Dos Eh Cero

6 games unbeaten and a win over a hated rival. The vibes are immaculate.

The Portland Timbers have won another game of soccer! They didn’t just beat a Western Conference foe; they beat the hated Canadian menace! 

It took the Timbers a little bit to grow into the game. Portland was solid defensively but was having trouble getting the ball moving towards Vancouver’s goal. The breakthrough came in the 26th minute after a brilliant counterattack. Juan Mosquera headed away a good cross from Sebastian Berhalter, and Diego Chara collected the ball and instantly played Santiago Moreno into acres of space on the right. Moreno had plenty of time to drive at defenders, and he played a diagonal ball for Felipe Mora. The Chilean passed it back to Evander with one touch, and the Brazilian’s pass found Jonathan Rodriguez in the box. Rodriguez slotted the ball past Yohei Takaoka and the stadium erupted. 1-0. The Timbers needed to score another goal before halftime and they did in the 43rd minute. A long ball intended for Fafa Picault took a heavy touch off of his chest, and Moreno was there to pick up the loose ball. He carried the ball forward and then found Mora in the box. The Chilean did the rest and fired the ball past Takaoka to give the Timbers a crucial 2-0 lead heading into halftime. They did not want that first half to end.

The second half started off in the best possible way for the Timbers. Alessandro Schopf was shown a second yellow card after a cynical foul on Santiago Moreno while trying to stop a counter. Before tonight, the Whitecaps have been the beneficiary of controversial calls in their favor in every Cascadia match. The first was the blatant missed penalty against the Timbers on March 30th. Then Jackson Ragen got sent off (a little harsh but very funny) after a hard tackle on Ryan Gauld a month later. In their second trip to Seattle, it looked like the Sounders were going to win but a late shot hit Nouhou’s hand in the box. The referee correctly awarded a penalty and Nouhou was shown a second yellow. That was also very funny. Tonight, Ted Unkel made the correct decision. In the bowels of Providence Park after the game, Vanni Sartini was on the phone and rather upset about the yellow cards shown to his team. You could make the argument that there weren’t enough yellows shown to the Vancouver Whitecaps today, but I simply do not care. Point is, the Timbers were up a man after 52 minutes of game. What happened next? They didn’t score but they did protect their clean sheet. The Timbers win 2-0 at Providence Park and their unbeaten streak grows to 6 games.

This result would not have been possible without the first half. Outside of the season opening destruction of the Colorado Rapids, it’s safe to say that this was the best first half that the Portland Timbers have played all season. And the stat sheet backs that up.

Portland kept the ball, put 6 of their 8 shots on target, and could have added a third if the half was a couple minutes longer. Despite this, I was most impressed with the quality of their high press. In order to win this game, the Timbers had to be ruthless on second balls and capitalize on Vancouver’s mistakes. They did that! Phil Neville explained it best in the post-game press conference: “There was a 20-minute stretch in the first half where I just sat down and I thought, ‘This is really good football. This is exactly what I want to see from a Portland Timbers team.’ High press, high aggression, taking the ball.”

HE DID IT! HE SAID THE QUIET PART OUT LOUD! All of this talk about “mentality” and “will” needed a legitimate tactical shift to fully embrace the “mentality” that Neville is constantly talking about. Let’s go back to the March 30th game in Vancouver for a second. With the team down 2-0 coming out of halftime, Neville made a tangible tactical shift. The Timbers defended higher up the pitch and they were able to claw back to 2-2 due to this increased press in Vancouver’s half. Portland took a little bit to get going on the offensive end tonight, but they started out pressing. So what changed in the second half?

The red card allowed them to get a little complacent. With a 2-0 lead and up a man, they did not press with the same intensity that they did in the first half. Neville wasn’t too happy about that. And neither was I. When you play your rivals, you want to demolish them. Embarrass them. Send them back to their silly home with their tails between their legs. Portland did not do that! With a man advantage, they only took 6 shots and put one of them on target. But the defense was able to hold on, and the Timbers were able to pull out the victory in what turned into a dull second half. And honestly, I’m pretty OK with it. Not the lack of impetus from the hosts, but a boring half of soccer that didn’t add anymore stress. The Timbers never looked like they were going to lose this game. And that is incredibly comforting.

Everyone gets a gold star tonight, but my Man of the Match is Diego Chara. When the attack was struggling to get going in the first half, the captain was regularly driving the ball forward. He also put in an excellent defensive shift. But I loved watching him get forward and help the attack in the final third. I’ve been saying it all year: David Ayala is the perfect partner for him. Tonight their partnership shone again, but the captain delivered in a derby match. What more could you ask for? 

I’ve been incredibly harsh on Santiago Moreno this season. It is his 4th season in Portland and his attacking play has regressed over the past two seasons. He is an attacker, and he needs to fill up the stat sheet. Tonight, he did register an assist, but there is another dimension to his game that is absolutely crucial to this team right now. First, let’s take a look at his heatmap.

Despite playing on the right wing, Moreno was everywhere on the right side and even in the middle. When he plays on the right, he likes to cut inside to the channels. Last season, the Colombian was playing his best soccer as an 8 under Miles Joseph. Technically, if Neville wanted to play a 4-3-3, Moreno could slot right in next to Evander as one of two 8s. But since the head coach is very committed to the 4-2-3-1 (at least for now….) Moreno is out on the right while Jonathan Rodriguez occupies the left. Given the current state of the roster without projecting anything for the transfer window (do not worry, a summer transfer window preview is coming this week filled with loads of info) there is an argument to be made about Moreno playing on the left instead of the right. He has an excellent partnership with Juan Mosquera, but Antony has looked a little lost on the left wing. Felipe Mora’s health is still a significant concern, and Rodriguez can play as a lone striker if absolutely necessary (given the current state of the roster). A front four of Moreno-Evander-Antony with Rodriguez up top could absolutely work if needed. Neville should not be afraid to put Moreno on the left. I think it would get the most out of all the attacking players in that hypothetical front four. But that’s just a tangent I just went on because I think it’s important. What Moreno is doing for the Portland Timbers off the ball is just as important as his production with the ball at his feet.

These are Santiago Moreno’s defensive actions from tonight’s game (eternal thanks to @mlsstat on Twitter, go follow him if you haven’t already). Moreno attempted 3 tackles tonight and won all of them. Neville has been speaking about mentality, and Moreno’s defensive mentality is the strongest out of any attacker. Look at what he’s been able to do during the entire season.

Time to do some math. Moreno has played 1,393 minutes across 18 matches this season (16 starts). That equates to 15.4 full 90s (full games). Using this data (once again y’all need to follow @mlsstat on Twitter) Moreno is averaging 11.1 total defensive actions per 90. But while these numbers look very impressive, they need to be run against other players in FBRef’s database. Do they hold up?

Not only do they hold up, they’re downright fantastic. Maybe I have been too harsh on him, but the eye test and the numbers are 2 different things. When put together, they paint a true picture of the Colombian: unbelievably good off-the-ball, but not consistent with the ball at his feet. If Moreno can improve his decision-making around the box, he can be an elite MLS player. I’m going to close this section by looking at this map one last time.

The Timbers have only used a high press occasionally, but it has become a defining feature of their recent run of form. Players like Santiago Moreno are crucial to this tactic, and if he continues to be an absolute demon off the ball the ceiling of the Portland Timbers will continue to rise. No need for the Nagbe map today. I have seen the light.

Juan Mosquera has gotten a ton of stick from fans since his ascension to a starting role last season. “He’s always out of position!” “He doesn’t defend!” “Other teams exploit the Timbers’ right side whenever he starts!” “His attacking production doesn’t outweigh his liability on the defensive side of the ball!” 

These have been valid concerns. I am one of the people who have been raising those concerns. But Mosquera is a young player. Fullback is one of the toughest positions to master on the pitch. And over the past month he has vastly improved on the defensive side of the ball. He also has a legitimate shout for Man of the Match! Not only did he create 2 big chances, he totaled 15 defensive actions. He won both of his tackles and an aerial duel. I mentioned that duel earlier because it led to the Timbers’ first goal. If you are going to take your time and energy to slag on a player, you have to praise that player when he is in great form. Bravo, Juan.

Zac McGraw had a tough start to 2024. He began the year as a locked-in starter, but had trouble finding his sea legs under a new coach in a new system. With so much competition at center back, it only took a couple of bad performances (and a concussion) for him to lose his starting job. Neville is already coining some phrases in his brief time as Timbers’ head coach, and my favorite has got to be his “bus metaphor.” He wants his players to be fully on board, and for a brief second in the beginning of May it looked like McGraw might not be along for the ride. This pained me deeply. Last season I defended McGraw with every bone in my body after he got overlooked for a major award. When Neville was hired as the Timbers’ head coach, McGraw was one of the few players who already had his number saved in his phone. I thought that it would be a huge boon to McGraw to work under a coach that he was already familiar with. But the tough start to the season changed that. McGraw had only one option: get back on the bus. Not just mentally, but tactically as well. Neville’s system exposed some weaknesses in McGraw’s game that I have already documented. Chief among them was his ability on the ball. McGraw is an excellent defender and a monster in the air; this is known. But after a recent string of good performances, McGraw’s ability on the ball shone tonight. I would like to draw your attention to one brief moment in the second half. Around the 50th minute or so (source: trust me I did not write down the exact moment in my notes) McGraw is organizing the team in front of him with the ball at his feet. He directs Santiago Moreno to his right side (making him a de-facto right back) which causes a Vancouver player to follow Santi. This opens up space for Diego Chara to occupy, and McGraw plays a simple pass to his captain who then springs an attack. This is a very minor movement, to be absolutely clear. It probably didn’t register to many viewers (myself included because I DIDN’T WRITE DOWN THE EXACT TIMESTAMP BUT IT’S IMPORTANT SO TRUST ME). But that is what confidence can do for a player. McGraw was his usual excellent self tonight and his aerial prowess has single-handedly improved the Timbers’ set-piece defense. He’s fully back on the bus.

Dario Zuparic missed some time earlier this season for “personal reasons.” The exact nature of this absence was unclear, and it’s not like Zuparic would willingly talk to reporters about it. “I’m happy. We won the game. We did not concede a goal again and that’s great for me. I wish that we conceded so I don’t have to be here,” he told a room full of media members after the game ended. This isn’t the only Zup-ism that the Croatian shared during another rare but golden media appearance. When answering a question about the team’s defensive improvement, he only had to say 3 words to properly respond: “Because I’m playing.” He is absolutely correct. Since his return to the starting lineup against Seattle, Dario Zuparic has been one of the most consistent players on the team. He has started every game and played every minute. However, he has picked up three yellow cards and is one away from picking up a one-match suspension. So how does he avoid getting booked with so much on the line? “I just use my brain a little more.” He went on and explained about how he tones down his aggression but sometimes he has to make some “stupid fouls” if his teammates aren’t properly covering for him. Without saying it directly, Zuparic illustrated exactly why the defense has been improving. All of the defenders are doing their jobs, and the Croatian doesn’t have to make any reckless decisions and face the consequences. He has to play in 3 more games without a yellow card to get one of those bookings removed per the Good Behavior Incentive. Nothing would pain Dario more than having to miss a game of soccer. Only three games to go, Zupa.

Jonathan Rodriguez also took questions from reporters for the first time since his arrival 3 months ago. Oddly enough, tonight’s game took place exactly 3 months from the date of his debut match against Philadelphia. So much has happened since then, and the shy (affectionately) Uruguayan has seen a terrible winless streak followed by a sudden and deserved reversal of form. Throughout all of it, Jonathan Rodriguez has been scoring goals. Over the past 9 matches, Rodriguez has tallied 6g/2a. He’s had to adapt on the fly, but he gave an honest assessment about his adaptation to his new team: “I think it’s normal to have the transition at the beginning with new teammates and I think we’ve been working really hard on connecting.” Based on the eye test, he already has an excellent partnership with several of his friends on the team. Those people include his fellow attackers Evander and Felipe Mora, while defender Claudio Bravo has formed a good partnership with him on the left. He also gave some insight about his adaptation to his new club and home. “I didn’t know that I’ve only been here three months! I’m very happy and comfortable here. I’m happy to be in this team and I knew that it would be a difficult transition but I’m starting to feel really happy with my teammates.” Remember this: Portland is the 8th different club that Rodriguez has played for in his career. It is also the 6th different country that he has played in. He deserves a ton of credit for being able to adapt so quickly. He’s happy, he’s scoring goals, and he’s helping the team win games. Vamos.

Claudio Bravo had a good game, but it flew under the radar. He put in his share of the defensive work and helped the team keep another clean sheet. He stayed disciplined in the tackle while providing some decent attacking threat. 

Another clean sheet for James Pantemis! While Maxime Crepeau is impressing at Copa America, the Timbers’ backup is proving why he was such a crucial addition for Ned Grabavoy in the winter transfer window. Tonight, he looked comfortable in possession and did everything he needed to in order to keep another shutout. Great work.

Felipe Mora scored again, and has upped his tally to 9 goals on 24 shots. His ruthless efficiency from earlier in the season has cooled down a bit, but one goal every 2.6 shots is nothing to sneeze at. He only played 77 minutes and hasn’t played a full 90 since May 12th against Seattle. While Rodriguez and Evander are both incredible players, any injury to Mora could be catastrophic so I don’t have any issues with him getting subbed out on a regular basis. He is an elite MLS poacher and his nose for goal is among the best in the league. Tonight’s goal broke a 2-game scoreless drought for him. That is tied for the longest drought of the season for him. He is already a hero and every possible step should be taken to extend his longevity. When he plays, he scores. 

David Ayala had another great game. His substitution in the 64th minute wasn’t due to any fitness concern, but it was precautionary due to his yellow card. Watching him play is an absolute delight. Tonight he was rifling off trivela passes as easily as I snap my fingers. The future is now.

Tonight’s player notes end with Evander. His assist tonight now brings his season tally to 8. But I would like to talk about the start of the first half. He looked a little off his game during the opening stages of the match, but he took the initiative. The Brazilian began to drop deeper in the midfield to get some extra touches, and then his confidence began to grow. He must have been furious that a whistle blows after 45 minutes because he was playing some unbelievable ball in the first half. His second half was rather lackluster for his standards, but it was the first bit of “bad Evander” that has seen a soccer pitch in a long time. He certainly doesn’t deserve any slag for his performance tonight. Every week, Timbers fans are watching a master at work. There is a charity match on Wednesday, and I just want to see him try every single trick in the book. The MVP pace continues.

Now that I have showered the players with the praise that they deserve, it’s time for a standings check!

SIX GAMES UNBEATEN! 6TH PLACE IN THE WEST! THE PORTLAND TIMBERS ARE ONE OF ONLY 3 TEAMS THAT HAVEN’T LOST IN THEIR PAST 5 GAMES! AND THE TIMBERS HAVEN’T DONE IT IN 6! THE TIMBERS ARE 5-2-2 WITH TILLAMOOK AS THE JERSEY SPONSOR! THE VIBES ARE THE HIGHEST THAT THEY’VE BEEN ALL SEASON! BUT THIS ISN’T THE ONLY TABLE THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED!

THANK YOU TO THE DILIGENT WIKIPEDIA EDITOR FOR UPDATING THIS! HOWEVER, IT ISN’T 100% CORRECT BECAUSE THE WHITECAPS HAVE LOST A GAME (LMAO) AND THEIR GOAL DIFFERENTIAL IS ONLY +1! THE PORTLAND TIMBERS ARE BACK IN THE CASCADIA CUP RACE! 

Time to check the points target that I set prior to Wednesday’s game!

SIX POINTS DOWN, EIGHT TO GO! Seriously, even though the Timbers could have (and should have) beaten the Vancouver Whitecaps into a pulp after the red card, they accomplished something that hasn’t happened since the 2nd leg of the 2015 Western Conference Semifinals: the Dos Eh Cero. With hindsight, I can’t be mad at how the second half played out. These players are on the bus, and Neville wants this team to begin blowing their opposition out of the water. Next weekend, the Timbers welcome a reeling Minnesota United team that has lost their last 3 games and has been outscored 10-3 in that stretch. The last time that the Timbers lost a game was against Minnesota, and they are bound to be energized to right the wrongs of their away day. But before they can face the Loonies, they will take the field on Wednesday night in a charity match alongside the Portland Thorns. The vibes will be immaculate, but now the Thorns have a job to do. They have their own demons to exorcize tomorrow, and the Kansas City Current is no pushover. Just win and set up Wednesday as a celebration of soccer in the Rose City. I encourage everyone reading this to buy tickets to the Thorns game (1 PM kickoff time at Providence Park) and keep the good vibes from tonight rolling into tomorrow. The climb continues.