The Juneuary weather that has been plaguing our August so far seemed to have lifted as crowds bustled their way around the sidewalks outside PGE Park last night. It was actually warm for a change. And despite the uncertain results of the team's recent three game road trip, the crowds were larger. People with tickets in hand fell into serpentine lines around the displays of giveaway items and groups waiting for the rest of their party. The sharp-faced scalper shouting "I need tickets" wasn't attracting much in the way of curiousity on this night. There was no question that enthusiasm for being part of the Timbers' bandwagon was continuing.
Inside, as usual the crowd continued to flow in a cascade of colors anchored by green even as the National Anthem finished and the players took to the field. Seats were filling all around the circumference to the top of the second level, above which the seats had been sheeted off.
The game was a rumble from the start. Portland looked eager to make their mark early. And Minnesota seemed equally eager to deny them. The Stars succeeded in putting their bid into the back of the net about halfway through the first period with two men running on the right, free as the crossing pass came in. As the last sands drifted into the bottom of the glass though, Bright Dike showed the stuff that made him an attractive forward earlier in the season. He'd been getting knocked about since early in the game. At this last instant though, the ball was crossed to him as he struggled to run on with defenders bracing him. I believe he had a defender's arm across his chest as he took the ball, brought it down and placed it with accuracy instead of force just to the keeper's right. It was an awesome and hard-won goal. Dike celebrated by doing double flips as he ran toward the stands. That made the end of the half more palatable, and things seemed to be going the Timbers' way for a change as they ramped up their attacking play in the second half. They finally had an attack similar to the run Minnesota had scored on in the first half; Pore and Dike making a run toward the box on the right side, with the ball. Minnesota's defense first swept Dike in a clear foul and then swept Pore in the box. The fouls earned a PK and a yellow card for the Stars' Tarley. And Pore gave a poised demonstration of how to take a PK to put the team up by one.
Within an instant of the restart however, Ian Joy put Portland on the defensive when he made a hard tackle and drew a red. Whether the red was deserved or not, in a moment so close to the Minnesota fouls and resulting score it isn't hard to imagine that the ref saw it as retaliation. If my memory serves, he'd already had the 'no more of that' conversation with Joy about something else in the first half. So when the team sucked it up playing good pressure defense with twenty some minutes to hold on, all 15,000 fans must have felt we had a chance even a man down. The Stars, however, scored on a pretty cross and header off a corner. Which is one place that the man difference shouldn't have affected things. While I can't go back and check my 'stats book' since I don't have one, I think we've given up a high percentage of goals on set pieces this year. What the solution is I don't know.
Bottom line is it was a shame to give away a win when the momentum was going our way. A shame.
Other odd thoughts. I really like Dike's performance and hope this helps his confidence out there. I watched the match against Rochester on the stream and I thought he was clearly being physically outmuscled by the defenders which took away his effectiveness. Last night, he was playing strong. Also odd to me was that the Rochester commentators didn't know his name is pronounced Dee-Kay. They called him Dike all night.
The appearance late in the game of Dutch newcomer, Ibad Muhamadu, was greeted with a great cheer. It took me a minute to remember who he was. He didn't have much time to show his skills, but what is clear is that he's fast. Very fast on the first few steps. Hope to see more of him.
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