Match Recap & Highlights: Portland Timbers 1 - 1 NYCFC
Evander scored and Felipe returned, but the Timbers fail to win for the second time this week.
The Portland Timbers (5-7-8) drew 1-1 with NYCFC (4-9-7) in an MLS Cup final rematch, failing to hold on to a 1-0 lead they took into halftime.
Recap
Juan Mosquera returned to the lineup for the first time since June 11 after returning from international duty with Colombia, and Aljaz Ivacic got the nod in net for the first time since June 3 after his own whirlwind stint with Slovenia.
Larrys Mabiala replaced Zac McGraw (away with Canada for the Gold Cup) in the starting XI, and Marvin Loria was given the start in place of an underperforming and injured Dairon Asprilla. Felipe Mora also made his return from injury, albeit off the bench.
Unlike Wednesday’s 2-1 loss against the Chicago Fire, the Timbers actually started the match well and created a host of chances in the first half. One of their seven first half shots was finally put away by Evander in the 38th minute, smashing home a layoff from Marvin Loria.
However the Timbers’ set-piece defending reared its ugly head again as NYCFC equalized in the 51st minute, with Juan Mosquera failing to follow the run of Keaton Parks as he headed home at the near-post from a corner.
The Timbers finished the match with 16 shots, seven of which on-goal, but couldn’t convert any of their second half chances into a game winner as the match finished 1-1.
Highlights
5’ Franck Boli got on the end of a cross from Cristhian Paredes, but the striker’s first-time finish skimmed off of his boot and over the bar.
11’ The Timbers had a pair of bites at the proverbial apple — one from Evander and another from Paredes — but the first shot was blocked and the second sailed wide of the net from inside the box.
28’ Mosquera got on the end of a Bravo cross that went untouched through the box, but sent a shot well over the goal.
38’ GOAL TIMBERS, 1-0 After a fairly boring first half, Evander popped up with something that was anything but. Paredes found Loria inside the box, and all the winger had to do was touch it into the path of Evander, who belted a right-footed shot into the top corner to open the scoring.
Check out Evander’s beautiful strike here.
45’ One additional minute was added for stoppage time.
HALFTIME: The Timbers led 1-0 at the break.
46’ SUBSTITUTION After playing heavy minutes in recent weeks, Cristhian Paredes was replaced by Noel Caliskan for the second half for his MLS debut. Savarese would reveal after the game that Paredes was experiencing a bit of hamstring tightness, and the sub was done with a precautionary mindset.
51’ GOAL NYCFC, 1-1 The visitors equalized just after halftime through Keaton Parks off of a set-piece. Mosquera left Caliskan out to dry, failing to follow Parks’ run at all as NYCFC made it 1-1.
69’ Boli latched on to a ball and drove toward the NYCFC defense with one of his signature runs, but Maxime Chanot timed a last-ditch slide tackle to perfection to quell the danger.
75’ Santi Moreno launched a counter and set Claudio Bravo in on goal down the left wing, but the fullback’s shot was easily saved.
76’ SUBSTITUTION Felipe Mora entered the match for Marvin Loria, making his long-awaited return from knee surgery.
77’ Mora nearly marked his return with an immediate goal, but NYCFC ‘keeper Freese was able to corral a deflected Evander strike just before Felipe got a toe to it.
86’ SUBSTITUTION Nathan Fogaca subbed in for Boli, who worked hard, but couldn’t reproduce his midweek goal this time out.
90+3’ Mosquera almost scored a full-volleyed winner at the death, but a touch from Freese was just enough to see his strike squirm wide of the net.
90+5’ Evander lined up a free-kick from outside the box as time expired, but the outside of the post denied the Brazilian a walk-off game-winner not dissimilar to the ones we’re used to seeing on the other side of the Willamette.
FULL TIME: Timbers 1 - 1 NYCFC
Final Thoughts
A very frustrated Giovanni Savarese couldn’t have described the match any better post-game: “It’s the same story every day: Played well, created chances, and… I don’t know what happened, they put something around the goal to not have it go in,” said Savarese. “The games are coming, we’re giving points away, and it’s gonna be too late.”
That is the unfortunate truth for the Timbers, who end the match on a paltry 22 points through 20 games having played two more games than the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final playoff spot on 25 points. It’s looking bleak for the Timbers’ playoff chances, and the team knows it.
They have to find a way to start scoring the chances they’re creating. Have to. Four goals in their last eight matches is nowhere near good enough, and an indictment on the players playing up top for the Timbers. Perhaps Felipe Mora’s return to fitness will bolster that area of the pitch, but the problem now is that there’s a logjam of forwards who are out-of-form and on a lot of money.
Another worry is the health of Cristhian Paredes, who was taken out of the game at halftime because of what Savarese described as hamstring pain. “I hope so” was his response to being asked if Paredes was alright after the game, with Diego Chara and Noel Caliskan the only other healthy central midfielders on the roster.
UP NEXT: The Timbers fly out to the Midwest for a match against the Loons. Kickoff against Minnesota United is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. PT at Allianz Field on Saturday, July 1.
I just don't even know with this team. They have like 5-10 minutes of good play, where they remember that they can actually string passes together, and then someone in the move either passes the ball right back to an opponent or tries to thread a needle that ends up putting the ball in a very difficult spot, or out of bounds. And then there's a long stretch of uninspired sideways passing followed by another short burst of good play.
They're clearly able to play; they're not able to play consistently. And the defensive forehead-slap moments are infuriating in their regularity.
Nothing I saw last night, as encouraging as the play was in bursts, made me think "yep, Gio needs a bit more time". He's done. And the fact that the Timbers are holding on to him tells me they're probably not going to fire him; if and when they miss the playoffs again, he'll probably be given yet another lifeline because reasons.
Honestly the best part about last night was that Kyra Smith got proposed to after she finished the anthem. That was delightful.
The good things:
1) What a pretty goal from Evander. Moar please. He also had some super slick dribbles and flicks and tricks.
2) Great to see Mora back on the pitch. I'd written him off for done. Fingers crossed he can return to useful form.
3) Mosquera is currently my favorite player on this roster. He is really kinetic and has an aggression that seems to be lacking across the team.
4) The team played with some energy in the back half of the second 45. Great to see some energy and drive to get three points.
The bad things:
1) I watched Cincinnati v DCU before PTFC. I don't watch many MLS games besides PTFC, so I don't have a great frame of reference for the rest of the league. But boy, the quality of that game and the play seemed leap years better than PTFC v. NYCFS. DC really took it to the league leaders. But I never felt like CIN was out of the game. I obviously didn't have a dog in the fight. But boy, there was some entertaining, cohesive soccer being played. I get that I'm going off a sample size of one match, but the gulf between PTFC and those two teams was obvious. And I don't think it's just raw talent. There was a cohesiveness to the play that we just aren't seeing with this version of PTFC.
2) Yes, there was more energy that we've seen in some of the other games. But "all-energy, no-plan" isn't going to get this team anywhere. I'm coming to accept that GioBAll is just ChaosBall -- lots of frantic running around and putting on pressure while coming across as shapeless and disorganized. It really feels like the players are trying hard, but doing it on their own, versus being bought into a plan.
3) Dropping points against a cellar dweller at home is peak 2023. This should be unacceptable. Gio's post match comments are such BS "I just don't know what's wrong" and passive aggressively throwing players under the bus. Hey Gio -- if the players are underperforming, guess who's fault that is? You're not a victim here.
4) There was a point in towards the end of the second 45 when there was a loose pass from a Timber in their attacking third. It was rolling through wide open space towards the end line. No NYFC player was making a move. All Timbers were just watching it roll, assuming it was going out for a goal kick. But :::37 YEAR OLD DIEGO FUCKING CHARA::: decided to turn on the jets and chase the ball down from a deeper position. He put in a huge sprint, past flat footed attacking players, caught up with the ball, and circulated it back into attacking play. This moment was totally indicative of 2023 Timbers. The baseline is a lack of aggression and stuck-in attitude. Moments of furious play are the exception versus the rule. The default is players giving up on balls. Except for Diego Chara. But he can't do it alone. This whole team -- players and coaching staff and front office -- need a swift smack upside the head to get them to wake the fuck up.
Christian [ahem, I mean Gareth lol] Bale was recently asked how Messi would adjust to MLS. Bale said something like "losing isn't a big deal in MLS, he will have to get used to that." I swear he was talking about PTFC. Gio gives some pouty post-game comments. But where's the anger? Where's the fight? Where's the attitude that what's happening is unacceptable? I just don't see it, and that is the dead opposite of No Pity. And that's a shame.
5) If Gio wants to be a bunker-and-counter, then he better figure out how coach counterattacks. A PTFC counterattack is like the least dangerous thing in MLS right now. Even when they have a numbers advantage. It's fucking flaccid and laughable.
6) Holy Fuck, Parades had better be okay.