Portland Timbers 3, Minnesota United 2
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
With all the comforts of home, the Portland Timbers playing in front of their public finally delivered that elusive first win of the campaign. As a sold out Providence Park, the Mighty PTFC delivered a one of a kind win but with a near scare in the end.
After a lengthy start of the campaign on the road playing five matches, finally the time came for the mighty PTFC homecoming and shine on in front of their one of a kind public, considered the tops in all of Major League Soccer.
As the road woes continue in this campaign by just earning two points out of fifteen in play, the three points delivered today not made a difference in the overall table as the Portland bunch tied with five points with Houston and San Jose.
Still the road to the promise land of the postseason is excessively early to call it out and time by now is on the Rose City squad looking forward to afternoons that are more memorable as they had this past Saturday night.
For the Portland, side after an early Minnesota intends to dominate all of a sudden the initiative was suddenly taken by the Timbers initial eleven taking charge of the whole first half being in total control for the home side.
Many times the Portland offense started making arrivals and making it a bit tense for the Loons defense and goalkeeper but the problem that there was no final change from the home side after seeing a series of near shoots shaving the visitor’s posts.
The game going on, all of a sudden on the nineteen-minute a pass from Larry Mabialas to Alva’s Powell coming out of his defensive position and from midfield staging a charge towards the Minnesota side and with such mastery doing a solo counter.
In this play the former forward converted defender, he started remembering his days as a striker and voila making a mockery of Minnesota defenders totaling two, Powell shoot hit gold and the Portland Boys were on the scoreboard in the 23 minute.
Not even three minutes passed by when a play started in the left side by a pass from Zarek Valentin to a well placed in the middle Cristhian Paredes that passing to a persistent Alvas Powell on the right side sending the ball on the center to a leaping Diego Valeri. The Argentinian just deflected the ball for the Timbers second score in the 26 minute.
In the case of the Loons give them an A for trying and putting an all-around fight after the Timbers second goal a counter attack started by the Loons pressure paid off with a Miguel Ibarra goal but annulated after a careful review on VAR.
So far, in the campaign, the Portland Timbers have the upper hand in the first halves of their matches but in this case, like in the Orlando game they had the lead going into halftime.
With the actions starting in the second half once again, it looked like Portland had the upper hand and total control of this half until some close encounters started by the United Boys with another Ibarra shoot saved by Jake Gleeson.
However until the 64 minute when the Minnesota side came alive with a nice solo play by their DP Darwin Quintero making his debut and taking with him the likes Diego Chara’s after a spun on his compatriot and taking Zarek Valentin for the Loons and Colombian first goal.
In the minute 74 came the Portland response with Sebastian Blanco staring his play in the left of the field passing a well-placed Diego Valeri who headed the ball to Cristhian Paredes who shoot directly and Adi push the ball for the Timbers third goal. After another play, the Timbers almost netted their fourth goal via Adi but call back on VAR by the game official.
In the 81, the Timbers defender Bill Tuiloma score on his own goal, showing off the pressure started by the Minnesotans that the local Portland squad held its ground and at the end persevere for their first win of the campaign.
Still a win is a win but exposing many things to correct for Portland in the pressure their foes put on and as well learning to close games, but at the end what a relief, it is earning your first win of the campaign, there is no place like home.
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of Craig Mitchelldyer 2018
Photos Credit and Property of © 2018 Major League Soccer
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