Monday, September 5, 2016

No miracle at Frisco



No miracle at the Lone Star state, as the visiting Portland Timbers experienced how the local Dallas FC are playing a one of a kind football and why its utmost success in this campaign so far.  As Toyota Park in Frisco, Texas- considered one tough place to play and seen as a purgatory for many teams in Major League Soccer, especially the PTFC. 

Playing a squad seeded atop the Western Conference, was not an easy affair for the Rose City squad and especially on the road.  

Tell that to a Rose City squad looking forward to shake off its road woes in this campaign and a win would been a welcome sight as well keeping the momentum in what they were enjoying in the final stretch of league play.

Everything went the opposite for Caleb Porter and his initial eleven after seeing a top rated Dallas team become a living nightmare for his defensive backfield that never saw it coming from the Texan striker’s attacks making a mockery of the Portland defense.

Even though their Boss repeated their same lineup with Liam Ridgewell, Steven Taylor, Vytas Andrekevicious and Zarek Valentin taking over Alvas Powell spot while he is on international duty with his Reggae Boys. 

After this match, it looks like the Portland defensive problems not solved.

Still we cannot condemn the Portland defense after all that first call when Michael Barrios beat Zarek Valentin in the middle making Jake Gleeson to come out and with a slide, the referee went for the Dallas player theatrics and awarded a PK for the locals. The play look a clean contact an at all it was not a rough contact for the Dallas player very well fake his injury and the play became a doubtful and nonexistent.

Another low key for the Timbers was in its defensive midfield that was not on its best of performances and playing all around inspired, despite Captain Jack Jewsbury and Diego Chara efforts of stopping a Hoops bombshell of an offensive attack.

As the postseason race is becoming narrower, the prospects of the PTFC of making it to the promise land, is unraveling as a bit difficult but not impossible as Porter and his Boys return to Providence next week against Real Salt Lake will be another tough outing.

As the Real lads are one tough customer for the Timbers, these better put on a show both offensively and defensively if they don’t want to draw or lose at home, were this squad so far has accumulated a positive record and a loss can compromise the PTFC run to the playoffs.

As the schedule becomes more difficult in league play so does their upcoming with international compromises in Concachampions League against Costa Rica’s giant Saprissa and Dragon FC both of these matches being play as an away.

At the end the Portland Timbers have to start making a run a positive one in order to preserve and assure their postseason ticket and current position in the table, but not only defensively but in its offensive attack. 

So far being dependent only on Diego Valeri as well the need of seeing more active participation's of Jack Barmby and now with Darren Mattocks back from the DL and playing in a one two with Lucas Melano, the prospects can be a bit higher and more positive.

Not even the Houston and Columbus squads being in their respective conferences cellars already have won a match each in comparison to Portland that is in better position that these and has not won a single match.

Pity that the miracle was not consummated at Frisco and the PTFC still has its struggles in the road opposite of last campaign were they showed a lot of will and defiance and posting a much positive record in these games.

Road wins are important too and the Portland Boys they had better get a couple if they are to aspire to the grand fete and keep at bay from their closest chasers in their Conference.


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