers would continue to flare, as a late Ismail Elfath foul call on Župarić caused a ruckus in midfield.

Tuiloma missed a great offensive set piece chance in the 69′, but the breakthrough would have to wait.

Three minutes later, Tuiloma would assist Paredes’ revenge—lumping the ball up to Felipe Mora, who headed it perfectly into the path of Cristhian Paredes to smash home. 2-1 Timbers with ~20 minutes to go? Let’s go.

In the shadow of the smoke, Williamson replaced Loría as Portland’s fourth sub of the match. Van Rankin replaced Bonilla in the 82′ to round out Gio’s swaps for the night.

Even with the 2-1 lead, Portland still looked vulnerable; giving balls away in their own third, wasting possessions, and nearly allowing Pasher to slide a in for a goal in the 85′.

Portland were not without their chances. Multiple counterattack opportunities went begging, with the 87′ Mora-to-Valeri fastbreak being the most dangerous. Valeri’s shot flew over the bar, and Asprilla’s effort would too a couple minutes later. Right on time another two minutes later (90 + 1′ by now), Van Rankin’s darting run and fantastic one-two with Mora produced yet another skied shot.

Asprilla nearly assisted a Mora goal in the 90 + 2′ but the pass drifted half a step too far. Nevertheless, the final whistle sounded like a crowd (with real fans!) enjoying Portland’s first MLS points of 2021.

Other Notes & Quotes

Asprilla was his usual self, including the goal:

  • Made a brilliant move to get past Adam Lundkvist before committing a caution-worthy foul a minute later in the first half.
  • Engaged in a few noteworthy clashes with Zarek Valentin on the other side of the box.
  • A header at the back post struck right to Marko Maric.
  • Nearly curling a great solo effort into the corner—slipped instead.
  • Bolting down the left side deep into the game and beating Houston’s whole midfield before poking Valentin in the face for a foul.

Portland registered 23 shots with five being on target, while Houston totaled only 10 and three, respectively.

Gio explicitly mentioned the impressiveness of the win with squad rotation, specifically with “having [Paredes’] fresh legs” next to Diego Chará in the midfield.

Last but not least, I found this at the end of the night. Enjoy.

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Portland Timbers

Yimmi Chará nets hat trick in Timbers’ 5-0 destruction of CD Marathón

by Charlie Folkestad
written by Charlie Folkestad

The Portland Timbers knew they were the better side after their first match against CD Marathón, and and that was certainly validated after the second leg. A 5-0 dismantling of the Hondurans in Providence Park included the first career hat trick for Yimmi Chará, as well as goals from Diego Valeri and Marvin Loría.


Photo via Portland Timbers (used with permission)

Photo via Portland Timbers (used with permission)

Portland head man Gio Savarese stuck with the same starting XI that earned a 2-2 draw a week ago in Honduras. Some (including myself) expected to see Sebastián Blanco and/or Jeremy Ebobisse in the XI or at least on the bench, but they are apparently still out.

In the 18th minute, Dairon Asprilla, who was expected to be replaced by one of the above, tipped the ball over a defender and streaked down the left-hand side. His cross deflected to Diego Valeri at the top of the box, who laid the ball off for Yimmi Chará, who smashed it across the goal into the side netting. 1-0 Timbers.

The match started off very physically, with the Timbers conceding deep free kicks to Marathón. Asprilla committed two early fouls and got a stern warning from referee Iván Arcides Barton Cisneros, while Dario Župarić received a yellow card in the ninth minute.

Asprilla would provide another great cross to Mora in the 14th minute, but the Chilean’s shot rocketed off the goalkeeper. His third successful cross found the back of the net again, and again it was Yimmi Chará reaping the benefits.

Yimmi Chará thought he had scored again ten minutes later, but Valeri was called offside in the buildup. Seconds later, Portland were lucky not to concede as a Marathón player elected to take a touch instead of smacking a looping ball into the net.

Marathón had a flurry of chances late in the half, culminating in a goal-line clearance by Župarić. The hard fouls continued from both teams in the first half, prompting conversations between Cisneros and both head coaches.

Portland shot out of the gates in the second half, creating a few good chances in the first few minutes. Marathón clearly emphasized minimizing the central open space in front of their box at halftime—and they were doing a good job of it—but the other areas were still open, and Portland started poking holes.

Half an hour from full time, Asprilla had a sitter cleared off the line. It seemed as though his luck had run out.

In the 65th minute, Yimmi Chará could have completed his hat trick but couldn’t direct the cross on frame. Two minutes later, Valeri converted a Van Rankin cutback into a beautiful goal, and the Timbers had a nice 5-2 aggregate lead.

Portland’s first substitution came in the 68th minute, as Marvin Loría replaced Felipe Mora. Marathón used their fifth sub moments later. Loría was the victim of an incredible kick-save by Torrez in the 73th minute. Torrez would prevent a Yimmi hat trick minutes later.

In the 78th minute, Yimmi got his hatty. A saved shot from Valeri fell into the path of the younger Chará, who slotted it home for the first hat trick by a Timbers player since Frédéric Piquionne in the 2013 U.S. Open Cup.

With five minutes to go, Timbers substitute Blake Bodily scarred viewers with a scathing challenge that was lucky to earn just a yellow.

Loría added the icing on the cake in the 88th minute, snagging a Cristhian Paredes ball over the top and sliding it past Torrez.

Find our match reaction podcast at @doublepostpod later this evening.

As always, RCTID!

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