Timbers V Aztex - Dike continues scoring streak, but Timbers play to draw (original) (raw)
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View full sizeKip Kesgard, community blogger. James Marcelin had his best match of the 2010 season on August 26 versus Austin. He was all over the pitch stealing passes and feeding the ball to his teammates, and it was nice to see him display much of the talent he possesses.
As I read through recaps of the August 26 match between the Austin Aztex and the Portland Timbers and filtered through my observations, I was struck by the various themes mentioned in the headlines from the affair. The Austin Aztex website used the tagline "Aztex steal a draw in Portland", while the Timber Mill describes the preponderance of cautions, "Reds and yellows all around, Timbers and Aztex play to 1 all draw". What was very evident to me was simply that both teams saw the match as a key meeting, and both teams didn't want to lose. The result was a game that was physical, chippy, testy, emotional and in the end, frustrating for Portland.
Portland came into the match on a winning streak after consecutive 1 to 0 wins in St. Louis and Minnesota the past two Saturdays, and viewed their final three game regular season home stand as vital to build on their playoff momentum. Austin leads the USSF Division 2 in goals scored, and are chasing Rochester for the top spot in the USL Conference; however, they have clinched a playoff spot because of their performance. In making their final regular season trip to the Pacific Northwest, the Aztex put great importance in gaining points from both matches to help their cause.
View full sizeKip Kesgard, community blogger. Midfielder Ryan Pore prepares to pull the trigger on a shot in the first half of the Timbers - Aztex match, while forward Ibad Muhamadu attempts to stay out of the way.
It was apparent the game meant something to both sides right after the first whistle blew, as the physical play started immediately. The game’s stakes grew in the 4th minute, as Timbers forward Bright Dike turned a quick drop pass in the midfield into a one-on-one situation against Aztex goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. Dike shook past the backline and blasted a shot past Gallardo to put the Timbers up 1 to 0, sending the nearly 15,000 fans in attendance into a frenzy.
The Timbers didn’t let up, either, as they continued to pressure the Aztex defense, but they struggled to connect meaningful passes to threaten Gallardo. Austin, meanwhile, was being frustrated by the Timbers backline in their attempts to move forward. They did catch the Timbers on a quick counter in the 26th minute, as Aztex forward Eddie Johnson collected an entry pass in the box from midfield. He fed midfielder Sullivan Silva with the assist, and Silva slotted the ball past numerous players and a screened Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin into the net to level the score.
View full sizeKip Kesgard, community blogger. Former player and assistant coach Jimmy Conway was honored on August 26 by the team. Select Timbers alumni and former Oregon select players that were coached by Conway played in a testimonal match before the Timbers - Aztex match, while Conway was honored at halftime by the club. Conway is a legend amongst the soccer community here, and we are fortunate for everything he's done to honor the game locally.
The intensity continued throughout the first half, and center official Maurizio Laudani was content to let the teams play. The second half was a different situation, however, as the contact grew more violent as aggressiveness intensified, and Laudani attempted to regain some control. In the 56th minute, Aztex defender Kieron Bernard was ejected for his second caution, giving the Timbers a one man advantage which should have helped the cause. Instead, the Timbers swarmed the goal but couldn’t beat Gallardo while the Aztex bunkered down and used every trick in the book to milk the clock.
The game took an even uglier turn in stoppage time, when team captain Ian Joy took offense to Gallardo’s stalling and bumped him with his elbow. Tempers flared and in the melee, midfielder Rodrigo Lopez was ejected for unsporting behavior. It appeared that one or more Aztex players were also shown red, but Lopez was the only player who left the pitch. Even Aztex coach Adrian Heath got into the act, being ejected in the 67th minute for dissent. He then had to be escorted to the locker room after he attempted to view the match from the PGE Park west stands.
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The final whistle blew and I felt the Timbers lost an outstanding chance to earn three points. They had outplayed the Aztex for most of the match, but could only put one goal past Gallardo despite controlling possession and tempo. They also lost composure, and while I can understand being frustrated with Austin's tactics, there is no excuse for losing your head and being drawn into a confrontation. Players that retaliate are often the unfortunate souls caught by the officials, and the lack of composure will cost us one bench player for at least one game.
View full sizeKip Kesgard, community blogger. The Timbers defensive line played very well against the Aztex, holding them to just one goal and six shots on goal for the night. Mamadou Danso played outstanding for the entire match, but he got help from Steve Purdy, Ross Smith and Ian Joy.
Two players that I felt kept their heads and played extremely well were midfielder James Marcelin and defender Mamadou Danso. Marcelin easily played his best game all season, stealing the ball at will in the midfield and linking together good passes to his teammates all match. Futty, meanwhile, played extremely well and made the save of the match in the 62nd minute. Cronin misjudged a ball heading towards goal and left his line to defend. Instead, Johnson was the first guy to the ball and he put a spinning shot on goal. Danso calmly blocked the ball, and without his headiness, the Aztex probably take the lead and potentially all three points.
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