Timbers Blow Lead, Settle for Draw

After being 2 goals up the Timbers gave their lead away to see a win dissolve into a draw and for any fan watching the game it felt like a loss.

Going into this game Portland was without 4 starters due to international call ups for their countries World Cup qualifying: Rodney Wallace, Ryan Johnson, Fuddy Danso, and Donovan Ricketts.

Early in the first, in fact right after kickoff, the Timbers hit the Chicago goal posts twice. Which made a lot of fans immediately think two things: we are going to annihilate this team or we will not score today. Once again, this time in the 4th minute, a header from Piquionne. Nonetheless, at the end of the first half it seemed like the first thought was going to be true after an amazing finish from Diego Valeri and overall strong team play.

Valeri utilized Chicago’s savior of the first half to take the lead: the post. Valeri received the ball off a flick-header from Piquionne after Milos Kocic, the stand-in Portland keeper, had sent a goal kick down the field. Valeri collected the ball near the top of the 18-yardbox and danced Chicago into submission, placing a shot between two off balance Chicago defenders hitting the left post. The ball took its time to nestle into the side netting on the opposite side of the goal while plenty of Portland and Chicago fans held their breathe until it was a sure goal.

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The Timbers dictated the game in the first half and at certain 10-minute intervals had over 70 percent of the possession. It felt good to watch the team walk off the field at a Chicago stadium that had witnessed a resurgent team after bringing Mike Magee into their team.

The 2nd half started with more of the same as the Timbers passed the ball around, stretched Chicago and waited to strike. The second goal was another brilliant strike, this time from stand-in center defensive midfielder Ben Zemanski. Zemanski, who played at University of Akron for Caleb Porter, was brought into the team from Chivas USA. A player known to get the odd goal from distance calmly put his side footed shot past Sean Johnson from 25 yards out. He did it with such confidence that it looked like a veteran striker who had just the keeper to beat from 8 yards away. Piquionne took the ball down the right side and beat past several Chicago defenders and passed the ball perfectly to Zemanski from the end line.

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Then in the 65th…bye bye Valeri. A move I have never been a fan of that Porter sticks to is subbing Valeri off by the 75th minute. When Valeri hits the bench our offense sits with him, especially in a depleted squad. Nearly right after Valeri’s substitution Mike Magee capitalized on a loose ball after Kocic came out to stop a 1v1 situation with Magee and center back Baptiste accidentally nicked the ball away from Kocic.

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Then in the 80th after the Timbers had been pressed to the wall making countless errors in midfield the Chicago Fire scored off a great free kick from Paladini. Whipping the ball with his right foot over the wall into the upper-left corner of the goal. Chicago’s comeback was complete.

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Chicago continued to stretch the Timbers but the game opened up and the Timbers almost got a late goal out of center back Kah but Sean Johnson was able to save the day.

Both Timbers goals and Chicago’s freekick are nominated for goal of the week. That shows just how quality this game was. Despite Portlands statistical advantage the squad showed that it was missing key players. This draw is nothing to worry about but sure left me and many other Timbers fans gutted after the final whistle. Lets hope we see them bounce back against Dallas and move on.