Portland Timbers 2, Sporting KC 1 | Instant Reaction

Kamal Miller at LB in a four back?! The Portland Timbers were the better team all game and got the job done 2-1 over Sporting KC.

Credit: Portland Timbers FC

The Portland Timbers have one win in their last ten matches. After rolling with a three back for the past two games, Phil Neville opted to return to the four back.

The surprise was the personnel… He would start Juan David Mosquera, Miguel Araujo, Dario Župarić, and Kamal Miller. You read that right, Miller at left back. Not Eric Miller, Kamal Miller.

How sloppy was this game? The first shot was in the 16th minute. Passes and miscommunication was rampant. The pace of the game was quite slow in the early portions. It would pick up in the tail end of the half.

In the 16th minute, Araujo played a beautiful ball from the back over the top to Jonathan Rodríguez with his left footed blast hitting off the post to the delight of Tim Melia.

In the 28th minute, Felipe Mora rose up on an Evander corner kick, but steered his header wide of goal.

Jona would have an absolute rocket of volley in stoppage time. However, he could not get it down as it barely went over the bar.

Although the Portland Timbers would end with the five to one shots advantage, no shots from either team were on target. Make no mistake, they were the better team at the half - just little to show for it.

David Ayala was terrific in the first half. He led the team with six defensive actions, clearances, chances created, duels won, and interceptions.

In the 51st minute, Evander played a pinpointed cross to find the head of Felipe Mora for the 1-0 lead.

Did you think the game would end with a clean sheet? Hope not.

In the 62nd minute, Sporting KC worked the ball in and around the box with little to no pressure. Alan Pulido would lay it back to Memo Rodríguez who ripped one past Max Crépeau to equalize.

Minutes later, Jona & Pulido would exchange shots and nearly put their sides ahead - Rodríguez skied his volley and Pulido missed wide.

In the 69th minute, Rodríguez drove and hit a cross that just went over two Timbers. Thankfully, it found JDM who took a shot that was deflected wide at the last second.

In the 79th minute, Antony steamed forward with the ball and played it to Rodríguez. He found Mora for the header and right to Evander who placed it past Melia for the 2-1 lead. Initially the goal was called offside, but after a VAR check, it would be overturned.

Six minutes later, Evander placed the ball nicely on a set piece and Araujo’s header was denied by Melia. Placement was spot on by Araujo, just a better save.

In the last minutes of stoppage time, Max Crépeau denied Johnny Russell’s header to preserve the win.

The Portland Timbers were the better team (xG 2.4 to 0.3) and played like it all night. Unfortunately they did have the hiccup in the 62nd minute. Kamal Miller made a huge impression at left back and David Ayala put in herculean effort. This was one of their best performances to date in a game that absolutely needed.

Key Stats:

xG: POR - 2.4, SKC: 0.3
Shots: POR - 11, SKC - 5
Shots on Target: POR - 5, SKC - 2

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