The Portland Timbers started off hot scoring two goals in the first 60 minutes. Chicago struck back with two goals of their own in the last 30, the game ending in a 2-2 draw. With this draw the Timbers extend their unbeaten streak to 12 matches and remain undefeated away from home.
Portland had three chances on goal in the first four minutes, each shot ricocheted off the post and back into play. These chances set the tone of the first 45 minutes in Toyota Park. The Timbers controlled play, pressured the Fire, and attacked endlessly.
Diego Valeri scored his fourth goal of the season in the 33rd minute to give Portland a 1-0 lead. His shot, like the three before it, struck the woodwork. However, this time the ball bounced into the net rather than back into play. Portland continued to look for chances, but found none and went into halftime with a one goal lead.
The Timbers continued to play their game in the second half. Frederic Piquionne drew three defenders to the right side of the box who all expected him to cut inside and shoot. Instead, Piquionne dribbled to the corner of the box and passed to a trailing Ben Zemanski up top. Zemanski shot the ball right into the bottom-left corner from 23 yards out to earn his first goal as a Timber and to give Portland a 2-0 lead.
After this goal Chicago got mad and stepped up the energy beginning with a Mike Magee yellow card in the 60th minute. Magee would score 8 minutes later due to miscommunication between defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste and keeper Milos Kocic. Kocic came out to smother the ball and deny Magee at the same time that AJB was streaking in to tackle the ball away. What happened is Kocic slid under while AJB went over while dragging his feet, Kocic grabbed the ball and the dragged foot of AJB knocked it loose. The ball landed right in front of Mike Magee who calmly tapped it into the goal, 2-1 Timbers.
Dan Paladini scored the game tying goal for Chicago in the 84th minute off a free kick earned by Mike Magee. Paladini curled the goal the ball into the far side of the goal while Kocic was still setting up the defensive wall.
Game Notes:
1. Valeri needs more playing time. The Timbers midfield presence fell apart as soon as Valeri was taken off the field. If Valeri needs to be taken off, either Alhassan or Valencia need to come on. Alhassan can continue the link-up play and be creative, while Trencito can change the style of the game into less of a “Porterball” system.
2. Jose Valencia needs more playing time. Valencia can’t come on with three minutes to play and be expected to score. I think he should be brought on between 65’ and 80’ to be most effective. I hope we will see him start alongside Piquionne in at least one MLS game this season.
3. Defensive Communication lost this game. Milos Kocic did pretty well in his first MLS start for Portland. It was obvious though that he lacks the same level of communication with his defense that Donovan Ricketts has. AJB also needs more composure in the box. This isn’t the first time his uncontrolled, full-speed runs in the box have lead to easy goals for the opposing team.
(image courtesy of USA Today Sports Images)
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