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.
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property
of © USA TODAY 2016
Photos
Credit and Property of © Copyright Major League Soccer. com 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment