Going to BC Place was
not easy endeavor for the Portland Timbers, still for Caleb Porter and company
it was business as usual, despite a depleted squad.
Nevertheless, their spirits
and all around valor were not!
With notable absences
to injuries and some still in national team duties, it was up to the Cheesmaster
to make his Boys presence count and deliver a notable if not valuable win in
their so-called house of horrors.
Yes, this puts the
PTFC up the standings in the Cascadia Cup but the attention is more to salvaging
a campaign that after an extraordinary start, everything started getting a bit
murky.
However yesterday’s
win in Vancouver, assure the Timbers a fourth place spot tied with Seattle but the
differential in average gives the Rose City squad the edge.
For now, after the
All Star break the race will be on for all squads above the red line and with
all three Cascadia squads in it, the heat is on and next week another notable, if
not one of a kind wins at Houston hardy BBVA Compass Stadium.
This will deliver a
lot of confidence if the unthinkable happens of back-to-back wins on the road
happen in this stage for the PTFC, seen as an all-around revival.
Still with a
backfield now reinforced with Larry Mabiala’s and Lawrence Olum in the center accompanied
by Roy Miller and Zarek Valentin in lieu of Alvas Powell and Vytas, at the end
this strategy worked wonders for manager Porter.
As this foursome,
played an amazing match and despite the lone goal, the Portland defense did a
superb job including Jake Gleeson who did earned his pay with amazing saves that
deliver a valuable away win.
After all the
Portland initial eleven did had some absences but the return of Diego Chara in the lineup after certain time out, but with
his usual game and leadership that really injected a lot of optimism to the
likes of Ben Zemanski and company.
In addition, the men
of the hour was the Timbers rookie striker Jeremy Ebobisse who deliver in the
clutch and opened his personal account with his first major goal in MLS, opening
the door to other Timbers prospects.
Among them Rennico
Clarke who has seen any minutes, Harold Hanson and Victor Arboleda suspended,
but the future with these chaps looks very promising in a future not so far
away.
Besides Ebobisse
score in the 14 minute in the second half, his opportune back wheel pass served
to Sebastian Blanco to increase his goal count and deliver the winning score in
this match that made everyone again a believer.
Also raises the club
record on the road to 3-6-2 and with the opportunity next week in the Lone Star
state to make it happen, deliver, and start another positive streak for the
Rose City Boys.
At the end the road
Blues for the Portland squad is within dominance as well breaking a win less
curse and all of these with sheer hunger, inspiration and a desire to win, now
this club should focus of developing the T2 academy.
With more young lads
looking forward to an opportunity in the big, circuit of MLS, the Timbers squad
benefited in the end as this weekend these young guns proved their mettle and looking
forward for more minutes.
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of
Portland Timbers Football Club 2017
Photos Credit and Property of © 2017
Major League Soccer
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