Despite the early
lead and a good performance at Children’s Mercy Park of nearing the unthinkable
of delivering an upset and put a stop to the locals perfect run at home, the
usual happened.
The Portland Boys started
with the right foot via their Talisman Diego Valeri opening up the score in the
26 minute; for sure, the Portland Boys were close to scratch a valuable win on
the road.
With a dominant and
tough to play SKC, that so far has become a squad tough to play at home and for
the Rose City eleven, showing off a perfect 18 on the plus side and unbeatable
on their home turf.
This was a sort of
mission impossible but doable for the visiting Portland squad.
As always, the first
half became once again this squad best ally and offering a one of a kind performance
going into halftime and with the lead and the momentum going for them.
Still the return of
the second half, the locals were not going to surrendered and deny their arch rivals the win and with a little luck, no cigar for the Timbers.
Coming to Kansas City- the visiting squad Boss, Caleb Porter did once again an immaculate job of
improvising on his depleted initial eleven and regardless of the spirited of performances
his group offered in the first half.
They almost pulled an
all-around upset!
By missing two of its
midfield gems in David Guzman to the Costa Rican national team for the upcoming
Gold Cup, Diego Chara, Liam Ridgewell, Amobi Okugo and Jack Barmby not suiting
up due to injuries, the Cheesmaster prove his mettle.
As Darlington Nagbe
was in the lineup at last minute and the frontal three attacks with Blanco,
Valeri and Aspirilla being the support for Adi and in for Chara and Guzman place
we had Nagbe and Zemanski doing the honors.
Not only the visitors
had their troubles on their lineup but also the Sporting Kansas City squad had
its own with three players on national duty with Dom Dwyer, Graham Zusi and
Matt Besler.
Therefore, this match
had the tone of an even one for both squads.
With both, putting on
the line something valuable, as the Kansas Boys had a perfect record to worry and
the Portland squad had their road blues extending to five matches and trying to
put a stop.
However both squads
got what they were coming for, one continue its perfection at home with SKC not
seeing a loss for quite some time and the biggest achievers here in the
Portland squad stopping its negative skid away.
Do not count the SKC
squad out as in the 60th minute a certain slip in the Timbers
defense were enough for the combination of Roger Espinoza and Daniel Salloi
this latter one that deliver the equalizer and his first ever goal.
Give the Portland squad
an A for effort and looking for the opportunities but flunk them in the conversion,
with a play were Adi was fouled by Tim Melia, but later the SKC keeper made up for
his error.
With the opportunity
of scoring the go ahead goal, Timbers Diego Valeri err on his shoot to shoot
directly into Melia’s hands, keeping the score still even at one goal a piece
for both teams.
No later another break
the visitors got when Lawrence Olum tried unsuccessfully with a header that
went wide and no goal, win and three points of gold that would give the PTFC the
drive they are missing.
At the end this draw
meant a lot for the Timbers Boss and be this a sort of buildup in their next
match at home when they play in midweek a resilient and combative Eastern
Conference leader Chicago Fire.
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Portland Timbers Football Club and USA TODAY 2017
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Major League Soccer
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