It Is What It Is

A relatively boring game and a point on the road.

The Portland Timbers didn’t conquer the Vancouver Whitecaps, but they did get a draw. Was it a good result?

Based on the opening 20 minutes, it looked like we were headed to another familiar place. Brian White scored 3 minutes in after Sebastian Berhalter’s cross wasn’t blocked by Kamal Miller, caught Dario Zuparic out of position after a good Levonte Johnson dummy, and easily slotted home by the American striker after Miguel Araujo allowed him to make a run to the near post with no resistance. During the first 20 minutes, the Timbers looked sloppy, unprepared, and mentally checked out. However, they began to grow into the game and slowly pushed the momentum in their favor. Getting an equalizer before halftime was very important, and the Timbers nearly had one after a wonderful Santiago Moreno cross was thumped home at the back post in the 42nd minute by Jonathan Rodriguez. However, the linesman correctly ruled that Rodriguez was offside. Didn’t matter. One minute later, Araujo carried the ball past the halfway line and executed a “hand-off” to Moreno. The Colombian found Rodriguez on the left side of the box, and the Uruguayan’s deflected shot beat Yohei Takaoka. 1-1. Halftime was a welcome sight as the Timbers were able to nullify their earlier concession with a goal of their own. 

Portland dominated the second half, but two missed chances defined this game. In the 52nd minute, a through ball for Brian White left the American with a 1v1 opportunity against Crepeau. White’s shot hit the post. Seven minutes later, Jonathan Rodriguez crossed the ball into the box to Felipe Mora. Mora’s header hit the post. The Timbers continued to keep Vancouver squarely in their own half, but were unable to create any massive chances aside from Mora’s header. Andres Cubas hit the post with a shot from distance in stoppage time. The game ended 1-1, with neither team doing enough to break the deadlock. 

Positivity?

To be absolutely clear, I was really hoping that the Evander-less Timbers would have found a way to win this game. But I’m also fine with a draw. If Evander was available, the Timbers would have won. Add that to the MVP criteria. But after the first 20 minutes, the Timbers had one of their best road performances of the season.

More clarity: the defending in the second half was great aside from White’s catastrophic miss. Portland didn’t register a single shot on target during the second half (slightly worrying) but they did what they needed to do: press the Whitecaps. They forced Vancouver to make mistakes but were unable to capitalize on them. It isn’t something that the Timbers have done on the road this year. They’re usually content to sit back and absorb pressure but tonight they were aggressive in their defending. Once Felipe Mora and Jonathan Rodriguez exited in the 83rd minute, the Timbers began to protect their box and the draw. Do I have an issue with it? Kind of, but not really. Avoiding a loss isn’t a bad thing to do on the road with only 4 games left. All 4 of their shots on target occurred in the first half. In an end-to-end game on a large field, their legs ran out of gas quicker than expected. It would have been nice to win, but a draw isn’t the end of the world.

Negativity?

However, this was Portland’s penultimate road game of the season. It was their 6th consecutive road game without a victory. And this game was winnable! Playing an entire half without a shot on target isn’t good! The Timbers weren’t the only ones playing without their star; Ryan Gauld wasn’t in Vancouver’s lineup due to injury. This was a huge chance to get a crucial road win and they were unable to do so. They still conceded a goal within the first 5 minutes of game time and the defense looked vulnerable every time Vancouver moved into the final third. But there is one aspect of Portland’s game that really bugs me.

During tonight’s game, the Timbers had 8 corner kicks and the Whitecaps only had 2. However, the Whitecaps generated twice the amount of xG that Portland did on set pieces despite having 6 less corners. Before Jonathan Rodriguez scored the equalizer in Salt Lake City, the past four Timbers goals on the road came from dead-ball scenarios. Tonight, the Timbers were treated to carbon-copy Santiago Moreno corner kick deliveries. It was obvious after the first one that Vancouver was going to dominate that phase of play because, you know, they actually have some tall guys. Each of those corner kicks could have been a way to find a winning goal. However, they amounted to nothing. A draw isn’t the end of the world, but it would have been nice to win.

Player Ratings

Maxime Crepeau: 8

You would have to be a real hater to fault Crepeau with Vancouver’s first goal. Any striker who receives a ball in that range is expected to put it in the back of the net. 2 saves, 9 recoveries, and his distribution was on point. Specifically, I liked his willingness to throw the ball long to quickly tilt the field. It’s a shame that none of his attackers were able to capitalize, but he did his job. And he did it in a place that booed him for the entire duration of the match. It is a little stressful watching him leave his box sometimes, but his ability to act as a sweeper is an asset rather than a liability.

Juan Mosquera: 7

Mosquera did more good things than bad things but wasn’t spectacular. A 7 seems about right. He created 2 chances and did a pretty good job of defending out wide. His energy did seem to wane as the match went on, but that’s more on the coaching staff for not subbing him out. Solid, but nothing special. 

Miguel Araujo: 6.5

The Peruvian directly contributed to both goals tonight. He allowed Brian White to beat him inside to score the first goal. That is a terrible defensive lapse, especially 3 minutes into the game. However, he took it upon himself to carry the ball to midfield before letting the attack do their job and put the ball in the back of the net. I still have a lot of thoughts about him, and y’all will learn them after the Dallas game. 

Dario Zuparic: 7

Another bloody nose for the Croatian after a long night of man-marking Brian White. Zuparic made a near-catastrophic mistake on White’s golden chance in the second half. The cross came in from above, and Zuparic stepped forward instead of backward to deal with it. That slight hesitation allowed White to have a free run at goal, and he was saved by the woodwork. It looked like a moment straight out of FIFA; when you try to switch the player you’re controlling and the controller button doesn’t register the action. It wasn’t a great game for him, but he defended really well down the stretch. 

Kamal Miller: 6

White’s goal doesn’t happen if Miller is able to block the cross. He was right in front of Sebastian Berhalter, and the ball went right through his legs. Not great. He picked up a rather undeserved yellow card after a sliding challenge that got all ball in the 10th minute. Neville was absolutely correct to substitute him in the 70th minute.

Diego Chara: 8.5

Well, what do you know, another vintage Diego Chara game. His passing (outside of one poor giveaway that led to a Vancouver shot) was exceptional. He won all three of his ground duels and created a chance. His most important play of the game came in the 26th minute. Crepeau ventured outside his box to head away a ball but he miscalculated his jump and the ball went backward. The goalkeeper was off his line, but Diego Chara caught up to Levonte Johnson and won a foul, nullifying the threat. A potential game-saving play with the Timbers not fully awake yet.

Cristhian Paredes: 9

On Thursday, Neville singled out Paredes as an important piece in the season’s final stretch. He responded by putting in a massive performance and influencing the game from box-to-box. It was the same form that he showed last season as the Supporters’ Player of the Year. 4 tackles, 5 recoveries, 8 duels won, 90% pass accuracy, and one chance created. It was his first start since August 1st against Colorado in Leagues Cup. The moment needed Paredes, and he rose to the occasion.

Antony: 6

Everything I write about Antony is beginning to sound exactly the same from week to week: outstanding defense paired with poor attacking output. One stat stands out: 0/5 accurate crosses. He often had his defenders beat with pace, but decided to take an extra touch which allowed them to recover. He could have been the hero, but he came up short.

Santiago Moreno: 8.5

I was skeptical about Moreno playing through the middle entering this game, and it surprised me when he got the start ahead of Eryk Williamson. But, as I love to say, please prove me wrong. That’s exactly what Moreno did after finding his sea legs around the 25th minute. He could’ve had 2 assists if Rodriguez wasn’t offside in the 42nd minute. He needed to rise to the occasion, and he did. He isn’t Evander (that’s obvious) but he did a good job filling in for the suspended MVP candidate.

Jonathan Rodriguez: 8

His deflected shot in the 43rd minute took his goal tally to 16 on the season. Pretty good for a guy who has only played 2,165 MLS minutes this year. That is a goal every 135 minutes. I wish he wasn’t subbed off in the 83rd minute. Yes, there are three matches this week, but he was a threat every time he touched the ball.

Felipe Mora: 6.5

Mora’s link-up play shone tonight and the team needed his presence if they wanted to keep pushing for the winner. He did hit the post with a header, but it’s far more excusable than White’s miss. Just gotta keep him fresh for Wednesday.

Final Whistle

Some games require a lot of words. This game really didn’t need too many. Without Evander, a draw was always the most likely result. I’m impressed by the way they controlled the game with and without the ball even if they didn’t find an eventual winner and were able to dodge the bullets from the Whitecaps late in the second half. All in all, that’s a pretty good point. It is what it is. But the Portland Timbers are winless in their last 6 road games. It is what it is. Sigh.

Table Time

Minnesota spanked the Rapids at Allianz Field tonight, and the Timbers didn’t win. So the Loons have *temporarily* jumped the Timbers for 8th place. Am I concerned about that? Not in the slightest. After enduring their own Week from Hell two weeks ago, the Timbers’ schedule is now pillow-soft. They welcome 11th-place Austin and 10th-place Dallas to Portland. Both teams need to win every remaining match in order to jump into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Loons are hitting the road this week with trips to Salt Lake City and Vancouver. Houston hosts New England and travels to St. Louis on short rest. Colorado hosts the Galaxy and Seattle. RSL hosts Minnesota and travels to San Jose. There are still plenty of points to be dropped, but the Timbers have a golden opportunity to clinch. All they need is a win against Austin on Wednesday. Simple enough. However, there is one other team that I purposely forgot to mention.

Cup Time

The Seattle Sounders have already clinched their spot in the postseason. So did the Vancouver Whitecaps. Both of them will meet at BC Place on Wednesday for their final meeting in 2024. There is one outcome that will give the Timbers the most flexibility on Decision Day to both climb the table and win the Cup. A Sounders win by 1 or 2 goals (hereby known as the Best Possible Result or BPR) on Wednesday gives the Timbers their best opportunity to control their own destiny on Decision Day. Not only are the Whitecaps closer playoff rivals than Seattle, a draw would keep Vancouver level on 8 points and lower their goal differential. If the BPR happens, the Timbers will enter Lumen Field on Decision Day needing only a draw to clinch Cascadia. Of course, a win would be the optimal outcome, but this team needs to learn how to start strong on the road. With only one road game remaining in the regular season, their time for procrastination has run out. 

All of the playoff scenarios mean nothing. This drop to 9th means nothing. How they finish this week will determine their playoff positioning. 6 points are up for grabs. Anything less than all 6 would be unacceptable. Anything less than 7th place would be unacceptable. But also, a team that can’t win on the road probably isn’t deserving of 7th place. Time to get back into gear and power through. The goal is clear. The climb continues.