A valuable and much
hard fought win was the highlight of the day in Providence Park, when the
Portland Timbers made their long sought debut in the always competed and disputed
CONCACAF Champions League.
The return of international
play at Providence is back and this time the Rose City squad can make it into the
next rounds of this event while juggling with their current league compromises.
As the PTFC seeded in
Group B with CD Dragon from El Salvador and Costa Rica elite club Saprissa, they
were to host their Salvadorian foes in their debut of the 2016-17 edition of
CCL.
Considered as an unknown
foe for the Portland Timbers, this year Salvadorian League champions the Green Monsters
labeled as one of the weakest in the group, but this eleven could turn things
for the worst for its hosts.
With Manager Caleb Porter
making a couple of moves in his eleven by switching Okugo in the midfield for
Jewsbury in defense and putting in the initial eleven newcomer Vitautas
Andreskivicius to reinforce the back. The Timbers were to play a 4-4-2 with two
strikers in Adi and Mc Inerney to cause havoc on the visiting Dragons posts.
Still we saw in the
midfield the likes of Diego Chara and Valeri accompanied by Ned Grabavoy and
Okugo, to orchestrate the attack and reinforce their backfield.
So far, in the early
minutes of the match the Timbers struggle in putting some numbers in the
scoreboard but it was in the 21st when a nice passes from Valeri to
Jack Mc Inerney that with just a simple push of the ball put the home squad
ahead.
Still the first half
ended with the Timbers ahead in the score but with the needed of putting more pressure
on its guests to seal the deal and net the three initial points in their group
of play. A must win situation being at stake for the Portland Timbers, as we
are aware the Don of their attack Diego Valeri who once again came dressed with
the heroes garb.
This came after the
Timbers defense with a clear blink of an eye, Dragon forward Kenroy Howell put
the match even and what seem after the visitors score that this match was going
to end in a simple draw.
Later the twist of
fortunes for the locals came with Diego Valeri took advantage of a shoot from
Lucas Melano, which hit the post and took the rebound to push over the line for
the win in the 90th.
Thanks to his outstanding
and opportune play that sedated the deal for the PTFC and by winning at home
where the majority of MLS squads in this event are somehow strong, the local squad
so far seeded in first place in their group of play for now.
This when their next
CCL compromise against a club that the Timbers Boss Caleb Porter is aware
of its might and capabilities, Costa
Rican side Saprissa, comes with a very impressive CV, with three titles won in
this event and boatload of experience and talent in his eleven.
Something that Caleb
Porter must prepare his squad when they play a visit to always tough and difficult
Ricardo Saprissa Stadium, known to be a trap for National teams of the likes of
Team USA and Mexico’s El Tri. Here they will play against Saprissa’s eleven and
its raucous fan base!
Still this club is an
all-around fighter and determined to juggle in its schedule come September a
very challenging run, as this month can be lethal for the Portland Timbers
aspirations for being above the red line to assure a spot in the postseason. Also
by filling their international compromises in CCL when they play Saprissa on
the 14th and CD Dragon on the 27th at Cuscatlan Stadium.
Difficult and always
cardiac the matches the Timbers offer us lately, but a win is a win and a very
valuable one for the records, now the aim is to maintain a good record and advance into the next rounds in this competition, nothing is impossible
for the PTFC.
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Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
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of © Portland Timbers Football Club and Craig Mitchelldyer 2016
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