The Burgundy Badge of Courage

The rarest of all wins: a convincing road victory in March.

During Thursday’s pre-match press conference, I asked Phil Neville about what a good road performance would look like. “I want to see a resemblance of what we’re like when we play at home,” Neville stated. Well, after the most impressive road victory of his tenure, those words are ringing true.

Recap

Portland took Neville’s words to heart in the first half. “Playing like they do at home” means a high line. The Rapids took advantage of that. Throughout the opening stages of the game, Colorado kept testing the Timbers’ high line. However, rather than missing the final ball, they were missing the final touch. Plenty of dangerous crosses went through the box with no one on the end of them. But the Timbers slowly grew into the game, even though they weren’t creating any dangerous chances. Well, in the 42nd minute, they did. Santiago Moreno was played in behind by David Da Costa, and was charging straight down Colorado’s throat at the goal. He had Antony running with him to the left, but decided to take it by himself. A strong challenge from Keegan Rosenberry blocked Moreno’s effort. However, Portland did take a lead into halftime after Da Costa’s cross was turned into Colorado’s net by former Sounder Josh Atencio in the first minute of stoppage time. This gave the Timbers their first halftime lead on the road since June 19th in San Jose. The Timbers won that game. Would they be able to do the same tonight?

Three minutes into the second half, various nerves were calmed after Santiago Moreno played a through ball to Antony with plenty of space in behind. The Brazilian took his time and finished calmly past Adam Beaudry for a 2-0 lead. Suddenly, the Timbers were in uncharted territory. This was the first time under Neville that they held a 2-goal lead on the road. A role reversal was executed. Colorado, who began the game confident, quickly became shaky and panicked. Meanwhile, the Timbers were a beacon of calm. While the Rapids continued to put pressure on Portland’s backline, the Timbers defended every inch of ground within their own box. Finally, to truly put the game to bed, Jimer Fory’s cross was smashed home at the far post by Kevin Kelsy one minute after the Venezuelan entered the pitch in the 74th minute. 3-0. All that remained was the protection of their clean sheet and possibly adding a couple more goals for good measure. No shots crossed either line, and the Timbers are leaving the Box State with 3 goals, 3 points, a clean sheet, and an undeniably mature performance. Success.

The Last Kick

Scoring goals is arguably the most important part of a soccer game. But scoring those goals at the right time is also crucial to picking up wins. All three of Portland’s goals during tonight’s game were scored at the perfect time. There is no better time to score than right before halftime. Josh Atencio knew that, so he decided to throw a helping hand and dig his own team a 1-0 deficit entering the break. Excellent work. I knew my respect for him was justified. That goal gave the Timbers the confidence they needed to put the game to bed in the second half. For the first time in AGES, the last 15 minutes of an away game were completely stress-free viewing. Well, not entirely. They still had to keep the clean sheet, but the victory was never in doubt. As time wore on in the second half, their counterattacks became more and more threatening. During the first half, those attacks would stop because of a lack of support. After taking the 2-goal lead, suddenly the altitude didn’t matter. Multiple players would charge forward on counters trying to get in on the scoring action. They played with spirit and courage, and that’s not limited to the attack.

*All stat graphics courtesy of @mlsstat.bsky.social.*

LOOK AT THAT SHAPE! ISN’T IT GLORIOUS? Despite the long-ball worries from the first half, the Timbers did an excellent job of picking their battles in this game. Finn Surman became a one-man wrecking crew in the box with several timely blocks, interceptions, and clearances. After the Rapids began to exploit a mismatch on the left side of Portland’s defense between Kevin Cabral and Kamal Miller, Jimer Fory dropped deeper to cover the left side and neutralize the threat. However, the Timbers still had trouble with quick combinations in the middle of the field. Didn’t matter. They recovered and were always able to get the last kick of the ball.

Building Blocks

Simply put, the Timbers did what they needed to do in the attack. This wasn’t a domination from the forward line; they converted their chances and even left a couple on the table. The discrepancy between final third passes and box passes is still present, but that should decrease as this team continues to build chemistry.

Portland never looked completely out of it during this game. Sure, there were a couple of shaky spells, but they always had a competitive edge. That’s a huge difference from previous road outings where they scarcely looked up to the task. Maturity, spirit, doggedness, whatever you want to call it. The Timbers brought it to Commerce City tonight.

Player Ratings

James Pantemis: 7.5

Judging a goalkeeper's performance is rather simple: did they save the shots that they were supposed to? In this case, that's exactly what Pantemis did. However, despite the clean sheet, I thought his distribution left a lot to be desired. Too many kicks out of bounds and a couple of poor giveaways (particularly one in the 54th minute that almost gifted the Rapids a goal). Still, you can't fault his shot-stopping. That's two clean sheets in four starts this season. It's also worth noting that he was in net during the last Timbers road clean sheet (May 29th in Austin). It's been a great month for the consistent keeper.

Eric Miller: 7

Djordje Mihailovic was giving Miller fits throughout the game. Still, he largely held his own. I wanted to see more from him going forward, but his teammates need to pass him the ball around the box for that to happen. Solid 7 and second consecutive quality start for the MLS veteran.

Finn Surman: 9.5 (MOTM)

Sometimes you can tell that a defender had a good game when you barely notice their presence. Finn Surman did the exact opposite. His first half was solid, sure, but after Antony doubled the lead the Kiwi was ever-present. Would you like some stats? 1 tackle, 1 block, 5 recoveries, 4/6 duels won (3 out of 5 in the air) and zero fouls. But the number that really jumps off the page is clearances. He had 18 of them, including 7 in the air. That’s a ridiculously high number, and he has joined an elite company in MLS.

Since Stathead started tracking MLS data in 2018, there have only been 27 times that a player recorded at least 15 clearances in a match.

You might notice that the current record is only one week old. Walker Zimmerman set it last weekend against Philadelphia. Three other Timbers appear in this list: Bill Tuiloma, Larrys Mabiala (during the car show playoff game) and Zac McGraw. Surman’s mark of 18 clearances moves him into a tie for the third-highest mark since 2018. That’s very good company. It takes a very active box defender to register that many clearances in a match. When there was a fire, Surman put it out. Now he holds the single-game record in Timbers history for clearances, surpassing his fellow Kiwi. He is also the youngest player in MLS history to register at least 15 clearances in a league match. Many Timbers fans have said this is one of the best performances they have seen from a Timbers center back. Well, the stats back up their proclamation. Outstanding work, young fella. He’s officially undroppable. If his 73rd minute header found the back of the net, I would’ve given him a 10.

Kamal Miller: 8

Tonight's match began with the Rapids constantly testing Miller's recovery speed. It proved to be a solid game plan with the Canadian losing several footraces to Kevin Cabral. Miller found himself in foul trouble, but filled in very well alongside Surman for the second consecutive game. I think the Timbers have found their first-choice partnership at center back. Surman’s outstanding box defending combined with Miller’s passing range allows Portland to have a balanced and formidable partnership in their defensive spine.

Jimer Fory: 9.5 (MOTM)

Well, I just spent a bit of time raving about stats, but now it’s time to prove why they can be wrong sometimes. If you haven’t heard, I’m a cohost on Box State Footy’s Outside the Box podcast. Myself and 3 other very smart people (Juanners, Joss aka JoshBathtub, and Daniel aka MajorLeagueShill) recap every MLS game during our weekly episode. Here’s what Juanners (the self-proclaimed Box State Footy guy) had to say once tonight’s lineups were released.

Do not use this as an opportunity to bully him. He accurately assessed Mihailovic’s strength as a top-tier connector and playmaker. He’s simply following the numbers which usually match the eye test. Unfortunately for Juanners, that does not apply to Jimer Fory. He noted Kevin Cabral’s impressive receiving stats, which were calculated by American Soccer Analysis’ Goals Added metric. I’ve used goals added before, and it’s the closest thing soccer has to Wins Above Replacement. However, it isn’t perfect. When I used the metric last season to figure out Portland’s best center back pairing (speaking of things that haven’t aged well) some of the numbers surprised me. However, this is a complete deviation from the point I’m trying to make. I’m not going to let myself get carried away.

Cabral was far more successful when he was running at Kamal Miller instead of Fory. Once the Timbers adjusted and kept Fory deeper, Colorado’s right-sided runway nearly ceased to exist. I’ve already said this multiple times: this team has never had a fullback like Jimer Fory before. He showed a ton of promise in his first four starts, but he cannot be ignored after tonight’s outstanding display. Two-way fullbacks should not be able to dominate in the air. Guess what? Fory won both of his aerial duels tonight. Combined with winning all 6 of his ground duels, he was a brick wall both literally and figuratively at left back. He made an outstanding last-ditch tackle on a streaking Cabral in the 8th minute. But tonight will be remembered as the first time he truly became the two-way fullback that Grabavoy and Neville envisioned. Fory hasn’t had a ton of opportunities to get forward this season. He desperately wants to, and in the 75th minute his moment came. The Colombian made himself available for a Da Costa through ball and delivered a perfect cross to Kevin Kelsy. And when I say perfect, I mean perfect.

Dear God. Low-driven, whipped around the defender, and in the exact spot where Kelsy wanted it. Watch it again. Kelsy never slows his run. For the record, that’s a 6’2” left back playing a perfect cross to a 6’4” striker.

Meanwhile, Fory’s subplot has been yellow cards. Through his first four games, he got booked three times. He didn’t get called for a single foul today. Bravo, young fella. He’s officially undroppable. If he added a goal, I would’ve given him a 10.

Diego Chara: 8.5

Diego Chara is very good at slide tackles. Tonight, he had several of them. Sometimes it’s very easy to book the captain. Not tonight. All ball, every time. And he even took a couple speculative shots from distance! None of them hit the target, but his effort in the 15th minute was *thisss* close. He also played 94 minutes of soccer at altitude at age 38 and didn’t look gassed at all once the final whistle blew.

Pretty sure all opposition players and fans have this sentiment towards Diego Chara. Did you know that he’s only two years younger than LeBron? Two GOATs who do their jobs better than most of their younger counterparts. Thankfully, Chara never took his talents to South Beach. I’m sorry for putting that thought in your mind.

David Ayala: 8.5

Meanwhile, Chara’s heir apparent continues to prove that he’s the perfect midfield partner for the club captain. Colorado’s 4-3-3 allowed for 3 midfielders, outnumbering Portland’s two. Nonetheless, Ayala dominated. He won 3 headers before the third minute of game time. He won 9/10 ground duels and his lone aerial duel. 7 recoveries, a blocked shot, and zero fouls. He’s so fun to watch. I wish his passing was a little better, particularly his long switches. However, he usually makes the correct decisions even if the execution isn’t always there. “I think Ayala is one of the best midfielders in MLS,” Neville said after the game. He said the same thing about Evander last year, and look what happened. I’d trust his judgement.

Santiago Moreno: 8.5

Moreno continues to be the toughest player to evaluate on a weekly basis. Do I praise him for making dangerous runs that lead to big chances or do I berate him for missing those chances? We’re going to go with door number one tonight. Those types of runs aren’t usually in Moreno’s wheelhouse. He prefers to do damage with the ball at his feet, but the speedy Colombian was an off-ball demon tonight. In a Timbers team that is begging for dynamic off-ball movement, Moreno rose to the occasion in Commerce City. He also provided a perfect through ball on Antony’s goal. However, there are a couple of things that need to be discussed.

The first one is more coaching-oriented. Phil Neville is not immune to taking a page out of his predecessor’s book. Giovanni Savarese liked to swap the wingers quite a bit. Portland’s first-half play was begging for one of those switches. Colorado compressed the left side of Portland’s attack, which often left Eric Miller wide open on the right flank. Due to some well-placed microphones, you could often hear Neville shouting “RIGHT! RIGHT!” to remind the team that they had an option for a cross-field switch. Moreno tucked inside quite a bit, which led to him and Da Costa occupying the same positions during the attacking phase of play. Part of me wonders if the Timbers could have found an earlier goal if Antony was on the right side instead of Moreno. Once the Timbers started utilizing the right wing in a more effective manner, Atencio turned Da Costa’s cross into his own net. It’s a minor nitpick, but it needs to be noted.

The second has to do with Moreno himself. Specifically, his hero complex. This is not a bad thing when looking at the bigger picture! In the 12th minute, Moreno unleashed a shot from distance. It was nowhere near the target, but I don’t have a problem with the idea. You’ll notice that I often praise players who have the right intentions even if their execution of the idea doesn’t result in a goal, assist, or other positive aspect of play. Moreno is not a distance shooter, but he felt comfortable taking a speculative effort from long range. That’s perfectly fine. The Timbers should be doing more of that, even if an 18-year-old isn’t between the sticks. However, that hero complex can rob the Timbers of potential scoring opportunities. That chance from the 42nd minute was begging for one more pass to a streaking Antony on Moreno’s left. However, Moreno stalled, allowed Keegan Rosenberry just enough time to close down on him, and got his shot blocked. Right after the play, it looked like a chance that the Timbers would be rueing at the final whistle. In some ways, it still is. In the 69th minute, Da Costa put another chance on a platter for the Colombian. Rather than passing it along to Antony at the far post, he hesitated to let the ball run across his body. Beaudry used that split second of hesitation to reposition himself and smother Moreno’s effort. His technical skills are excellent. But there’s still plenty of room for growth on the mental side.

Do not let that brief exposition sully Moreno’s performance. Once again, this could’ve been a 10 if he made the correct decision on both of those occasions. Consider this a strong 8.5.

Antony: 9

“Why does he hates poor Rapids? What has Rapids ever done to him?”

I couldn’t publish an Antony article with the Rapids on the upcoming schedule. In a similar vein to Smeagol’s rhetorical question stated above, why does Antony save his best performances for the Colorado Rapids, of all teams? Think about it. The Brazilian has scored 10 goals for the Portland Timbers. Half of them have come against the Rapids. I’m going to remember this game as the “Hypothetical Antony Hat-Trick” match. Antony scored his goal by making a dangerous run through the middle, letting the ball do the work, and smashing it past Beaudry with his first touch.

“The impudence! The audacity! The unmitigated gall!”

If Moreno decided to pass to Antony on both of the previously stated occasions, I’m certain that the Brazilian would have scored Portland’s first MLS hat trick. Add a hypothetical assist to the tally as well. An excellent through ball to Da Costa in the 57th minute should have led to a 3-0 lead. But Da Costa’s effort was smothered by Beaudry from a tight angle. Oh well. I’m labeling Antony as the personification of today’s attack. After a bit of a shaky start, his confidence grew and he was constantly getting in dangerous positions. I don’t think the Timbers needed a Rapids killer, but they definitely have one.

David Da Costa: 8.5

The new attacking midfielder just had his best game in a Timbers shirt without registering a goal or assist. Well, technically, according to MLS stats he was credited with a hockey assist on Kelsy’s goal. I’ll allow it to go on the record, but only if he gets counted with an assist on Atencio’s own goal as well. So that’s two (unofficial) assists and an entire game’s worth of outstanding play.

In the passing map posted above, you’ll notice that Da Costa operated as a secondary focal point next to Mora. While Mora is outstanding at using his body to shield the ball and hold up play (don’t get ahead of yourself Jeremy, Mora’s section is coming up next), Da Costa’s excellent ball skills allow him to escape from pressure like a little ghost. What he is absolutely begging for is direct runs in behind so he has another method to progress the ball besides his own carrying ability. Da Costa plays soccer like how I play FIFA: looking for every opportunity to hold down the Y button (or triangle if you have a PlayStation) to send balls through defensive lines. Tonight, his teammates were finally making the runs he has been crying out for. And Le Petit Prince spammed the Y button to his heart’s content. 4 chances created, multiple assist opportunities, and a ton of ground covered by the industrious Portuguese midfielder.

Felipe Mora: 7

The Chilean didn’t register a shot during his 74 minutes on the pitch. However, his hold-up and link-up play remained superb. Unfortunately, he was a victim of circumstance.

I think that a center forward should try to stay, you know, centrally. However, because Mora is one of the smartest players on the pitch, he recognized that the Timbers were offering very little from the right side. Moreno inverted, and Mora filled the space on the right side. Just an observation.

Kevin Kelsy: 8

I have been waiting for so long (one month, to be exact) for Kevin Kelsy to score his first Timbers goal. Not only because I like the Timbers and scoring goals is necessary in order to win games of soccer, but because of the instant confidence boost that Kelsy will receive after the ball hits the back of the net. I already talked about the freakish nature of the ball that he smashed into the Colorado net, but it’s time to talk about the run.

*Yeah, I’m putting it in again. It’s just so beautiful!*

Straight up the gut and right into the six yard box. Somehow the 6’4” giant was able to glide past his marker (ironically his former teammate Chidoze Awaziem who is also 6’4”) and get on the right side of Rosenberry to continue his “go” route. “In the next games, I’m hoping to show my confidence and show Phil what I’m capable of,” the 20-year-old Venezuelan said post-game. I love the complete Jekyll-and-Hyde dynamic that the Timbers have at the striker position. Mora, the smaller forward, is adept at hold-up play and finding the smallest amount of exploitable space in the box. Kelsy, the giant, makes lung-busting runs during transition opportunities and leaves entire backlines in his wake. That’s so cool. Hell yes.

Juan Mosquera: 6.5 and plenty of rust

Phil Neville’s stint as Timbers head coach has been full of entertainment, and one thing I have learned over the sixteen months of his tenure is his penchant for ethical lying. During Thursday’s press conference, the head coach stated that Juan Mosquera is still recovering from an injury to one of his patellar tendons. Despite returning to the training pitch on Tuesday for the first (observable) time since the season began, Neville estimated that the Colombian fullback would miss another “10 days-2 weeks” and that Tuesday’s open session was only his “second day” of training. However, the injury report released on Friday afternoon didn’t have Mosquera listed. The only player to start every league game in 2024 was traveling with the team. Maybe this was an optimistic prognosis. Maybe one of Portland’s “vibe captains” was coming on the trip to provide moral support to his teammates. Either way, I didn’t expect to see Juan David Mosquera make his season debut in Colorado with the Timbers up 2-0. Well, that’s what happened. Coaches do not need to be honest with injuries. My job is to report what they say regarding player availability. Neville isn’t obligated to tell me the truth, so he ethically lies about what players are fit enough to play. And, honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s done this on several occasions, most notably when he said Evander was “a major doubt” for last May’s game against Seattle. The Brazilian went on to play the full match. Every coach has their own way of handling the media. You never want to say too much, but saying too little becomes dull. Neville’s unique way of dealing with the press makes every availability entertaining. It could be brief dad jokes before he sits down or an ethical lie told with a straight face. More on this later, because this is about Juan Mosquera, not how Neville surprised everyone by giving him his season debut up 2-0 in Colorado.

It’s fair to expect a bit of rust when a player “hasn’t played football in 3 months” (another Neville quote). And that’s exactly how Mosquera looked: rusty. No harm, no foul from Neville’s perspective. Giving a player who needs to increase match fitness 15 minutes at the end of a game with a comfortable 2-0 lead is a smart choice. Even better if the game is being played in mile-high Colorado. Then it feels like 25 minutes. Good to see Mosquera back on the pitch. The Timbers are getting more of their starters back, and the team is beginning to find their rhythm. More positives! Yay!

Joao Ortiz: 7

The Ecuadorian didn’t see the pitch against LA, and bringing him on to protect a lead was another shrewd move from Neville. Ortiz completed all of his attempted passes (11/11, make a wish), which is a great sign from a player who struggled in his first three starts. On Thursday, Neville said that Ortiz had a great week of training. Maybe he was thrown into the fire too soon. That was my belief after his first three starts, and I see no reason to change that line of thinking.

Ian Smith: A Moral Victory

The former University of Denver fullback returned to his college town and subbed on as a left-wing replacement for Antony, who moved to the right. He registered one touch during his shift: a single completed pass. Congratulations to Ian Smith. In his first media availability, he stated that he felt comfortable playing anywhere on the left side. I just feel happy for him. I can’t properly rank his contributions due to how limited they were, but it had to feel good to make a professional appearance in the same place where he was a student only three months ago. A hefty two thumbs up and a pat on the back for Portland’s newest impact draft pick. By the way, in case you missed it, Justin Rasmussen scored a bicycle kick for USL side Oakland Roots at the Coliseum tonight.

Congratulations to him as well, even though his team lost despite a record crowd in attendance. Tonight feels really good. I like when the Timbers win on the road.

Cristhian Paredes: 7.5

The Closer was the last Timber to enter the pitch tonight. He came on for Antony, and promptly occupied the Brazilian’s spot on the right wing (?).

It gives me great pleasure to report the following: this is a West Bromwich Albion reference.

For those who are unfamiliar with the greatest club in England, allow me to do some brief explaining. Jayson Molumby is your favorite player. You just found out who he is, but he’s already your favorite. The 25-year-old Irishman is West Brom’s one-man engine room in midfield. After initially arriving on loan three seasons ago, he was acquired permanently ahead of the 2022/2023 season. It seems like he has been a Baggie forever, but it’s only his fourth season with the club. Despite some lackluster technical skills, the Irishman is such a crucial part of Tony Mowbray’s bouncing Baggies. He does all of the dirty work, isn’t afraid to get in an opposition player’s face (and maybe throw a punch), kisses the badge and will literally play anywhere he is asked. Just take the heatmap above for example. This is from West Brom’s most recent league fixture; a gut-wrenching 1-1 home draw against Hull City. Molumby, the man who can’t be dropped, wasn’t in his usual spot alongside Alex Mowatt in the double pivot. He played as a right winger. I’ve never seen him play on the right before. But Tony Mowbray is a smart man, and he’s definitely smarter than me. So, despite my initial confusion when the teamsheet dropped, I allowed right-wing Molumby to exist. And boy, did he put in a shift. Because he always puts in a shift whenever he puts on the shirt. Who does that remind you of?

Paredes wasn’t asked to start on the right like Molumby was. But both players occupy the same role in their respective teams: a hard worker on and off the ball who will put in a shift wherever they are asked to play. Did the Paraguayan light the game on fire once he entered? No, he didn’t. But he did exactly what he needed to do. In five minutes of game time, he made one pass into the final third and tallied two interceptions. That’s what role The Closer needed to fill today, so he did. Excellent.

Table Time

There is no use looking at the table before the 5th game of the season. Austin and San Diego play tomorrow, which leaves the Timbers at a maximum of 8th in the West after 5 games with a -1 goal differential. That’s pretty decent! However, if that penalty was given against the Galaxy last weekend, they would’ve finished this week in the top 4. Yes, it’s early, but the West is still completely wide open. Some things never change.

Final Whistle

Neville’s demeanor after the match was similar to the way he spoke about his first match in charge of the club. That game, ironically, was also a statement win against the Colorado Rapids. He doled out praise for his best players while reminding everyone that they’re still a work in progress. But one question remained: is a performance like this what Neville imagines in his office when he’s drawing up the game plan for the next match? Is this his vision for how he wants his teams to play?

“I wanted them to play with freedom, no fear, imagination, discipline, and enjoyment. I’d say in the last 10 days, since we’ve got some more players back I’ve sensed the team and the group come together spirit-wise. And a team with spirit and a team that’s together is a dangerous team. It’s better than the team that’s incredibly talented. I saw a team that played as if they were playing at Providence Park, I saw a team that played with no fear, and I saw all 11 players plus the five that we put on, every single one of them wanting the ball. And I thought for the first time I felt it was more like I wanted and more like I expect.”

One word that was missing in this response was “courage.” Both Finn Surman and Kevin Kelsy mentioned it in their post-match interviews. To bounce back from such a brutal decision at the end of last week’s game and win away from home takes a high level of mental strength. In case you’re new here, this is the first time since 2018 that the Timbers won a regular season game in Colorado (Thanksgiving does not take place during the regular season, and legend has it that Larrys Mabiala still hasn’t scored all year). Tonight’s game was the first time in Timbers history that they shut out the Colorado Rapids in Commerce City. Not only were the Rapids undefeated heading into tonight’s matchup, their home ground was a place of multiple Portland beatdowns over the years. Colorado had a +14 goal differential across their previous 17 games against Portland at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Despite the various strengths of Rapids teams over that period, the Timbers rarely won here. They never dominated the Rapids here, until tonight.

A Timbers team filled to the brim with courage picked up an invaluable 3 points that could become very important towards the end of the season. But it wasn’t just the victory that was so valuable. It was the clean sheet. It was all three goals. It was the manner in which they dispatched their foe. That is what a Timbers road performance should look like. They haven’t put together a road result like that since parachute troops descended from the sky at Lumen Field in July 2022. Well, actually, the Timbers play so well in Seattle it’s like a second home. Let’s try to find another example.

*That’s another Seattle away game, maybe this one nope that’s Seattle away, none of the 2020 games count, my God how did they fumble 10 straight home games down the stretch in 2019, OK here it is!*

May 25th, 2019. The final game in a 12-game road trip to begin the 2019 season while Providence Park was undergoing an expansion. The Timbers waltzed into Philadelphia and beat the Union 3-1. Going back even further, a 4-1 victory at Rio Tinto on October 6th, 2018. The next game that piques my interest is the famous 5-2 victory at the (previously known as) Stubhub Center on October 18th, 2015. You might notice that all of these games (aside from the Philly match, which occurred after the Timbers were well-accustomed to being away from home) took place in the later months of the season. Per my research, the MLS-era Timbers have never won a road game by a difference of 3+ goals in the first three months of the MLS calendar. Especially not at the tail end of March. Tonight’s victory is the rarest of all Timbers wins: a convincing road victory in the early stages of the campaign. This game deserves to be savored. Especially after how last week’s match ended in a storm of disappointment, anger, and bewilderment. Especially after their eight-game winless streak away from home (including Leagues Cup) has been snapped in such a satisfying way. A signature win for Phil Neville and the 2025 Timbers.

The players can savor this on the flight back home. Once that plane lands, the work continues. The next step is learning how to apply their newfound work during their upcoming road trip. All three of Portland’s 2024 road wins came down to Evander finding a way to win the game. Tonight’s victory was different. It was a full team effort where each player built off each other’s performance. And that’s not even acknowledging the most impressive part: their youth stepped up to the plate and won the game for them. Surman, Fory, Ayala, Antony, Kelsy, Moreno, even Da Costa (because he’s only 24, after all) put in herculean shifts to lift Portland to heights they haven’t reached before in the early stages of the season. In their 50th year, the Timbers finally figured out how to convincingly win a road game in March. Incredible work. The climb continues.