No postseason for the Portland Timbers

Unthinkable of the way things turn out in the world of sports, in how unpleasant it became at the end for the Portland Timbers looking to net their pass into the league postseason.

In today’s match alongside other fronts seeing action in what seemed to be the last week of activity in Major League Soccer and with a set up situation, where four squads looking forward to earn their way into the promise land.

The only problem that just three spots were up for grabs for these four squads, as the heat of trying to deliver their best and have a continuance in their campaign, the only downturn was for that lonely squad, return back home empty handed.

As cruel and unjust it sounds, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat was to play a key role in this Sunday for whomever was to perform the ultimate of miracles, to look ahead and pack its bags and plan for next year.

So far, the Seattle Sounders, Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers were those squads looking forward to see another day.

Something that Manager Caleb Porter and his Portland Timbers, were looking to see their campaign taking an extension and looking forward to defend their hard fought title and do their best to bury that odd campaign experienced.

Not even in the last match of the campaign the Rose City chaps could shake off the road blues that haunted this squad. As these could clinch a spot earlier in the campaign with at least a couple of wins away, off course if Lady Luck would give them at least a wink.

After all the Timbers last match at home during the regular campaign and a win over second place Colorado Rapids, the prospects of advancing into the grand fete became enormous for the Rose City Boys, trying to net another win.

The only problem was as an away match and at the place where they have the most hard of times in the colossus of 777 Pacific Boulevard near the water in BC Place, as the Timbers have a history of experiencing some hardships whenever they play the local Caps.

Still these for the Portland Timbers having a date with destiny and in play their pass into the postseason, a repeat of last campaign postseason match were Caleb Porter and his Boys netted an important win here in BC Place, to advance into the next stages.

For the Whitecaps already eliminated from the postseason and this time in front of their faithful, their aims were to play the always odious and annoying role of spoiler per their Boss Carl Robinson and sure, they did it!

As the visiting Rose City, squad missing a couple of its starters in Diego Chara and Liam Ridgewell, their absences became a heavy burden at the end for Caleb Porter tactical and strategically speaking game scheme.

For the Cheesmaster as always making his moves in the lineup and substituting Diego Chara with Captain Jack Jewsbury and Liam Ridgewell with Jermaine Taylor alongside putting his usual 4-3-2-1 formation in play.

Today’s match became a sort of negative for the Timbers initial eleven seeing everything crumble in front of their own eyes, very well exposing how a lack of a defensive core that played a not so positive role and allowed plenty of liberties to the local strikers.

By allowing many liberties for the Caps strikers as well handing out costly turnovers, that at the end for the PTFC defensive backfield it exposed many weaknesses that are in need of improvement, even though the visiting squad having in its lineup three of its starters.

That was not something that the local Vancouver squad felt intimidated to display their offensive display, as this squad did to perform wondrous matches and at the end costed them a ticket to the league postseason.

All of a sudden, they performed it, against their rivals and on top eliminating them for the postseason as well seizing within their grasps the Cascadia Cup by a simple goal differential.

Still the Portland Timbers had a decent campaign a fighting one but disappointing at the end for its followers looking forward to continue their support of their Boys in the postseason, but this is not the end of the world.

As well, for Caleb Porter seeing the results for him is back to the drawing board and before the campaign starts he had better get the right players to reinforce his initial eleven, as well see his Timbers a bit more competitive not only at home but in the road too!

Disappointing campaign, indeed, you cannot do anything at the end, but the prospects of next year will be a one of a kind and much better approach to make 2017 a hell of a run and generate the excitement this club has provided in the past.

Alongside the mood of the squad should be a positive one in both field and clubhouse, being this an important asset for this club, as the meltdowns and differences between player and manager should be put away and generate a positve ambiance.

Being this one important piece to generate a true contender!

 

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