With just a lone goal by Portland’s Sebastian Blanco in the 86 minute, was enough to silence a troubled Seattle Sounders squad. In this 100th edition of the Cascadia Derby, the Portland Timbers emerged as winners at home.
In today’s match with a sold out attendance in the colossus of Goose Hollow, Providence Park, both Portland and Seattle did battle it out in a scoreless first half until the fatidic 86 when the locals delivered big.
Very well both initial eleven’s, not only battled it out with each other’s but against Mother Nature after these played with a temperature over 80 degrees in what seemed a scorcher in this time of year in the Pacific Northwest.
As these matches filled with an all-around contest and every minute disputed whenever these two titans face off in every match and today was no exception by the way the score by just a lone goal.
As many states that Seattle came with a depleted squad and several injuries in players of the caliber of Jordan Morris, Roman Torres, Nicolas Lodeiro , Will Bruin and Ozzie Alonso.
A match of historical connotations and with a team with several interim players, still the Rave Greens put on a defensive block on the Portland attack in the course of the match as both squads fought off to open the scoreboard.
With a first, half ending in a stalemate for both squads, the strategy that the visitors manager Brian Schmetzer was putting in display with a 5-4-1 formation with a lone Clint Dempsey in the attack.
Opposite for his Portland counter side manager Giovanni Savarese sent his trademark 4-3-2-1 that uses a strong defensive mark and a more dynamic attack in its dynamic Andean duo in Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco.
Despite the wall put in by Schmetzer and company, the Timbers had their share of opportunities in the firsts half with Valeri, Blanco and Adi in the attack but not successful in the finish, as for Seattle Dempsey and Tolo doing their part.
As this battle of strategies was clearly won by Portland’s Giovanni Savarese, the highlight of the match are the right moves performed by the Timbers manager when he made a double move with Armenteros came for Adi and Flores for Paredes in the 77 minute.
Once again the Swede deliver with his game with a play that became the difference maker in the end, with a pass to Sebastian Blanco who score and last week provoking a foul that lead to a win at San Jose.
Still the highlight of this match became the goal celebration by Blanco when he put on a Chucky mask to the joy of all the present in Providence Park, honoring his moniker back in Argentina.
This win puts the Portland Timbers with a nice record of (4, 3, 2, 14 points) and I fourth place with fourteen points above the red line and with a perfect record at home in danger of being shattered by newcomers the LAFC (6, 2, 2, 20 points) second place.
To conclude in every post-match interviews Portland Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese lauds the way his squad discipline and hard work has been the recipes for their current success in the campaign but work is still to do.
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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