Portland Timbers Postscript: Away Wins are Fun

By the Numbers

7

Number of shots on target logged by the Timbers' strikers -- Rodney Wallace, Ryan Johnson, and Darlington Nagbe on Saturday

13

Number of shots on target those three had prior to Saturday

5

Number of Timbers players with at least two goals in 2013 (No Timber has scored just one goal)

28

Diego Valeri's average turnovers per 90 minutes before the Houston Dynamo match (4 matches)

14

Valeri's average turnovers per 90 minutes since the Houston Dynamo match (2 matches)

6-2

Portland Timbers' aggregate scoreline against teams that have featured Benny Feilhaber in the starting lineup

Moment of the Match

I didn't get a chance to put in my two cents about yesterday's man of the match (a long story involving clams and a broken Honda), but if I had, I would have made a case for Ryan Johnson. His assist of Darlington Nagbe's equalizer was my moment of the match.

This goal belonged to Ryan Johnson. After Will Johnson made a steal in the Timbers' half of the pitch, he played the ball awkwardly forward to R Johnson. With Aurelien Collin tugging on his retro kit, Johnson did just enough with a spin move to get the ball back to Rodney Wallace, who had space then to play forward to a wide open Diego Valeri.

Valeri was wide open because, with Collin trying to get involved in pressing the ball forward, center mid Oriol Rosell was covering his position on the back line. Valeri saw this and hesitated just long enough to draw both Rosell and Matt Besler forward to try to cut out his pass. Neither did, and Valeri's pass went straight downfield in front of two Timbers attackers who had only the keeper to beat.

Here's where Ryan Johnson is at his awesomest. He saw Jimmy Nielsen retreating towards his goal to try to keep his options open with two attackers charging at him. But Ryan Johnson's initial touch on the ball was just heavy enough to get Nielsen to second-guess himself -- but not heavy enough that Johnson couldn't beat Nielsen to it.

As Nielsen charged out to try to smother the ball, Johnson squared to Nagbe, who go-go-gadgeted his right foot backward for the score.

Injuries and Bookings

Futty Danso went down in the 71st minute with what appeared to be a knee injury. We've yet to receive any additional news about it, so we're really hoping it's not as serious as it looked like it could be.

Rodney Wallace and Ben Zemanski each picked up yellow cards in the match -- firsts for both of them in 2013. The Timbers are still a long way off from seeing an accumulation suspension.

Around the League

Vancouver Whitecaps 2:2 FC Dallas

Dallas rode two set piece goals into the final 20 minutes but conceded two goals in quick succession to the Caps in Vancouver. Substitute Whitecaps striker and former Austin Aztex man Kekuta Manneh was involved in both and looked quite confident in the attacking third. He may be a name to keep an eye on, especially if Darren Mattocks' scoring drought continues for much longer.

Real Salt Lake 0:2 LA Galaxy

The Galaxy got out to a quick lead in the first 15 minutes, and keeper Brian Rowe made it stick, contributing seven saves and making a serious case for himself in the Cascadian National Team's starting XI. Were such a thing to exist.

Chivas USA 2:2 San Jose Earthquakes

The Quakes got another equalizer from a substitute, this time to steal a point away from Chivas. I was really hoping this late match point stealing thing had run its course in San Jose. Still, I'd much rather they steal one point, as opposed to two.