It was a rainy night in March that greeted the season opener between the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union at the newly named, Providence Park. Both sides were looking to kick off their seasons with a positive result and the Timbers started the game as favorites after their excellent exploits in the 2013 season which saw them win the Western Conference of the MLS and almost go all the way to the MLS Championship in Caleb Porter’s first full season in charge.

Both sides have been busy in the off season and the Portland Timbers have bolstered their ranks in all areas of the pitch with the skillful and experienced forward Gaston Fernandez joining from Argentinian side Estudiantes, and defender Norberto Paparatto who signed from another Argentinian side, Tigre.

The Philadelphia Union’s most notable inclusions in the off season include US international midfielder Maurice Edu, who is on loan from BPL side Stoke City, another midfielder in Vincent Nogueira from French side Sochaux, and defender Austin Berry via a trade from Chicago Fire. All of these players were on show in this season opener.

Caleb Porter started Nagbe, Valeria, and Gaston Fernandez for the first time together in their final preseason draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps and their skillful blend showed very encouraging signs for the Timbers coach. The Timbers went with a 4-2-3-1 with Johnson and Chara sitting centrally behind Fernandez on the left, Valeri in the center, and Nagbe on the right side of the midfield with Urruti the man up top. The Union went with a 4-5-1 formation that broke into a 4-3-3 when on the attack. The ever-raucous Timbers Army ensured there was an electric atmosphere to open the season with.

Match Highlights:

1^st Half

After a fantastic rendition of the national anthem by the crowd, the match got underway and as expected the early running was made by the home side from their first corner the Timbers hit the post after Will Johnson’s glancing header was stumbled towards goal by Pa-Modou Kah in only the 3^rd minute. The Timbers enjoyed a spritely opening 15 minutes with good possession play and Darlington Nagbe was causing the Philadelphia Union some headaches but at the 20 minute mark it was the Union who came closest to opening the scoring when Cristian Maidana’s shot from just inside the penalty brought out an excellent save from Donovan Ricketts down to his left hand side. The Union were getting a foothold in the game and creating chances down both wings, exploiting the Timbers with pacey counter attacks.

On 31 minutes just after the Timbers had an excellent opportunity to break through the Union defense after Will Johnson’s pass failed to find an open Gaston Fernandez, the Union had two of the half’s best opportunities in quick succession. One a whipped in free kick by Sebastien Le Toux that was just begging to be headed into the goal and then Michael Harrington cleared another chance almost off the line less than a minute later. The Philadephia Union’s pace down both sides of the pitch were causing the Timbers real problems and will possibly feel that they had more of the clear cut opportunities in the first half.

While the Timbers passing patterns were exciting to watch and they had 60% of the possession in the first 45, they were unable to penetrate through the Union back line until the last minutes of the half when they pressed forward obtaining free kicks and corner kicks in decent positions and 2 minutes shy of half time, Gaston Fernandez’ excellent pass gave Will Johnson an opportunity to hit one, centrally from 20 yards out. It had MacMath beaten, but also the left hand post. Going into half time, the home side will have been disappointed not to get a shot on target and the Union will have been the happier side going into the dressing rooms.

Score: Portland Timbers 0-0 Philadelphia Union

2^nd Half:

The 2^nd half began with half chances at both ends and Will Johnson almost tucked away a difficult after Michael Harrington almost headed him through on goal. Some last ditch defending by the Union’s central pair stopped what would have been a clear cut chance for the Timbers Captain. Much like the first half, it was the Timbers with more possession and some excellent passing maneuvers, but the Philadelphia Union were always a threat on the break .

In the 57^th minute, some excellent hustling by Will Johnson put him deep into the penalty and an excellent cut back to Diego Valeri had “shoot” written all over it. Valeri completely fluffed his shot and the ball skimmed off the outside off his boot and the Union cleared the ball. It was clear that Caleb Porter had some strong words for his side in the dressing room as their play was more direct as the Timbers went in search of the opening goal.

Goal 64 mins: The Union were always looking dangerous on the break and on 64 minutes they forced a corner and from this set piece taken by the impressive playmaker Cristian Maidana they scored via a header by Jack McInerney who was in the right place at the right time as he nodded home Maurice Edu’s powerful header to spoil the party for the Timbers from a couple of yards out. Portland Timbers 0-1 Philadelphia Union.

The Timbers pressed forward in search of an equalizer and thought they were in on goal from a Michael Harrington cross on 71 minutes but Diego Valeri’s handball inside the penalty area was spotted by the referee just as it looked as though Will Johnson would have a wide open shot from 10 yards out. By now, the Timbers were coming through in waves but cross after cross just were not hitting their targets.

As the Portland Timbers went in search of an equalizer the Philadelphia Union seemed quite happy to soak up the pressure and look to steal an impressive away win and make no mistake, they were impressive as they allowed the home side plenty of possession in non-threatening areas but closed them down quickly and utilized good pace on the break. When the Timbers did get into good positions around the edge of the penalty area, they all too often tried for that one pass too many when a shot on target would have been a better option.

Goal 93 minutes: Just as it looked a lost cause and that it was all over, the Timbers scored in the last minute of injury time, also from a corner. Will Johnson swung out the set piece from the right hand side and there was the new signing Gaston Fernandez strangely completely free to head the ball home from 6 yards out and send the stadium into orbit. Portland Timbers 1-1 Philadelphia Union.

Summary:

A draw was probably a fair result. The Portland Timbers, as one would expect, enjoyed more of the possession and their skill and passing creativity will put them in good standing for the coming season but they will need more cutting edge when in decent attacking positions, especially at home where the packed crowds will be expecting many victories. Valeri and Fernandez were impressive but Darlington Nagbe was probably the man of the match for the home team. Jack Jewsbury and Michael Harrington struggled a little at times with the pace of the breaks from the Union who almost pulled off a smash and grab result. Cristian Maidana was especially impressive for the Philadelphia Union and they soaked up pressure well and kept the Timbers on their toes with their pacey counter attacks that earned them a deserved draw away from home. The home crowd will be happy they their team salvaged a draw right at the death but will know that the Portland Timbers, if they are to emulate of surpass their achievements of last season, will need to provide more cutting edge, especially at Providence Park.

Shots: Portland Timbers (8) 15-10 (6) Philadelphia Union

Shots On Target: Portland Timbers 2-4 Philadelphia Union

Corners: Portland Timbers (3) 7-6 (2) Philadelphia Union

Final Score: Portland Timbers (Gaston Fernandez 93) 1-1 Philadelphia Union (Jack McInerney 64)

Starting Line-ups:

Portland Timbers – GLK Donovan Ricketts, DEF Jack Jewsbury, DEF Norberto Paparatto, DEF Pa-Modou Kah, DEF Michael Harrington, MID Will Johnson, MID Diego Chara, MID Diego Valeri, FWD Darlington Nagbe, FWD Gaston Fernandez, FWD Maximiliano Urruti.

Philadelphia Union – GLK Zac MacMath, DEF Austin Berry, DEF Amobi Okugo, DEF Raymon Gaddis, DEF Fabinho, MID Maurice Edu, MID Vincent Nogueira, MID Brian Carroll, FWD Jack McInerney, FWD Sebastien Le Toux, FWD Cristian Maidana.