MLS Game 6– Providence Park

04/12/2014: Clear and mild, 16C/61F

Attendance: 21,152

Pre-game records: Portland Timbers (W0-D3-L2) vs. Chivas USA (W1-D2-L2)

Starting Line-ups:

Portland Timbers – GLK Donovan Ricketts, DEF Alvas Powell, DEF Futty Danso, DEF Pa Modou Kah, DEF Michael Harrington, MID Will Johnson, MID Diego Chara, MID Diego Valeri, MID Darlington Nagbe, MID Kalif Alhassan, FWD Maximiliano Urruti. Formation: 4-2-3-1.

Chivas USA – GLK Dan Kennedy, DEF Eric Avila, DEF Eriq Zavaleta, DEF Carlos Bocanegra, DEF Andrew Jean-Baptiste, MID Mauro Rosales, MID Augustin Pelletieri, MID Carlos Alvarez, MID Thomas McNamara, FWD Leandro Barrera, FWD Erick Torres. Formation: 4-4-1-1.

Game 6 of the MLS season:

A beautiful springtime evening greeted the loyal fans here at Providence Park as the Portland Timbers faced Chivas USA in their 4^th home game of the season, the Timbers still looking for their first home victory of the season and they started out heavy favorites in this contest as Chivas USA had not won since their opening game of the season against the Chicago Fire at the StubHub Center.

The Timbers may not have won at home this season, but they also remained unbeaten at Providence Park and after throwing away a 2 goal advantage last week to Seattle who came back to draw 4-4 in a thrilling encounter, the Timbers and their fans will have felt that it was high time to get 3 home points on the board against a Chivas side not fancied by many to make the play-offs this season. Chivas last result was a 3-0 thumping by the LA Galaxy at Chivas which will not have pleased Coach Wilmer Cabrera.

Kalif Alhassan was excellent in the game against Seattle and his pace and wide play brought a new dimension to the Timbers attack so he kept his place over Gaston Fernandez and Futty Danso came in at the heart of the defense for Nolberto Paparatto who has looked a little shaky throughout the early games this season. Alvas Powell also kept his place over the experienced Jack Jewsbury as Coach Caleb Porter opted for youth at right back.

Match Highlights:

1^st Half

The Timbers made a bright start and it was clear from the outset that the plan was to get the ball to Alhassan as often as possible to terrorize former Timber Andrew Jean-Baptiste. Alhassan easily broke past Jean-Baptiste on the right wing and his cross was met by a diving Dan Kennedy whose fist away took the ball off the foot of Diego Valeri.

Goal 8 mins: With Chivas down a man due to what looked like a change of boots for Carlos Bocanegra, the Timbers took advantage of a defensive error and Diego Valeri found Darlington Nagbe who then slipped in Will Johnson. Johnson calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner from just inside the penalty area. Portland Timbers 1-0 Chivas USA.

Not many chances were had in the first 20 minutes and Futty Danso was doing a good job of man marking the dangerous Erick Torres and there was no doubt that the Timbers looked more secure at the back than in recent games as Caleb Porter looked to get things right at the back and stop the goal leakages of recent games.

In the 25^th minute after some decent possession for Chivas USA, Darlington Nagbe slipped in Maximilliano Urruti who faked a pass to Valeri and turned and shot from just outside the penalty area and Dan Kennedy dove down to his right to tip the ball around the far post. A fine effort by Urruti. Ten minutes later and after some good hold up play by Alhassan, the ball broke loose to Diego Valeri who put Will Johnson in again and his powerful shot just grazed that near sided frame of the goal as he looked to do what Diego Chara did last week and bag a brace.

Just before the stroke of half-time, Chivas USA forced a corner after a slight mistake by Will Johnson and from the corner Avila hit one from outside the box that was deflected on its way toward goal but Donovan Ricketts saw it all the way, even with some severe spin on the ball.

It was a pretty scrappy first half with clear cut chances few and far between but the home side will have been happy with their first half performance as Danso and Kah looked solid at the back. Chivas had plenty of possession but rarely looked threatening and their set pieces lacked real penetration and were dealt with quite easily by the Timbers defense. Will Johnson’s excellent early strike was the difference between the two sides as Portland actually scored first in a home game for the first time this season.

Half Time Score: Portland Timbers (Johnson 8) 1-0 Chivas USA

2^nd Half:

The 2^nd half continued in a similar vein to the first as it was rather scrappy and although Chivas had slightly more possession, the Timbers back line dealt with everything that came at them. Portland almost played like the away side in the first 15 minutes as they looked to counter Chivas on the break and get the all-important second goal that would give them the cushion they need. Chivas almost slipped in Erick Torres on 57 minutes but Kah made a crucial defensive tackle to see off the danger.

As the game approached the 70 minute mark and the Chivas continued to try to press, it was clear that the Timbers were playing it cautiously and were looking to grind out a home win in a scrappy fashion. The game was very disjointed at this time and much of the game was being fought out in the midfield third with few chances being created.
With 15 minutes to go, Chivas USA almost equalized when a whipped in free kick was not dealt with by the Timbers back line and Carlos Bocanegra was unable to steer the ball home in a crowded penalty area after some poor attempts to clear by the Timbers defense. Portland were clearly nervous and looking to hang on to the victory and not commit too many forward.

Goal 79 mins: Chivas USA found a way through the Timbers defense when former Timber Jean-Baptiste found Leandro Barrera on the left wing and he slid a low cross in for Erick Torres to pounce upon and slot it past Donovan Ricketts. The goal was on the cards and Portland were now paying for lacking attacking creativity in the second half. Portland Timbers 1-1 Chivas USA.

In injury time, the Timbers pushed for the winner and gained a free kick just outside the penalty area. Will Johnson stepped up and the ball took a slight deflection off the wall and smashed onto the near post. So close to a huge winner that would have kicked off the season for the Portland Timbers. The game remained a tight affair as the Timbers tried to get a late winner but as in their first 2 home games, they were unable to penetrate the Chivas defense with any real creativity and the game finished at 1 goal apiece.

Full Time Score: Portland Timbers 1-1 Chivas USA

Summary:

It looked as though the Portland Timbers were going to carry on where they left off last week with some excellent attacking play in the first 20 minutes but once they got the first goal, their attacking mindset seemed to dissipate as the team looked more concerned with keeping the 1-0 lead instead of going at Chivas for the second goal and that allowed the away side to try to go at the Timbers and they finally got their deserved goal with 10 minutes to go. Another frustrating night for the Timbers Army with the 4th home draw in a row at Providence Park. 4 points from 6 games will not please Timbers Coach Caleb Porter.