Timbers Insider: Win at Vancouver sets bar higher for season; news, notes and links (original) (raw)
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A lot of the Timbers talk this week will be about Major League Soccer and important business that Merritt Paulson and crew will conduct in Houston. (Read about the Timbers' MLS All-Star week agenda.)
But there's still a USSF season to finish...
It's tough to overstate - but that's what we reporters do, so I'll try - the importance of the Timbers' 2-1 win at Vancouver Thursday and it's impact on the remainder of the season.
The win extends the Timbers unbeaten streak to five games in league play and more importantly, gives the Timbers' 2010 season a whiff of the unbeaten run during the 2009 season.
Portland's win was critical for a number of reasons. The Timbers won at Vancouver - the site of many heartbreaks - for the first time since 2004, snapping a 10-game losing streak at Swangard Stadium. They rallied from a one-goal deficit, which has been near-impossible for the Timbers against the Whitecaps in Vancouver in recent games. And win sends a message to the Whitecaps should the two clubs meet in the playoffs.
The rally is even more impressive considering the Timbers scored two second-half goals against arguably the stingiest defense in the league - the Whitecaps had allowed just 10 goals all season, tied for league lead with Portland. The Timbers scored twice, representing just the third time all season the Whitecaps allowed two goals in a game and Portland has accomplished the feat twice this season.
Now, the Timbers must show they can sustain the momentum during the upcoming week.
That won't be easy. The games (at AC St. Louis Wednesday and at Tampa Bay July 31), should be gimmes, but the Timbers have a disturbing history of "playing down" to their opponents. The Timbers finished with a 1-1 draw against St. Louis at home May 15 and slipped by Tampa Bay 1-0 at home June 27.
News, notes and links:
Freddie Ljungberg done in Seattle?...
...Sounders searching for replacement...
...posts "thank-you" to Sounders fans on blog.
...unrealistic expectations for Blaise Nkufo?
Manchester City chasing Landon Donovan...
...should Donovan stay in U.S. or bolt for England?
Sparkling MLS debut for Thierry Henry.
Ronaldinho to L.A. Galaxy rumors heating up...
...writer says Ronaldinho is high-maintenance.
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