What they say: Timbers talk 4-2 loss to LAFC

It was a disappointing loss for the Portland Timbers on Sunday. The shorthanded club hoped to take down the out-of-form Los Angeles Football Club, but instead gave up three goals in the first half and could never find the elusive equalizing goal that they desperately needed, eventually falling 4-2.

There were positive moments here and there, such as midfielder Eryk Williamson continuing his run of fine form and goalkeeper Steve Clark earning his 500th career save. But it certainly isn’t ideal for the Timbers — who fell to sixth in the Western Conference standings while LAFC jumped to fourth — to concede three points on Sunday. Here’s what head coach Giovanni Savarese and a few select players had to say about their performance.

Head Coach Giovanni Savarese’s general thoughts on the game

“It’s always unfortunate when you give up points, when you lose. It’s never something that we want to take, because in our minds we want to always win every game, whenever we go home or away. Conceding and giving away three points is not positive, especially because we had a very good game for the majority of the match. Fifteen minutes from the water break to the end of the first half, we gave up three goals and we made it difficult on us. Besides those 15 minutes, we had a lot of good play. We created chances. We were very good. Yes, at times, maybe we opened the game a little bit too much because now when we have to chase, losing 3-2, it’s normal that we have to look for the game and we’re going to open ourselves a little bit more. But it’s unfortunate because there were a lot of good moments in this match and 15 minutes, again, we gave up three goals that wasn’t positive, especially for the great 30 minutes that we played at the beginning when we didn’t give any chances to LAFC. We controlled the match and then after the water break, I think we felt too comfortable and we conceded three easy goals that is not positive. Again, when we say the same thing, we need to make sure that we have matches that are complete, like the one that we played in Seattle. Again, conceding three goals in 15 minutes is not positive, but we’ll continue to work, we’ll continue to do the work that we have been doing and try to make sure that we get it right.”

Portland Timbers midfielder Eryk Williamson on making the most of his opportunities this season

“I definitely think I can do better. I was a bit frustrated throughout the game because I want to hold myself to a higher standard. I think we’ve could’ve been so much better, including myself. It was a performance that started out really well and I think it needs to be done for 90 minutes. It’s just frustration for myself and frustration from the guys, giving away a game that we definitely could have been on the front foot with.”

Portland Timbers forward Jeremy Ebobisse on if missing players changes the perception of this performance

“No it doesn’t because we all need to be ready to step up. I wouldn’t say it was on any of the guys who filled in for the regulars there, but it’s on the collective, we didn’t support each other in those 15 minutes. We didn’t make the plays. These 90 minutes are a series of game-making plays and against a team like LAFC, you get punished and so there’s definitely a lot of frustration to go around but we can’t hold your heads down. You got to pick it back up because we have another important game against San Jose and we know that that has to be an opportunity that we take.”

Portland’s next match will take place on Wednesday, September 19, against the San Jose Earthquakes.