Sunday, April 8, 2018

Portland Timbers in need of finishing


Orlando SC 3, Portland Timbers 2
Orlando City Stadium

So close but as far of netting in what seems to be that elusive first win of the campaign. Within minutes of sealing the deal all of a sudden, we have a revival from the home side with a barrage of three late goals.

For the Portland Timbers playing in an odd start of this campaign with five matches on the road, today once again they were so near of almost caressing that win. As another defensive meltdown and a controversial, call from one of the leagues most underrated officials were enough for the home side to turn the tides in their favor. 

After last week near win in the Windy City and surrendering it in the last minutes of the second half, once again the pressure put by the Orlando squad on the Timbers backfield seemed to work after that first goal in the eightieth minute. 

As Orlando rookie Chris Mueller headed in what became his first MLS goal, suddenly we had a contest and the locals started playing a one of a kind game of football that the Portland backfield could not decipher and stop.

Still the way these matches started with Portland in control and with all the luck after seeing in this week of MLS action another match were the red card shown to a player reversed thanks to VAR.

For the game main official Baldomero Toledo after showing the red card to Timbers Sebastian Blanco for embellishment after he thought the Andean fake the play were Orlando defender stumble inside the area. Leading to a penalty awarded by Toledo and converted by Diego Valeri with his second goal of the campaign in the 20 minute. 

The Rose City squad had control of the game and in both halves; these displayed a one of a kind football and looking for that go ahead goal. by displaying near arrivals one by a clear play that almost netted Andy Polo his first goal in MLS and a second one with Diego Valeri so close of another score but denied by the post. 

As the Portland squad, showed off a lot of initiative in the whole course of the match both offensively and defensively when Jake Gleeson made an astounding save denying Orlando the equalizer. 

Other highlight for the Rose City squad was the return of seeing Diego Valeri game doing what it does the best putting in high alert the opposing defenses and delivering when needed as in the 59 his pass that found a well-placed Bill Poni Tuiloma scoring the second goal.

As the Timbers were cruising to their frist win of the campaign disaster hit in the course of the eightieth minutes when the Purple Lions first goal came via a corner from Yoshimar Yotun to rookie Chris Mueller 80.

Not even two minutes passed by when another dangerous play inside the Portland area and a cross that ended up as a narrow escape; it is when the game official pointed to the area awarding the locals a penalty after a shove inside the area by Alvas Powell.

For Orlando Sacha Klejstan taking Gleeson to go the other way he score the equalizer in just two minutes the Portland defense started to give in to Orlando’s pressuring game that became a total success in the end. 

However this was not over and Orlando continue playing with an all-around spirit and this delvier when Dom Dwyer score the game winner by taking with him the likes of Larry Mabiala and Bill Tuiloma after he got up from a stumble in the area.

By getting up and scoring in a great play that crowned the effort and comeback performed by the SC and delivered them to their second back-to-back wins in this campaign. 

For Portland, this becomes their third loss of the campaign with two draws and just two points, with a homecoming next week the hopes are pinned for a first win to come at the expense of the Minnesota United Loons.


Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved

Photos Credit and Property of USA TODAY 2018

Photos Credit and Property of © 2018 Major League Soccer 

No comments:

Post a Comment