Tough night for the Timbers (original) (raw)

By

• Kip Kesgard, community blogger

Within the history of the Portland Timbers, I have watched them win matches with the circumstances against them. During the 2007 and 2009 campaigns, there was many a match the Timbers had no business winning, but a late goal or epic defensive play would occur and the team would pull out the result. However, during the latter part of the 2009 season, the Timbers struggled against Cleveland and Austin at home, two teams that were the cellar dwellers in the USL First Division. The Timbers, like their counterparts in the NBA that play at the Rose Garden, seem to pull out some improbable results at points, but also have an annoying habit of playing down to lesser competition.

Photo by Kip Kesgard, community blogger. This photo pretty much sums up the night at PGE Park, CP Baltimore players being at the right place at the right time, and the Timbers frustrated at all avenues. Here, George Josten can't catch up with a shot against Palace goalkeeper Evan Bush

Crystal Palace Baltimore came into Thursday's match with no wins, 3 losses and a draw. The draw was against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Swangard Stadium on May 8th, a traditionally tough place to pick up results for the road team, though. The Timbers, meanwhile, hadn't played a meaningful match since their big win back on April 29th versus Vancouver, following that with a loss to Puntarenas FC in a friendly on May 1st. The team had almost two weeks to train and prepare, while also bringing in their leading scorer from 2009, Mandjou Keita. The recipe was set for a Timbers blowout: take one team that has struggled mightily early this season and put them on the road against a top team and an extremely rabid, enthusiastic crowd. The spring weather had produced a wonderfully warm afternoon with nary a cloud in the sky, meaning that all things looked promising for a good result.

You could tell in warm-ups the team was keyed up to play. Basking from their league win and the news that the team would be playing Manchester City of the English Premiership in July, it seemed like the Timbers were confident with almost everything going their way. But as what often happens, the pre-game storylines and set-up don’t always follow to form.

photo by Kip Kesgard, community blogger. The Timbers had a lackluster first half, but started to stretch things out a bit in the second, as Alex Nimo and Ryan Pore began to find space.

The visitors got off to a promising start, testing Timbers keeper Steve Cronin early with a couple of quality shots. Initially, Crystal Palace Baltimore didn’t play like a winless team looking for their first regular goal of the season. They hustled, made some crisp and targeted passes, and played extremely physically in knocking the Timbers off the ball quite often. The Timbers, meanwhile, didn’t have the trademark focus and cohesiveness I’d seen in the Vancouver match. Passes would end up in the wrong spot, players would get turned around, and even if the passes led to a shot, the final buildup really didn’t threaten CP Baltimore goal keeper Evan Bush much at all.

GM and Coach Gavin Wilkinson had seen enough early, making two very rare substitutions in the first half, pulling an ineffective Brian Farber and replacing him with Alex Nimo and replacing a distracted James Marcelin with Tony McManus. The change seemed to pay some dividends until the 29th minute when CP Baltimore midfielder Pat Healey collected a well timed pass and put a cross into the Timbers box. CP Baltimore forward Yaikel Perez collected the cross, and was able to put a one time shot past a startled Cronin, and suddenly the visitors have their first regular goal of the season and a 1 to 0 lead over a stunned Timbers and a surprised crowd.

photo by Kip Kesgard, community blogger. Mandjou Keita was back for the Timbers, but couldn't find the net because of a swarming, physical defensive effort. Here, Palace defender Val Teixeria tries to impede Keita's run.

The teams traded runs through the rest of the first half, and Wilkinson tinkered more at halftime, bringing Taka Suzuki from the bench to replace Johan Claesson to give the Timbers more creativity up top. The Timbers had played a rather uninspired, lackadaisical half of soccer, and were rather fortunate to only be down one goal. Granted, CP Baltimore hadn’t generated much offense or goal shots, but they outworked the Timbers to loose balls and continued to frustrate Timbers players with their well position defense.

The second half saw a more inspired Timbers side finally start to test Bush with shots on goal, but as each attempt came flying in, Bush was able to make an incredible save to stop it or get some help from the crossbar and side post, as Keita had two different shots hit iron instead of going into the net. Forward George Josten, who had a shot hit just inside the goal and spin out in the 19th minute, continued to work hard and got some point blank shots, but Bush was up to the task each time. The Timbers kept attacking, but couldn’t solve the CP defense even with an advantage in fouls and corners in the second half.

photo by Kip Kesgard, community blogger. Ryan Pore was held in check all night by Crystal Palace Baltimore as they used multiple players in an attempt to bracket him. Granted, having six goals in the first 3 games of the season will make you a target like that.

In the end, Crystal Palace Baltimore took the victory and earned the three points for the win. They certainly didn't outplay the Timbers in the second half, but simply were able to make a single goal stand up with some well strategized defense, some timely saves from Bush, and a lot of luck in having the ball draw post instead of net. In some cases, the best team doesn't win the match on the pitch, and that was the case tonight. The Timbers were by far the more talented team, but simply couldn't use their talent to overcome their tough luck and stingy defense.

My other observations of the night:

• Ryan Pore, the man of many goals, was simply frustrated tonight by the CP defense, as they often ran two or three guys at Pore to force him to pass the ball. This plan not only kept Pore from having too many dangerous shots on goal, it forced others to try and win it for the Timbers.
• I have yet to see a game where shots hit the posts three times in one game, but sure enough, it happened on this night.
• The crowd of 8,894 was pretty loud and attentive for most of the match. I had expected a larger crowd after the big Man City announcement and the great weather, but remembered that school is still in session for a few weeks.
• My man of the match was Nimo, who simply worked hard all night and seemed to give the midfield some focus and energy. I’d give McManus and Joy good marks for their play as well, as both showed passion and desire that seemed to be lacking at other positions.
• I was impressed by Josten’s work for the most part, as he simply was outrunning most of the defense. He just got bit by some bad luck, including having a point blank shot on goal late in the game that he couldn’t corral and put past Bush for the equalizing goal.
• The rest of the team just seemed far too distracted or distant, and I’m not entirely sure why. Granted, a rough result like this in early May isn’t the worst thing that could happen, but this team hardly ever gets outworked or outefforted by anyone, and tonight, they were simply outclassed in most areas by a team that wasn’t as talented. While they showed some heart in the second half and made it interesting until the end, I wasn’t too pleased that they slept walked through the first half.
• I can imagine that Wilkinson wasn’t happy with the result and let his team know of his displeasure after the match, and there will be some changes for Saturday’s match versus AC St. Louis. Mamadou Danso will be available after serving his one game suspension for a red card received against Vancouver, and I can imagine his presence might help the backline’s toughness. They certainly didn’t seem like the rough and tumble unit I’m used to seeing.

photo by Kip Kesgard, community blogger. I liked Tony McManus and his effort last night, although he wasn't able to help the Timbers pull out a win. Here, Palace defender Val Teixeria defends the wily Timbers midfielder

Saturday, May 15, AC St. Louis comes to town; they are a team the Timbers already have beaten with a 3 to 0 result on April 22nd. I can imagine the Timbers will want to shake off the doldrums from this match and try and take it to the visitors as much as possible to get the win. If the Timbers play on Saturday like they did in the second half, they just might get the desired result.

I have some videos posted of one of the shots that hit the crossbar, a shot from Nimo, and one of the many runs Pore made into the box. You can also read more about the match from recaps by the Oregonian, Dropping Timber, and the Timber Mill.

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