Portland vs DC United: The Fortress shows cracks

by Ryan Gates on May 29, 2011 8:33 PM PDT

Sorry this one is a little late compared to when the game ended. I had my 3 year old son with me at the game and then went with the Family to honor those who came before us and served our country at the National Cemetery. Anyways on to the recap.

Quick Recap:

Portland plays listless soccer for much of the game and gets punished by a team that could actually finish. Portland goes down 3-2 at home.

More after the jump.

First Half:

I am doing this from memory and without notes so mainly it is going to be observations so bear with me. The Portland Timbers came out like the Portland from the first 3 games. It was as if the whole team reverted back and thought someone else would get to that ball or cover that man and just like in the first 3 games Portland went down in the first 15 minutes from a throw in in the attacking third. It was a nice header back across the goal that was put in by DC United. Watching the replay on the jumbo-tron you could see those who were in the vicinity look around as if to find someone who was supposed to be marking the goal scorer.

From the goal on Portland really wanted to attack and some times their passing actually let them. The rest of the time the ball just seemed to be a ball in a pinball machine and most of time it ended at the feet of a DC United player. The one opportunity that did look promising was called back because it was deemed Kenny Cooper was offside. Portland went into the break down 1-0 for the first time at home.

Second Half:

The second half looked a little more promising and Portland looked to come out strong. However Portland still wanted to come down the flanks and our outside mids were not getting that final ball into a really dangerous area. Finally Portland broke through and drew a penalty in the box as Kenny Cooper was brought down from behind. What came next was probably the most bizarre set of events this season. Cooper stepped up and hit the penalty which was saved by Bill Hamid, however the Assistant Referee called for a re-kick as he determined Hamid came off his line early (The Goalie is allowed to move side to side as much as he wants but cannot come forward until the ball is kicked). Again Cooper stepped up and this time went the other way and again the AR called for a re-kick. At this point Cooper was ready again to step up but Mamadou "Futty" Danso And Jack Jewsbury were both trying persuade him to let them take it. All three of them looked to the sidelines and it finally looked like John Spencer made the decision for them and gave the kick to Captain Jack. Captain Jack then buried it into the back of the net.

Finally the Timbers looked like they were ready to play and might be able to pull out the win but the universe thought otherwise. Chara sliding in to stop a shot was deemed to have handled the ball with his arm as he was sliding and DC was awarded a Penalty. From this point on Portland just became more and more frantic and DC was able to counter and have dangerous opportunities on goal with them getting 1 more. Portland was able to get one back to make it interesting but in all honesty did not play well enough to deserve a tie, let alone a win.

Observations:

Just like Geoff posted Portland got what they deserved as they looked like the came out thinking it was a guaranteed win just by stepping out on the pitch.
The Timbers passing was terrible and seemed to be forced, they need to slow down and just play.
Kalif Alhassan was dangerous running at players but just couldn't get that final pass to create a goal scoring opportunity
If the Timbers are going to attack down the flanks they should have better service from the wings or the forwards need to be in better positions because it isn't working.
Portland's free kicks were not looking as dangerous as they have been in previous games.
Portland needs to score from the run of play and soon.
We all knew it was going to happen at some point but a loss still stings.
At least we are doing better than our Expansion Brother to the Far North.
Despite what people might think Jeld-Wen will never be silenced so don't let those headlines fool you.
One final observation: MLS home teams this week were 0-5-4, so we weren't the only ones to lay an egg at home.

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Comments

I'm not going to do naked analysis with you.

(You meant “bear with me,” not “bare with me.”)

I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.

by thehemogoblin on May 29, 2011 9:42 PM PDT reply actions

:P

That is what an editor is for, lol just kidding.

Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.

by Ryan Gates on May 29, 2011 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions

It starts at the back

As mentioned, defending was terrible today. I was having flashbacks to Week 1. But the aimless long balls from the back – from Wallace and Hall in particular – are getting old. Too many times in the first half they just booted balls up the field, rather than use their midfielders who were open in many cases. The result was predictably a loss of possession and no offensive flow whatsoever. Or Hall would dribble too long and be indecisive, then be dispossessed of the ball.

There was one instance where Chara was wide open in the center circle and Wallace instead just lofted a long ball that again went nowhere. After the play, Chara motioned to Wallace as if to say “Hello?”. Not passing to a wide open Chara is inexcusable at this level. It’s stuff like this that’s got a lot to do with their run-of-play issues.

by yepyou'reright on May 29, 2011 9:47 PM PDT reply actions

Nothing about the Timbers worked today

This game has been coming for a few weeks now, and I’m glad it finally showed up because now the whole “impenetrable at home” thing is gone, they don’t have to worry about defending a streak and can start, y’know, defending the other team.

Does anyone know why the second disallowed goal was disallowed? From 111 it looked like a good goal, I didn’t see a foul or anything.

The referees did not cost Portland this game, but oh my god they just keep getting worse by the week. They did get the first disallowed Portland goal right, so that’s something I guess, but good heavens they were terrible. They blew the first half whistle in the middle of a play – that’s inexcusable. They should have waited for a change in possession.

But yeah, this was a pretty large steaming pile from the Timbers today.

by pdb on May 29, 2011 9:53 PM PDT reply actions

Off sides

Cooper was off sides on both disallowed goals. I wasn’t at the game, but on TV it looked like the right call. We got lucky on a off side non-call last week, it evened up this week. Cooper needs to be a little more patient.

Ref did suck, but so did the Timbers today.

by yepyou'reright on May 29, 2011 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions

FWIW

If the ref is going to order 2 penalty re-takes, he’s also going to be so touchy as to blow the whistle while a team is on the attack. The DC broadcast even showed him getting on Hall within the first 20 seconds over taking too long on a throw-in (and Hall hadn’t even taken more time than one normally takes). Dude was by the book to a silly degree. I guess our two sets of fans can agree on that…and that Seattle sucks.

He did get the offside calls on Cooper correct, though. First one was by about half a yard, and the second one was over double that.

Writer - Black and Red United

by ChestRockwell on Jun 1, 2011 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions

As mentioned

This was a long time coming. The home winning streak has been more of a pleasant surprise than any real dominance. The scores have gone 1-0 the last three times off set pieces, and RSL, Philly, and Columbus all had decent chances to equalize. Even FC Dallas had a fighting chance to come back when they were down 3-1! Bunker down on the set pieces and you’ve cut Portland’s attack off at the balls. Unfortunately, Sigi had a point. This team has been absolutely listless in its attack for a while; Ryan Pore coming in as the first sub for Cooper or Perlaza in the games pretty much throws the towel in because Pore was never a forward last year despite rocking the back of the net in USL play.

I’d love to see a Wallace/Danso/Brunner backline with Zizzo/Jewsbury/Chara/Alhassan/Nagbe in the middle, Perlaza and Cooper up front. Maybe keep Perlaza up front so that Cooper DOESN’T GO OFFSIDES EVERY F’N TIME. I know that formation won’t happen, but we need to get all of those guys on the field as much as possible. Keep scrubs like Pore and whatnot off unless there’s injury.

Why was Nagbe not used at all today? I liked Zizzo’s energy today but afraid that his aggressive style was not meshing well with the rest of the midfield or forwards. I’m really afraid we’re not using the right system in Portland. I like the 3-5-2-1 idea mentioned some time ago, particularly with how lackluster our defense was (and keep in mind, today’s game could have been worse- Charlie Davies was injured)

by vitaminx on May 30, 2011 2:10 AM PDT reply actions

Nagbe was hurt

“mild groin strain”, and Spencer wanted to make sure it didn’t get worse. I would love to see Zizzo play more if only because it might raise the energy level of the rest of the team.

by pdb on May 30, 2011 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

I missed most of the game, since I was at work

I left when it was 1-0, and got home just before Wolff scored. I was quite surprised that I had missed two goals, including the whole PK circus. I was certainly sweating out those last ten minutes. Portland kept pressing, and I didn’t feel at all safe. A very intense and (from my perspective) entertaining game.

by Brendanukkah on May 30, 2011 7:22 AM PDT reply actions

After the first 80 minutes the last 10 weren't really stressful at all

I was actually stunned that Portland scored there at the end, I didn’t think they had it in ’em.

You would have been proud, though, the away supporters section was full of flag-waving DC fans – I don’t know if they traveled or if they are DC expats that live in the NW, but it was kinda cool to see.

by pdb on May 30, 2011 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions

DC travels extremely well

I’ve never seen a televised away game that didn’t have at least one Barra Brava member in attendance, and that includes the Champions League games in Mexico and Central America. The Timbers Army should be justifiably proud of the supporters passion it brings, but other teams have that too. And have had since the inception of MLS.

by Brendanukkah on May 30, 2011 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions

This is the first Timbers home game that has had significant traveling support and it was pretty cool

There were even a couple DC fans in our section. To their credit they were very cool throughout, even when DC took the lead in the first half – they were pretty much model away supporters.

by pdb on May 30, 2011 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Misc. thoughts

Lack of concentration on that first goal. Cap’n Jack absolutely has to stay in front of the guy that flicked it to Kitchen. Just lost track of him for a second and that’s all they needed.
Still waiting for Cooper and Perlaza to combine better. How many passes do you think one completed to the other in the whole game? Two? Three?
Not a great sign when your most dangerous chances come from throw-ins.
Third goal was a nightmare. That’s the second time this year we’ve given up a breakaway off a flicked goal kick. Just brutal.
We need to at least try to play through midfield a little more. They were leaving Chara wide open at times – knowing that Hall or Wallace would just lump it forward and they could hang back and pick up the knockdown.
I think this will turn out to be a reality check that is helpful in the long run. You often learn more from a loss than you do from a win, and this is a young team that has the capacity to improve significantly over the course of the season.

by bndwgn on May 30, 2011 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

That's my hope too

I think the bulletproof home record was making the Timbers a little complacent, and it showed yesterday. It sucks that they had to lose, but maybe this will be the ass-kick they need to make themselves defend better and, as you say, improve through the midfield.

by pdb on May 30, 2011 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions

For bullet point #4, that's what happens when you sell out and put both central defenders in the box on corners.

Not that I’m for or against this, but it’s the other side of that coin.

I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.

by thehemogoblin on May 30, 2011 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

This wasn't exactly getting caught on a counter

That’s what happened against Toronto on their second goal when the keeper gathered the corner and immediately hit a ridiculously perfect 80-yard drop kick to a breaking forward. On this one the Timbers had numbers back and were waiting for the long ball, but still got beat by a flicked goal kick — just like they did on Colorado’s third goal.

by bndwgn on May 30, 2011 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't know anything really about DC United but I now know I really, really dislike Bill Hamid

His display at the final whistle was ridiculous. I don’t care who you are, or what team you play for, or what team you support – you don’t intentionally wind up the opposition’s fans just because you won. Classless.

by pdb on May 30, 2011 10:48 AM PDT reply actions

Better than their previous keeper

Who classlessly stomped on Monteros arm after he scored on them to win the US open Cup. Thankfully he got a red for it but from then on DC was my least favorite team in the east. I do not see much of a problem being a pompous ass after winning in an opposing stadium. Shea did a pompous thing after scoring to tie in Qwest on Wednesday. I hated seeing it but it is to be expected.

Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.

by lysander on May 30, 2011 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions

It's classless

If you want to celebrate with your team, fine, great, go nuts. But don’t intentionally turn to the home supporters, scream FUCK YEAH at them, and squirt your water bottle at them while you’re shouting at them at the top of your lungs. That’s crap, and it shouldn’t be expected or encouraged. And I’m not just saying that because it was after a Portland loss at home, either – there’s no need for that kind of showboating anywhere.

by pdb on May 30, 2011 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Fortress?

I think SL already has the nickname ‘The Fortress’ . Could be wrong, and you can always go with ‘a fortress’ but ’THE fortress in the MLS is rio tinto to me.

Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.

by lysander on May 30, 2011 7:09 PM PDT reply actions