Portland Timbers 2, Toronto FC 0
Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
What a relief of snapping a four game losing streak for these Portland Timbers playing an amazing game last night in Providence Park. As we can state that manager, Gio Savarese had all the right moves that paid off with a valuable win.
Once again, with another novelty in the initial eleven for the Timbers with the long awaited debut of Jorge Villafaña in left back and moving Zarek Valentin to the right with Larry’s Mabiala and Liam Ridgewell as center backs.
We saw an all-around improvement in the Portland defensive backfield, and with Jorge and Liam showing a total confidence in the Timbers backfield, by making all kinds of valuable plays and saves that gave his goalkeeper a tranquil evening under his arches.
Still this was a team effort and the whole Rose City initial elven delivered a one of a kind match last night as the one they did last Sunday, this time preventing the visiting TFC to display their game they are the most comfortable with and not giving them any liberties.
Since the get go of this match the Rose City Boys show poise, determination and taking initiative to control this match, despite not seeing señor goal in the first half after several tries, give the locals attack a cigar for their efforts shown all evening long.
Still I give merit to the battling Toronto squad that defended its arches very overzealously and prevented a series of scores to fall and making some plays that could become a goal despite missing some notable players in the initial eleven.
The absences of Sebastian Giovinco, Jonathan Osorio and Victor Vasquez were very notable but still the way Portland played this game I doubt it these would made any damage to the locals momentum these had and hunger shown in the whole ninety minutes. With the likes of Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, the backfield had its hands full whenever these had the ball and started a play.
As the first half ended even at zero goals, the second promised to be one filled with a lot of excitement and more fight put by both of these squads; however, the Portland Timbers were the ones once again taking control of this match.
By playing, the way these did against the defending champions I do believe Gio is making all the right moves in this squad and the man knows his business and strategies in his starting elevens.
As in the 50 minute this became providential in the Timbers attack with Sebastian Blanco making a couple of near score plays that shown his and the Timbers faithful all around disappointment, still the Andean is no quitter and suddenly he became the game hero.
With a nice midfield play started by Zarek Valentin passing to Blanco inside the are suddenly he sees a running and well placed Diego Chara getting the ball and the man from Colombia put the ball inside the nets to end the Timbers scoring drought.
In the minute 64’, the Portland Timbers took the lead with Chara’s first goal of the campaign and the local’s dominance clearly seen over the Reds who despite had their moments in the game the Portland defensive backfield stood up against them.
Still this affair was far from over when in the tables turned in favor of the Portland Timbers squad when David Guzman intercepted a bobo made by the TFC goalkeeper Clint Irwin to Michael Bradley handing the ball that and the Tico scored.
The moves for sure paid off for Gio in the end, not having Alvas Powell, Julio Cascante, Cristhian Paredes and Dairon Aspirilla in the eighteen to get a rest, still the man strategies are working for the best of this squad.
Still last night the Portland squad finally broke the scoring drought but with a couple of its defensive midfielders and showing off the need to improve, the attack is necessary by Gio despite his whole squad unity and wondrous performance. That catapults them above the red line of the postseason to fifth place above Seattle by a two-point lead.
A clear giveaway that gave the Rose City squad the lead for good with this go ahead goal in the 83’ minute and bury the Toronto chances of a comeback in the end with notable win at home and now going to face off a struggling New England Revolution squad.
Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit and Property of Diego Diaz Photography 2018
Photos Credit and Property of © 2018 Major League Soccer
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