Heat, Consistency Issues Doom Portland Timbers In 3-1 Defeat To Houston

The Portland Timbers once again suffered a disappointing defeat on Saturday, this time 3-1 at the hands of the Houston Dynamo. It was a disjointed and ultimately disappointing effort from the Timbers, which was certainly not helped by the unseasonably warm temperatures and high humidity Houston greeted them with.

Fatigue could not be blamed for Houston’s first goal, however, which came in just the 9^th minute off a trademark Brad Davis free kick and headed in by an unmarked Will Bruin. Portland had a number of half-chances the rest of the half as Houston was content to sit back and play off the counter, but Portland’s attackers were seemingly always a half-step away or a half-second late when it came to the key final pass. Fanendo Adi was again one of the primary culprits in the first half, just missing on a number of chances.

But to Adi’s credit, he was clinical in finishing his best chance of the game, which came just after halftime and tied up the game at 1-1. Portland spent the next 10-15 minutes really pressing Houston, hoping to gain the lead. Instead it was Houston who struck next on the counterattack in the 75^th minute. This goal took the wind out of the Timbers’ sails, and Portland never seriously threatened Houston again. Will Bruin added in a well-taken chip in the 83^rd minute after a rare mental lapse from Nat Borchers let Bruin get in behind to complete the scoring, and Houston’s victory. The defeat left the Timbers with a record of 3-4-4, good enough for 13 points and 9^th place in the Western Conference, ahead of only league punching bag, Colorado. The Timbers have 3 wins thus far this season, but each victory has been immediately followed up by a loss. Despite playing a bottom-half West team who had yet to win a game at home before meeting Portland, this trend continued against Houston.

Countless other Timbers writers and fans have discussed the talent up and down the roster; Portland’s issue is not a lack of skill. With Adi, Darlington Nagbe, and Diego Valeri up top and Borchers teaming with Liam Ridgewell and a rapidly-emerging Alvas Powell to form the backbone, this edition of the Timbers does not lack for skill or playmaking ability. In fact, Portland’s performance so far this season would actually be easier to accept if it were simply a matter of lack of talent. But after handily beating FC Dallas and thoroughly outplaying Vancouver (albeit with no wins to show) twice, Caleb Porter and the Timbers faithful know this side can compete with anyone in MLS on any given day. No, the Timbers’ problem is one of consistency; a much more difficult issue for coaches to address, and a much more maddening problem for fans to watch.

Coach Porter must want to rip his hair out when he sees yet another set piece goal allowed through basic miscommunication, or when another opportunity to score is missed because the attacker didn’t finish a run; Timbers fans certainly do. “There’s no excuse,” said Coach Porter after being asked about giving up three goals to Houston, “I don’t think we made huge organizational mistakes, but we made some individual mistakes.” Porter may have been talking about the game against Houston, but he just as easily could be describing the Timbers’ season up to this point.

The Timbers are in the midst of a difficult stretch; after next week’s match against Toronto FC, Portland will have played five of their past six matches away from home while simultaneously attempting to re-integrate Valeri back into the offense.  Unfortunately for Portland, Saturday’s match, much like the 2-0 defeat Portland suffered against Orlando City FC last month, posed more questions about Caleb Porter’s squad and their manager. If the Timbers can’t find a measure of consistency and continue to put forward performances like this, Portland won’t like the answers.