Atlanta United proved
to be a far different squad than their expansion equals the Minnesota United,
after putting on a defensive gem and tight coverage in the Timbers initial eleven.
For United Boss Tata
Martino playing on his options of sending a defensive minded initial eleven to
pressure the likes of Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco, David Guzman, Diego Chara
and Faneando Adi of not displaying the game they are comfortable.
That put a strain in
the Timbers offensive chemistry but for just a while, as the Rose City squad
does have other options in its offensive attack.
Still missing in the initial
lineup was Darlington Nagbe a very valuable piece in the Timbers attack as the
whole afternoon the Atlanta backfield whenever Valeri held the ball they were over
him like flies on paper.
With both Bosses displaying 4-2-3-1 formations in
its elevens, this game became a much-disputed one for both squads displaying
their might and intentions of getting ahead in the scoreboard.
The first half ended
up with the visiting United squad netting two yellow cards to Carlos Carmona
that should been an automatic red over a flagrant foul over Sebastian Blanco and
another for Michael Parkhurst.
For the Timbers David
Guzman, Roy Miller and Vytautas Andreskevivious emulated their foes with three yellows
as well the whole squad once again committed 19 fouls over nine of the
visitors.
However, the tale of the
tape shows off a persistent PTFC trying in vain to get ahead in the scoreboard
with 13 shoots over nine of Atlanta but in the overall possession the visitors
held the upper hand at the end with 70%.
Returning to today’s match
the Portland squad once again showed its vulnerability in defense when the
visitors in the initial seconds of the second half scored via a nice cross from
Jeff Larentowicz to a well-placed Julian Gressel and beating Liam Ridgewell for
the first score.
Four minutes later,
it was the Portland response when a direct kick from David Guzman to an opportune
Liam Ridgewell with a simple push he puts the game at one goal apiece.
The insistence of both
Portland and Atlanta, tried their best to get the go-ahead goals, that at the
end of this match each squad had to settle with a point.
Disappointing for Caleb
Porter seeing his squad not deliver three points and were they should be more at
ease by playing in front of their home crowd. On the opposite side for Tata
Martino today's draw was translated into a win in his thoughts.
Coming to a difficult
and tough to play Providence Park and the Timbers this result was a positive
one.
Still this match in
its early stages saw how both squads lacking a sense of organization and not
displaying an organized game and attack was one of the main reasons of not
seeing a score despite the visitor’s narrow escapes in the first half.
At the end, the
Portland bunch have sufficient time to get back their magic and hunger shown in
the first matches of this campaign as well the bench stepping out with a more ambitious
approach.
The efforts shown by
the Portland squad came short and with a little more luck and surprise a couple
of plays that could become the winning goal for the locals and United keeper
Alec Kann stepped up and denying the locals.
A point is a point
and maintains the Rose City squad in fourth place with eighteen point’s one
point behind Dallas FC, Sporting Kansas City and Houston.
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Crest Credit and Property of
Portland Timbers Football Club and Craig Mithcelldyer 2017
Photos Credit and Property of © 2017
Major League Soccer
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