No Glory. No Joy.

Tonight in Tukwila Washington,  the Seattle Sounders hosted the Portland Timbers in what promised as always to be a scrappy match.  The game,  the only Lamar Hunt Cup fourth round match pitting MLS teams against each other,  came in the midst of intense league play with Portland rising toward the top of the table with three wins in a row and Seattle solidly atop the division with 29 points and a game in hand on the 'Caps giving them an effective two win cushion.   

The first half was a workmanlike effort by each side not to give up anything which meant at the same time, neither achieved very much.   The second half changed all that with an early tally by Valeri off a Wallace cross--Timbers in form.  The situation looked even brighter when Brad Evans took a second yellow and was ejected from the match,  leaving the Sounders short a player.  However, close to eighty minutes in,  Martins stuck a crossing ball from a corner in to tie the match.  Not much later,  Martins was carted from the field with an injury that saw him leave on a gurney.  Seattle had used their subs and so the Sounders were down two players.

The Cup competition demands a winner. And no mercy is shown in this sport. So at 90 minutes plus stoppage time plus a short break,  the teams took again to the field and the 9 man side ratcheted up their intensity and played hard....very hard.  As the clock slowly headed to 105 and the Sounders looked hard for the grit to continue fighting,   Wallace broke through for the Timbers and put the second goal past Troy Perkins.  (How ironic that it would be another of the Timbers' former goalkeepers facing off in this match).   With the end of the first half of extra time nearing,  Seattle's Azira was red carded for an elbow and in a short sequel,  Clint Dempsey was red carded for protesting the call.  The Sounders started the last fifteen minute stretch of extra time down a goal and down four players.  

I've never seen this happen before. The ejection of Evans I have no sympathy for.  The injury to Martins after Seattle had made all its subs is sad, but bad luck.   The ejection of two more players made the ending of the game grim.  There is no joy in beating the tar out of an opponent with four men missing.  The Timbers did score a third goal in that second half but it seemed as if their efforts to just hold the ball and grind out the time were fitful and confused.   Athletes don't train to play against crippled foes and when the moment comes the quality of play drops substantially.   

In years to come,  the match will be remembered for its astonishing officiating.  I am hopeful that Portland fans will thank their stars that we got a win but will be mindful that it wasn't against a Sounders' side with all its capabilities.  In Seattle,  I am guessing that this will be remembered as a black mark in the rivalry between our clubs--despite the fact that the Timbers didn't cause any of the cards or injuries.   This is one to be glad for-- glad that we got through and didn't lose any important players,  but not one to celebrate.  

We'll step onto that field against the Sounders again,  and we want to be sure that the bitter taste of this match doesn't give them the edge next time.  

Timbers bring Revolutions to a halt.

Saturday night, was a nail-biter but the gutsy Portland Timbers brought home the win after scrapping for it through 90 minutes. 

I think the two goals Adi scored reflect the problem with our attack.  Most of the time we’re positioning him up top to gather long balls out of the back against big defenders—just as we did with Alan Gordon, Boyd and Piquionne.   I’m no expert but I think this is a wasted strategy except as an alternative—rarely used—to keep defenders from being complacent.   What happened with both goals this last game was that balls were delivered into spaces Adi could run into and actually redirect.  He’s not a long ball target player—he’s more of a slice and dice run through the defense at angles player.    

He has not shown the ability to jump high or muscle the ball against intense defensive pressure—but he’s done well with running the angles inside the box—we just need to deliver more balls that way if we keep him.   I agree that he doesn’t seem the natural strong forward we need.—if he’s gone I won’t be surprised.    

That being said,  Nate Borchers is tall but no jumper.  Ridgewell’s better. Powell is the best of the three.  Asprilla is a great jumper—I’m very sorry he’s injured.

What no one has talked about in this thread is that Señor Diego Chara ran the turf ragged in the last game— he was defensive,  he was distributing,  he was attacking the defense,  he was stripping the ball from opponents.  This hombre is an awesome player—very awesome—and I don’t think we’d have won without him.  I’m continually surprised that he doesn’t get more recognition.  A national team call up?   An all star slot?  

There were many good performances on Saturday night but Chara was outstanding.

I think the Timbers are beginning to believe their juju.

US v Netherlands

Men's team break through and defeat Holland despite being down at the start.   And the heroes of the match weren't so much the familiar nor the famous.   Clint Dempsey was not there.   What a grand achievement!  Can this be the start of a truly competitive US squad?  I hope so.   I think Jurgen has been brilliant in recognizing that there is a much bigger pool of US players who could be our future champions and opening the opportunities.   I can't wait to see where we go.   Deutschland up next!

Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders….again

Last night's match in Seattle between the Sounders and the Timbers was 90 plus minutes of full on stress.  I could recap a play-by-play but other commentators have already done a better job---probably with video links.  I don't have much to offer here except emotional responses.   I thought our crew played really well and showed poise and unity against one of the best sides in MLS.  We were mature enough to hold the ball and demonstrate patience.  Some rough edges came when younger and newer players--Ishmael Yarty and Dairon Asprilla-- were either not quite in the flow or held the ball a little long and were shut down.  On the other hand, each of those players showed passion and created good chances.  And it was not as if Seattle was hitting on all cylinders--their passes went astray too.  

The game was physical and happily there were no terrible injuries.  Alonso's assault on Nagbe early in the game had all the sophistication of an assassin driving a garbage truck.  "Oh, did I run you over?".   

Our crew had their chances--Adi's shot off the bar could have been the decisive one.  And there were others.  I'm still not quite sure what the solution is….as if I could say that after all.
Nagbe had an immense impact on the game, particularly in the first half.   If there were more consistent penalties for using him as a punching bag, he'd be more effective.   We had some beautiful attacking teamwork when he wasn't just knocked down. Chara as always was a bulldog loose amongst the attackers and he even took an opportunistic shot, a good sign.  We were getting more players into the attack.  

So at the end of it all,  I am saddened for the loss but pleased that the team played so well in the circumstance.   I think we're close….really close.  Valeri and Johnson returning will make a difference.   'Caps match at home is on the horizon.    We've got enough games ahead to get back in the swim.