The Portland Timbers just can’t seem to shake their first half struggles and it cost them once again on Sunday, as they fell to the rival Seattle Sounders 2-1 in a critical Western Conference clash.
Portland was clearly the more aggressive team coming out and consistently had the better chances throughout the match, but a collective defensive lapse and a questionable penalty call allowed the hosts to take a 2-0 lead into the half. Jack Jewsbury scored off a Diego Valeri corner kick to pull one back for the visitors, but the Sounders were able to bunker down and hold on for all three points.
At the end of the day though, the story, as it has been all season long, was Portland’s inability to finish chances created. Jewsbury had a wide-open header in the box that was sent wide; Melano was in 1-on-1 against the keeper and also had an open volley inside the box that was also sent wide. Portland has spent nearly the entire 2015 campaign failing to capitalize on chances, and it has cost them numerous points and positions in the table.
The loss leaves the Timbers in 5th place in the Western Conference, with 40 points from 27 games, just ahead of Seattle’s 38 points from 27 games and San Jose’s 38 points from 26 games. The three teams will now sprint to the finish, and it’s very likely that at least one will miss out on the playoffs.
Portland now faces a critical four game stretch that includes three matches in the friendly confines of Providence Park. For the Timbers to remain above both Seattle and San Jose and earn a playoff birth, Coach Porter and the team will have to take every advantage of this stretch of home games, beginning next week against a struggling Sporting Kansas City team.
While the loss to Seattle undoubtedly hurts, the match was not without positives for the Timbers. Valeri, Portland’s talisman and most important offensive player, looked more dangerous than he has all season long. His pinpoint service on free kicks gave the Sounders fits all game long, and led to a goal along with multiple excellent chances. Were it not for the heroics of Seattle goalkeeper Steven Frei, Portland easily could have scored three or four goals from Valeri assists alone.
Valeri finally returning to form after a thus-far lackluster 2015 campaign could be the spark Portland needs to turn around an offense that has failed to live up to expectations after putting up the third-most goals in MLS in back-to-back seasons. While the Timbers lead the league in shutouts with 11, they are one of only three teams that have yet to score 30 goals in league play, despite being among the league leaders in shots taken. If this trend continues over the final seven games, Portland will end up watching the playoffs from home.
Valeri clearly has the best rapport and chemistry with new signing and fellow Argentinian Lucas Melano, as Valeri placed a number of balls at Melano’s feet that turned into chances for the Timbers, including Melano’s 1-v-1 with Seattle’s keeper. Frei’s excellent save on the play does not lessen the vision and touch of Valeri’s pass to set up the play. Melano’s chemistry and development into a true goal-scoring threat will be absolutely critical to Portland’s playoff push.
It must also be said that Fanendo Adi played an excellent game against Seattle, occupying defenders and constantly ending up in dangerous positions. His interplay with Valeri, Melano, and Darlington Nagbe was better than it has been all season, and was a big reason that the Timbers were able to constantly dominate the possession battle and create chances.
While it may sound trite, the Timbers are doing everything necessary to score goals except, well, actually scoring. Their interplay has improved dramatically with the return of Valeri and Will Johnson (who missed the Seattle match due to soreness in his leg), and the addition of Melano has given them an added dimension of speed and playmaking. But at the end of the day, the ball needs to end up in the back of the net and, despite the talent of Portland’s offense and the opportunities created, they simply have failed to do so in 2015 thus far.
On talent alone, Portland absolutely should be a playoff team; their defense and attacking talent are among the best in the league and they are one of the few squads in the league that could put their best against the best of a Los Angeles or Seattle and not be immediately overwhelmed.
But talent alone does not earn a playoff birth, as both Portland and Seattle are now all too aware of. It requires scoring goals, which Portland has not excelled at in 2015. If the campaign is to end up as a successful one for Coach Porter and the Timbers, Valeri must keep up this return to form and Melano must continue to develop; but most importantly of all, the Timbers have to do the most fundamental act in all of soccer; just put the ball in the net.
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