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| That ain't a light, son, it's a train. But also a light/a journey. |
Right. Hitting the ground running…
About the Game
Not many soccer games turn on such a clear and decisive before-and-after – and most games that do get stuffed into the all-devouring “Tale of Two Halves” file – but that’s…mostly not what happened tonight. An almost wanton chance to put Colorado up 2-0 crept to Sam Bassett (more below) around the 75th minute and he couldn’t get it closer inside the goal than the crossbar.; after a couple bobbles around the right, the ball flies out of defense, (in short order) falls to David Da Costa, who plays Antony around the Rapids’ last defender, and the Rapids Calmer (TM; don’t touch that; I’m lawyered up) slips into under Nicholas Hansen for the equalizer. For most of the time before that goal, the Timbers couldn’t find much, never mind each other. Somewhere in the late stages of that curs'd time, Finn Surman picked up a bargain-bin yellow that Chris Penso waved around like so much foreshadowing; nine minutes later, working-man’s DP Djordje Mihailovic gets a step ahead of him leaving Surman no option but to keep one step behind, so as to avoid the foul. When Colorado went up 1-0, they looked convincing enough…
…the question is whether the Timbers pried open the first crack on the play in the first half that led to the penalty call against Andreas Maxso. That, in my mind, was their first truly competent attacking build of the night. Felipe Mora took the ensuing kick like he’d been either drugged or compromised (“when I snap my fingers, you will realize you missed, and too late too”; probably in here? if not, why not?), but the final moments of the first half might have been the beginning, given the final result and how it was arrived at, of what could justly be dubbed a Portland Timbers revival. If I asked to provide proof for that theory, I’d point to the barrage/siege the Timbers poured toward the Rapids’ goal after the equalizer. For anyone requiring more proof (what’s with this fuckin’ guy?), I’d flag the several…semi-effectual shots Portland found in the Rapids’ weak side in the minutes before Kevin Kelsy tapped-in the winner. Full disclosure: wondered how Juan David Mosquera squeezed his assist into the space between Colorado’s last defender and Hansen, but now I see that fear of an own-goal froze Reggie Cannon. The game wasn’t entirely over even then – see whatever you think Diego Chara did to Calvin Harris late, late in the game, which surely has to be in the full highlights (surely?) – but the ref waved it off and the Timbers swept all three points off the board, the end.
It feels like the Timbers pulled this win back from a cliff – e.g., Bassett’s goalmouth miss – so here’s to hoping that the way they bounced back from that near-death experience reminded them that they can play. And for whatever reason…maybe the punishment for losing is listening to a dinner spent listening to Merritt Paulson read 50 Shades of Grey with his mouthful of lamb and hummus or something…
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| "She quivered as...[GLORP] no. No, fuck that, I need a bag!" |
The Rapids’ slow fade out of the game surprised me a little, even as I know that it took the wholly-defensible red card that Penso dropped on Wayne Frederick (II?) to bury the remains of their chances. And even the remains of their chances didn’t have much meat left on ‘em after Mihailovic limped up with a jammy hamstring. To Chris Armas’ credit, and perhaps to the Rapids’ detriment, I think he gambled for the win even after that, i.e., subbing on Rafael Navarro (real pain in the ass, that one) and Harris, and…yeah, it’s possible that gamble burned him. For what it’s worth, and I’d love to hear Rapids’ fans take on this, I felt the game slipping through their fingers regardless – and that goes double if pulling Josh Atencio was part of that gamble (i.e., if Armas’ hand wasn’t forced). Pulling the lens back, I rate the 4-2 in Colorado’s 4-2-3-1 as competent enough to hang with the West, even as I bet they still benefit from having Zac Steffen between the pipes. I also believe they can mix and match their way to a respectable attack - Sam Bassett pulled down at least two top-level traps on long balls tonight and both set up treacherous situations - but that the overall quality drops perilously close to average absent Navarro and Djordje in starting roles – something I say as someone who gazes on Teddy Ku-Dipietro as if in the grips of a boy-band crush. Oh, and they’re better with Cole Bassett back and at his best, or they have been. As much as I don’t see them competing at or around the top, I do expect to see the Rapids hang around the “real” playoff spots…so long as they remain healthy.
Before getting into any of what’s below, I want to reiterate the key takeaway: Portland rallied from a goal down to win at home and looked pretty convincing doing so. This game was must-win as it gets in pre-summer MLS and the Timbers did. Good enough…
…now, to shit on that a bit.
Some Strays re the Timbers
1) Is There a Jersey for This Guy?
I’m starting to think Da Costa’s not a No. 10 in any meaningful sense of the word. He’s definitely not a winger or a No. 6; if anything he looks closest to a wide-ranging No. 8, but maybe that’s just because that’s what Phil/the Timbers need him to do? He’s a bit of a conundrum out there for me, and maybe that’s why people feel okay taking shots at him – and I’m very much one of those people – but if you told me Da Costa would have eight assists in 15 starts, I would accept that that isn’t an actual problem. Carry on, my wayward son…
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| Oh, blast! What rhymes with "fart." |
Despite his absence in the above and…rather recent calls to try some rotations at his position, I’m coming around on Joao Ortiz. Some frustrating moments in the first half when he looked uninterested in so much as faking recovering, his defensive positioning was good tonight. Moreover and better, he played some smart, technically savvy passes when he was forced to this evening and that leaves me wondering about whether this young beau knows how to write poetry. If you know what I mean…
3) Lessa Mora?
Anyone else think it’s time to try Kelsy as the starter and Mora as a sub – not quite regardless of the opposition, but with that as a secondary consideration? I think I am, if mostly to reorient the team around Kelsy’s better attributes.
4) Quick, Final Hits on Defense
I can’t sell myself on starting Kamal Miller, but I really like Jimer Fory. He has that Surman-esque knack for showing up timely, plus more upside to develop on the attacking side. Fory feels like a low-key blessing so far, and I'll take it.
Well…shit. That wasn’t much shorter. At any rate, happy about the win and, better still, happy to have a fun game to watch tonight. More of both, please, thank you and God bless Dolly Parton and Paul Reubens.
What I saw from PTFC last night was largely a team shaking off a Gawdawful cheap-booze hangover from MLS' drunken sailor schedule.
ReplyDeleteWe sweated it out, woke up around 60min and got the legs (brains) back, and returned to themselves. A guy or two (Mora) still need a sauna to complete the process, but that switch definitely was flipped.
And kudos to the defense for another good finish. They never lost control closing out '2 in a row' 1 goal wins - how long ago was the last time PTFC did THAT with confidence?
COL, on the other hand, looked fragile. As the sand ran out under their feet I saw frowns, heads drop - and fingers/bad words at each other from the entire back line. The Rapids very clearly played out the match minus belief - Armas has to do a job of team repair.
Finally, I owe kudos to JDM after dissing him last match... His second half last night, especially on offense, was really good. He pushed upfield, put good balls into the box and generally popped up all around in PTFC's offense.