| 28 March 2011
In the Timbers’ second game of their inaugural MLS season, the team was able to show some improvement over their deer-in-the-headlights opening act against Colorado, but in the end, the result remained the same: another loss.
Matching up against Toronto FC, Portland played competitive soccer, down one goal, for most of seventy minutes before the Reds’ Javier Martina was eventually able to put the game out of reach with a brilliant goal for his second score of the day.
There were no further goals and the game concluded with a final score of Toronto: 2, Portland: 0.
The two goals that Portland allowed were more mental lapses and defensive breakdowns than a representation of the game summary as a whole. In fact, Portland outshot Toronto 16-11 on the day, but the team failed to make the most of their countless opportunities.
Coach John Spencer even went as far as to give the following statement afterwards:
“I don’t think the best team won the game, but at the end of the day they scored two goals and that’s what matters.”
The Timbers made two midgame adjustments on Saturday that both paid off with positive results. The first was removing 2nd string goalie Adin Brown for 3rd string goalie Jake Gleeson midway through the match after Brown was forced to leave due to suffering an apparent hamstring injury.
During Gleeson's time on the pitch, the 20-year-old New Zealander looked confident and prepared as he played his way into making three saves. He did eventually allow a goal, but it was an overall successful outing and he makes an intriguing play in the immediate future if Brown is to miss any additional time.
Coach Spencer gave the following praise following the game: “I think [Gleeson] did fantastic. He didn’t do anything that I didn’t expect him to do. I think he’s a fantastic young goalkeeper that could possibly go on to play at the highest of levels. That’s how well we rate him and how high we think he should go in his future.”
The second adjustment Spencer made was ultimately switching Ryan Pore from the right side of the field to the left side and, alternatively, moving Jeremy Hall from the left side to the right side. From this moment on, the offense began to gel more as a unit and both players began to elevate their respective games. The eventual subbing of Sal Zizzo in the 66' minute mark also was a late welcome addition that sparked new life into the team.
On defense, the play was improved overall, but crucial mistakes crippled any potential hopes of a win. In the case of the first goal by Toronto, Steve Purdy did a commendable job of blanketing Dwayne De Rosario from creating a shot after a ball was played to him deep within the box, but nobody covered the trailing player and a simple pass back to Javier Martina was all that it took for an easy score and a 1-0 lead.
Toronto’s second goal happened so fast and was executed so well that this one was less of a defensive breakdown and more of a spectacular offensive play, but it was still one that Portland never should have allowed. In the 70th minute, Toronto goalie Stefen Frei sent a ball upfield and placed it in such a perfect position for Martina that he only needed to let the ball bounce once in front of him before burying it off of the left goal post and into the back of the net in stride.
What the Timbers really need right now is a chance to play at home in order to build some confidence back up. They’ll get this opportunity tomorrow in their U.S. Open Cup Play-in Game against Chivas USA, but the match will be held at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field. The long-awaited JELD-WEN Field debut will still have to wait until April 14th.
photo: getty images
video1: soccerfutboltv
video2: notsnhojwerdna
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