Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps

The Fourth of July already and the weather gods still haven't committed to summer.  Last night I joined 9,000 of my closest personal Timbers soccer supporters and my friend, Mark,  to watch the Portland Timbers play the Whitecaps.   The rivalry here goes back almost as far as the one with Seattle,  but the mood last night didn't quite seem as intense as all that.   Both on the field and in the stands subdued felt like a more apt emotion.   Not that the play lacked intensity.   I thought the green-clads put on a passionate display and played a prettier game of football than I've seen in the Park for a good while.  They worked hard to keep the ball on the ground and move it around,  even in tight spaces.  There was good movement off the ball and the defense was solid.   Keel was back as was Cameron (glad that earlier removal on a stretcher apparently didn't involve serious injury) and Purdy.

Dansu finished up the back line.  They were solid, giving Vancouver few decent chances.  At the other end,  Keita was back ( I suspect that Dike needed a break after working so hard in the Seattle game) paired with DeMartin.  Keita demonstrates his intelligence on the field and his hunger for the strike.  And he launched his share of shots.  DeMartin,  while demonstrating some good skills comes across more like a midfielder than a forward.  At one point in last night's match,  Keita struggled to position himself with three Vancouver defenders as a long ball came down.  The big man succeeded and took the ball with his chest,  turning so it bounced to DeMartin just to his right.   Easy for me to say from the stands,  but DeMartin looked surprised and instead of crashing through with his body to collect it,  a move that could have put him unmarked in the box with the keeper and the ball,  he did not react and the ball was cleared.   As I say,  easy for me to evaluate from the thirtieth row.    Regardless,  Portland knocked out a rainstorm of shots,  none of which went in.    At the end of the night,  the crew took home a tie and a point but it felt disappointing because their effort was excellent.   Luck does have its role in the game,  and there were several examples last night when pointblank shots were just barely deflected.  It could have been 3-0 easily.   

The return to more intentional and organized play was the highlight in my book.   Next Saturday we'll see if they can begin to take that next step....stretching the netting!