Portland Timbers out muscle the Crew
by Ryan Gates on May 22, 2011 12:46 AM PDT
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PrintQuick Recap:
Portland Timbers come out flat in the first half but the Columbus Crew fail to capitalize. The Timbers come out strong in the second half and come away with their 3rd consecutive 1-0 home win.
First Half:
Columbus came out with a different formation than they usually use, going from a 4-5-1
to a traditional 4-4-2, as they were trying to combat the size of Portland's back line. This formation change allowed Columbus to keep a vast majority of the possession and which really slowed the game down in the first 15 mins of the game. When Portland did win possession the transition from defense to attack was quick.
More after the Jump:
The first chance came off of a Columbus corner in the 8th minute but luckily Emilio Renteria got in the way of a header by his is striking partner Tommy Heinemann. From that corner on Portland was content to allow Columbus to possess and look for a turnover to start a quick counter. When the counter came Portland got the ball down the wings quickly but were unable to hit the final ball that would create the goal.
Columbus had one chance to capitalize on the slow start by the Timbers in the in the 42nd minute. Jeremy Hall was almost caught napping as Heinemann got behind him and hit a diving header on frame. Troy Perkins then came up huge with a great reactionary save and got a hand on the ball pushing it wide for a corner.
It was as if Portland thought they could win this game just by showing up. Columbus on the other hand came out trying to out muscle Portland to every ball and it almost paid off.
Portland had 0 shots on goal and Columbus had 2 usually at home the Timbers are the ones putting the pressure on.
Second Half:
Whatever John Spencer said at half was exactly what the team needed. Less than a minute into the game and Portland was on the attack and drew a foul. Captain Jack Jewsbury got the ball set it down and slipped Kalif Alhassan into the penalty area who hot a great cross to Eric Brunner. Brunner happily put the ball into the back of the net against his old team.
After the goal Portland looked like the Portland team we are used to seeing at home. All out attack with the ball going to the electric feet of Alhassan and Sal Zizzo. Columbus tried to turn up the pressure on Portland and get the equalizer. When they did Portland really looked dangerous on the counter. At one point Jorge Perlaza was taken down from behind by Julius James but the Ref refused to pull out the Red and settled for the yellow.
Columbus almost got the equalizer in the 86 minute on a quick turn and shot by Robbie Rodgers but the post was Perkins' best friend and directed the ball out for a goal kick. Portland from then on were able to kill the game and get the 1-0 win at home for the third straight game.
Observations:
- Our Center Backs were not as dominant as they usually are in the air tonight but they did what they needed to do to win.
- The unsung heroes of this game were Hall and Rodney Wallace. They shut down two dangerous wingers in Rodgers and Eddie Gaven.
- Alhassan with another assist at home, the next step is to get one on the road
- Captain Jack really knows how to set up the set pieces!
- Great job by Eric Brunner and scoring against his hometown/former team.
- Portland did what good teams do, win when they don't play their best game.
- Still on track for 51 points from home games!
- Tied for second in the West with Seattle and Dallas.
- Sal Zizzo looked great and really dangerous in the second half.
- The Ref really let a lot go and refused to blow the whistle for any foul in the box.
- Thoughts and prayers (if you are into that kind of thing) for Geoffrey C. Arnold the Timbers beat writer. He is having some heart problems.
- By far the most physical and chippy game the Timbers have had all year.
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"Chippy" is exactly how I described the game, too
Psyched about ANOTHER home win, 3 points and a clean sheet!
Keep your Timber limber and you'll be hard to beat!
Forget that the only goal was from an offside position
I was a big supporter of the idea of Portland having an MLS team because of the cities passion…from where I stand in the east though, they look like a one trick pony on set pieces.
P.S. thanks for taking down a weak Eastern conference team for me, and could you guys please stop with the horrible attempt at individuality like many EPL teams by singing obscure songs (e.g. West Ham singing “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”, while you sing “You are my sunshine…”…we all get it, you guys think you’re European, despite living on the unknown coast of the U.S.)
Hey NYRB101276,
We don’t care about you, we don’t care what you like or don’t like.
We don’t want your F***ing opinion on anything. At least you won’t come out here, since you won’t be able to find the West coast. You are an idiot.
by HikinGDub on May 22, 2011 6:51 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Damn you and your individuality
How dare you do anything original and different. All your singing, chanting and noise makes me feel uncomfortable. Everyone knows you should only cheer or participate in a chant when a big scoreboard tells you to (preferably one with lots of pretty graphics to look at) or if there are t-shirt cannons present.
by makenji on May 22, 2011 7:48 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Do you know why we sing that song?
Seriously, that is insulting and disrespectful to talk trash about that song. Google it, you fool.
by The Stoic on May 22, 2011 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Don't worry about that D-bag
He has exactly one SBNation post and that is to crap on the Timbers Army.
Being a new follower, I didn’t know why you sang that song. I knew there was clearly Army history that I didn’t understand, but I didn’t realize the depths of it.
Taxes don't kill jobs.
If scoring on set pieces is a problem...
try and STOP US!
And, btw, we took down Union for you too. Not exactly weak because they were above NYRB on the table when we played them.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
Thanks for stopping by!
Now never stop by again!
This is why we sing You Are My Sunshine. As for set piece goals, you know what? They’re still goals.
Next time, STFU until you know what you’re talking about. I expect a long silence.
by pdb on May 22, 2011 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
A "Red Bull" NY fan talking about authenticity?
Seriously?
Hey Red Bull troll… I like your team, NY, and your nice SSS so I’m going to assume that most RBNY customers are not as dense as you. As mentioned already, maybe you should figure out why the TA sings that song. After all, you seem pretty good at using the Internet foolishly. Perhaps you could learn to use it intelligently and follow the link pdb lists here.
by yepyou'reright on May 22, 2011 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions
For you?
I love how we took down an opponent for YOU, as if you are the NYRB.
I want you to name me one the NYRB supporters have come up with on your own.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
by Ryan Gates on May 22, 2011 10:52 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Actually, we aren’t a one trick pony on set pieces. I think that was evident from RSL or Columbus games, as compared to the Seattle or Philadelphia games. It seems like we have several ways to score on set pieces.
As for making fun of YAMS, I think that has been put to rest by the previous posters. Unknown coast? Do people out your way really not know there is a west coast in the US?
“despite living on the unknown coast of the U.S.”
Are a lot of east coasters unaware of the PNW, and more importantly, Portland?? I sure hope so because I like it just the way it is….. mostly because it’s free of any a$$holes like you
If you live in New York there's nothing west of the Hudson
If you live in Boston there’s nothing west of 128. I lived in Connecticut for a year and I constantly had to explain to people where Seattle (where I moved to CT from) was in relation to Los Angeles. So yep, pretty much no one east of Chicago knows or gives a damn about the NW. Which is just fine with me.
Well, aside from your ignorant, troll comments
You are correct that we were lucky they missed that Brunner was offside. Very, very lucky. Thankfully, incompetent officiating sometimes benefits us.
Scared of Something?
That, my friends, is a NYRB supporter who is so ashamed for commenting on this post, because it gives legitimacy to our influence in the league, that they do it anonymously.
He's just a garden variety troll
he’s probably not even from NY. Probably lives in Newark or East Orange or some other exotic locale.
My Guess
Is he is from Seattle.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
by Ryan Gates on May 22, 2011 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
You suck.
You probably don't properly appreciate Thierry Henry either
"Everything's gonna be awesome." -Ken Oberkfell
"ARSHAVIN IS MAGIC" -Brooks Peck
by Thomas Wachtel on May 22, 2011 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Quit piling on.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on May 22, 2011 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Whine much?
The Timbers Army has been singing “You are my sunshine” for years. Learn some history as to why they sing it before you make silly comments. When the Redbulls come to Portland they are going home losers like everyone else.
Hey, 'ignorant'/casual fan question here...
does a clean sheet offer up more points for standings?
thanks
-Net.
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
Just a personal accomplishment, but one we celebrate
It’s a personal accomplishment for the goal keeper, and in recognition of that, Joey usually cuts a slab for the keeper when they get a clean sheet (which is fair, since a keeper would probably never get a slab for a goal!).
That might have been a little confusing that last night, since Perkins didn’t lift up his own slab afterward. He had a kid in his arms at the time, and someone else (Futty, I think?) hoisted it for him.
by LasloHlyfeld on May 22, 2011 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't know what can be done about it
but the standard of officiating in MLS is absolutely embarrassing. And it’s only getting worse. There were at least six legitimate fouls that the referee saw and let go last night – and that was only against the Timbers.
I love MLS, but the refereeing is ruining it for me.
by pdb on May 22, 2011 9:18 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree
There were a lot of fouls on both sides the referee just ignored.
There was A LOT of diving from Cooper, that’s just got to stop.
Expectation is the root of all heartache. — William Shakespeare
by TheDutchOven on May 22, 2011 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Cooper does go to ground pretty easily but he wasn't even on my bad-referee radar
I was only thinking of things that definitely WERE fouls that went completely ignored, or were noticed but the referee shook them off (one of the benefits of sitting close to the corner is it’s easy to see the referee when he’s down in our end). I don’t know if FIFA just sends MLS the new guys or the guys that couldn’t pass muster in the bigger leagues, but my god these people are appallingly bad at their jobs. And it’s not just one game – it’s every game, every team, all season long. It’s really damaging the league.
It could be worse, they could be NBA or NHL refs
USSF is in charge of refs, not MLS.
by yepyou'reright on May 22, 2011 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Ref last night was inconsistent for sure
but watching other soccer leagues I see some of their refs stink too. Remember the ref who did the U.S. – Slovenia game in last years WC? Bad refs are part of the game. But sometimes refs do a decent job too. Example, ref in last weeks POR-SEA game seemed to just let them play. But yeah, USSF needs to get better here.
by yepyou'reright on May 22, 2011 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
It's that mentality that kills me
Bad refs are part of the game.
I can’t believe any major professional league accepts this, and we as fans shouldn’t either. I get that referees are human, and that there will be some inconsistencies between different referees, but when refs get multiple calls per game blatantly wrong like they did last night, something needs to change.
USSF apparently doesn’t employ full-time referees; that would be a good start.
No team, save for the 1996 LA Gals,
has gone a perfect 5-0 at home in their first season, starting from the first game.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
And that was with shootouts, a part of league history everyone tries to ignore.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on May 22, 2011 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
No team since 2005 has won more than 2 games in a row in their first season at home.
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
Nice stat (for today)...
This may not last long with some of the matches going on today, but at this very moment, the Timbers have the most home wins of any team in MLS. Next closest are Philly Union and FC Dallas who both have 4 wins at the moment. But even the highly regarded teams like LAG, RSL, and NYRB all “only” have 3 home wins. There’s a good chance that today’s results will spoil all this, but it enjoy it for now!
by LasloHlyfeld on May 22, 2011 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
3 points
Job done. Final ball stil not there, lacking that last piece to unlock the defense. Alhassan had two quality chances and couldn’t get them on frame opting for the placed curler to the far post. Still all things creative are coming off his foot. Zizzo spark was exactly what the doctor ordered, credit to Spencer for the change at half as opposed to waiting.
All that said, we were going ground far too easily last night. Cooper is quickly earning a league wide rep for playing small and dodgy. Others were embellishing as well. While the ref let a lot play, he also did a pretty fair job of not buying into the con jobs we tried to sell.
Cheers to the fortress that is the JW!
by Fanstand314 on May 22, 2011 12:01 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Finishing getting there but still not there
Fanstand and others, curious but was I the only one who noticed Perlaza’s runs last night? They seem much more purposeful and I don’t know if it’s some juju with Zizzo or what, maybe it’s continuity. Nagbe doesn’t seem to be helping the team at all, what with injury and being a rookie, so I say give Sal the start. KFC better start using his elbows to brace himself or get some podiatrist to look at his feet, because my God he goes down easier than a prom date. Starting to piss me off and be an embarassment
by RipCityRhapsody83 on May 22, 2011 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Movement was good...
…but I don’t think it really has ever been as big of a problem as the service to these runs has been. I personally would like to see us get him into the open space, either in the channels or in behind the center backs, but we are having a hard time doing that. I think he is most effective utilizing his pace behind the back four (like when he was brought down from behind). What can happen as a forward is that you are constantly making these runs, but if you don’t get the service, then at some point you stop working hard to get into those dangerous positions. The hunger is there, and if we can get a shade more creativity from the center mids, he should get unleashed. I think Jewsbury and Chara play very similar roles, with neither being a true attacking mid that can supply quality balls into the boys up front.
Nagbe is going through the learning curve, and it doesn’t help that he has a nagging knock. I think positionally he gets himself into good space, and there were a few times when he was sprung down the right side, but his service was dodgy. Overall, our service from the flanks was sub par. When you look at the Nagbe Zizzo combo, I think Zizzo is more effective as an impact sub that can come in to change the game in the second half, whether straight swap at half or 15 to 20 minutes in. Then he gets a chance to run at tired legs, the traditional super sub role.
Perlaza was working his A$$ off last night,
He wants more goals so bad. It seems that the team is stuck at a certain offensive level, and can’t get good open play looks, or the few we get are way off target.
Should Sal Zizzo start? He seems to be bringing a spark to the Offense when he comes on. But can he do that for a full 90?
Cooper seems big enough to run over some of these Defenders, his attempts at drawing fouls are starting to get a bit tiresome. Your a big dude KFC, run over a guy and Unleash that Cannon on goal!
As a team, I think the Timbers have “leveled off” at this moment, no big progress in becoming better. Still need to get the Strikers the ball in better situations, and there are still 10-15 minute spots where they play pretty sloppy.
It’s going to be an interesting ride into the All-Star break, Fasten your Safety Belts!!!
Yeah, and it was 45 minutes of crap last night
But the good news is they fought that off, maintained and played scrappy enough to get the winner. I guess you hear it more about veteran teams because first-year franchises aren’t supposed to be this competitive, but a sign of a good team is you play poorly but find your way and win.
I’m wondering if Dike would be a better striking partner with Perlaza? That speed is certainly missed and may be a bane on our season unless we get the linkage right or Umony and Eddie “Can you please get healthy?” Johnson prove a revelation.
Defensively, we need to have Hall continue to fight that urge to move forward. Multiple times last night a girl and me in the TA were conversing about how funny it was to see Khalif running like 120 yards to get the ball and bring it up because Hall would get outta position. To be clear though, not trashing Jeremy, it’s tough to go from midfield where you don’t have to fight the proclivity to go forward as much as you do when you are an outside back. He has performed admirably, and the rest of the transformation is purely mental. Rodney Wallace has been a revelation after a slow start and I think Brunner/Futty/healthy Horst is a solid 3 center back rotation in MLS.
by RipCityRhapsody83 on May 22, 2011 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
KFC is Cooper??
I was way confused when I saw that sign on TV last night, lol.
Go Ballzers
by Sean in Vancouver on May 22, 2011 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Ugh. This was such a frustrating match during the first half.
It appeared to me that Columbus couldn’t get much going at all, and was content to play back, and use physical (illegal) play to try and neutralize their impotent attack. Seriously, how much was that ref willing to let go? I thought the cards he doled out were mostly appropriate, other than that from behind takedown of Perlaza that Ryan wrote about, but the fouls were quite inconsistent. It seemed every time we beat a defender we were getting pulled down, tripped, or sometimes smacked.
I think it was KFC’s shove and subsequent yellow card that sent him a message that he was letting the match get out of control. They were really abusing us, which was kind of fun in a way, other than the frustration. Seemed like a new challenge for the guys and they definitely stepped up.
One of these times Perlaza is gonna get a perfectly timed run and get a breakaway goal. He’s so close just about every match.
I agree with everything you said
And don’t think it’s just cuz I know you in real life, either :)
Blazers win!
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