Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City
April 21, 2012
MLS Game 7:30pm Kick Off
Weather: Sunny, 64F
Match Report:
After a run of 4 consecutive defeats, the Portland Timbers were looking to stop the rot and get some kind of result at home against the early MLS pace-setters, Sporting Kansas City who had won all 7 of their matches including a 3-1 victory at home to Vancouver on Wednesday night. From the heady heights of that opening day victory over the Philadelphia Union at JELD-WEN field, the Timbers had slumped into a run of form that they could well do without, especially when they were heavily tipped at the start of the season to improve on their inaugural season. Late lapses in concentration have cost them dear in games against Real Salt Lake an away at the LA Galaxy but they were hoping to get their season back on track with the hope of a home win against the league leaders.
The Timbers team sheet before the game left many very surprised as it seemed that Head Coach John Spencer had dropped the talented Eric Alexander to the bench and was seemingly going with Darlington Nagbe and Diego Chara on the wings. Just as surprising was the move to put Lovell Palmer in a position that we rarely see him in at Central Midfield. The Coach was certainly looking to shuffle the pack and was obviously unhappy with the recent run of form. Would it pay off and be a masterstroke of genius from the wee Scot? Or prove to be a disaster and send the loyal Timbers army home with a 5th straight defeat?
1st Half:
The Portland Timbers began the match in spritely fashion and had the better of the early exchanges albeit without really creating any clear-cut opportunities but after 9 minutes, it was the Timbers' Troy Perkins who was the first goalkeeper to be called into any sort of real action as he saved from Kei Kamara from close range. After seeing out the first 15 minutes of mild Portland pressure quite comfortably, Sporting KC began to get a foothold in the game and got their 'on the deck' passing going to decent effect, forcing corners and free kicks in areas where Portland didn't want to concede them. Eric Brunner in particular and Keeper Perkins ensured though that Sportings' set-pieces came to nothing.
The game was lacking any real flow, with numerous fouls being committed and stoppages for throw-ins as possession swung from one side to the other. The Timbers were scurrying around with decent endeavor but the physicality of the Sporting side was often coming out on top with 50/50 balls and they looked like a side quite happy to try to get to half-time at 0-0. On 42 minutes though, Sporting would have their feathers ruffled through a very fortuitous goal when Kris Boyd was put through down the right wing by Diego Chara and whipped in a right footed cross into the general area that Jorge Perlaza and Chara were heading into at the near post. The ball cleared them both but Sporting defenders Chance Myers and Julio Cesar got into a real mix up and the ball careened off Myers head past a helpless Jimmy Nielsen in the Sporting goal. 42 Mins, Goal Timbers! Por (Myers OG) 1-0 SKC.
The Timbers had a couple of minor scares going into to half-time but were able to hold the 1-0 lead as the referee blew the whistle to bring the Timbers Army once again to its feet. Could David knock down Goliath? It was not a pretty half of soccer and that's often how Sporting KC like it, but the spritely and lionhearted Timbers were more than happy to have stood toe to toe in that first half. The question now would be, "can the Timbers finally hold on to or build on a lead without blowing it in the last 15-20 minutes?"
Half-Time: Portland Timbers 1-0 Sporting KC
2nd Half:
Less than two minutes into the 2nd half and the Timbers created their best chance of the night when Diego Chara was released down the right hand side and he played a sublime ball across to where both Jorge Perlaza and Kris Boyd were waiting. Perlaza seemingly left it for Boyd who struck it well but Sporting keeper Jimmy Nielsen was able to palm the ball over the bar. The Timbers were pushing much further forward and playing without fear in the early stages of the 2nd half, taking the game to Sporting who themselves were seemingly waking up to the fact that they were faced with the possibility of losing their first match of the season.
Again, as in the first half, it was very much a cat and mouse affair with the imposing Sporting KC looking dangerous when they got forward and players like C.J. Sapong and Kei Kamara were beginning to ask questions of the Timbers defense. There were a few flash-points during the game often involving Eric Brunner of Portland and Aurelien Collin of Sporting KC and this added a little extra spice to a match that was opening up more and more as the half went on.
As the match reached the final 15 minutes the Timbers Army was all to aware of how recent games had brought late misfortune to their team and there were a few nervy moments, none more so than in the 2nd of 4 minutes of stoppage time when Matt Besler lobbed in one of his trademark long throws which slipped through Troy Perkins hands, fortunately Timbers Centre Back Hanyer Mosquera was on hand to clear the ball off the line. As the whistle blew after almost 5 minutes of injury time, the Timbers Army gave an almighty roar as their team pulled off an immense victory at JELD-WEN field.
Full Time: Portland Timbers 1-0 Sporting KC
Summary:
This was a scrappy game that had few clear cut opportunities but that will matter not to the supporters of the Portland Timbers who showed real fight and stood up to the formerly unbeaten Sporting KC. The decision to play Lovell Palmer alongside Jack Jewsbury in the center of the midfield did indeed prove to be a masterstroke as they helped to stifle the Kansas attack and reduce them to mostly efforts from outside the penalty area. Eric Brunner had an excellent game and gets my Man Of The Match vote, Troy Perkins looked decent between the posts and Boyd was his usual self, holding the ball up well, bringing players like Nagbe and Chara into the attacks who themselves did decent jobs down the flanks. All in all, a fine, battling performance from the Timbers, especially when you consider their recent poor run of form and just whom they were facing tonight. Grade: A-
League Record:
P W D L F A Pts
7 2 1 4 9 11 7
Mark Henty,
World Football Daily Portland Timbers Correspondent.
World Football Daily
