Donovan Ricketts and Andrew Weber each gave up a penalty over the span of two minutes in a 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids. A karate-kick to the thigh of Deshorn Brown and an arm to Vincente Sanchez’s leg led to Portland’s worst result of their short 2014 campaign.
The cold temperature and falling snow in Commerce City, Colorado seemed to affect the Timbers from the start. Portland faced a barrage of shots in the first 15 minutes from Deshorn Brown, Jose Mari, and Nick LaBrocca. The Rapid’s early attack set the stage for another slow Timbers start.
New starter Steve Zakuani snapped the Timbers back into things with a low shot at John Berner. He didn’t beat the keeper, but Zakuani on the wing was a nice change of pace for the Timbers. The way he cut in and shot was reminiscent of Rodney Wallace last year, a threat sorely missing in 2014.
The rest of the first half played out with Portland holding the majority of possession, but doing little with it. 0 – 0 after 45 minutes.
Colorado and Portland came out for the second half dead even. Little occurred until a costly foul in the 68th minute. Dillon Powers chipped a ball over the Timbers’ backline and right to Deshorn Brown. Faced with a one-on-one, Donovan Ricketts rushed off his line. He left his feet, missed the ball, and took out the Rapids’ attacking player with a jump kick. For his efforts, the Portland keeper earned a red card and an injury. Several minutes later in the 73rd, backup keeper Andrew Webber came on for Diego Valeri and prepared himself to stop a Vicente Sanchez penalty. He couldn’t. Sanchez calmly sent Webber the wrong direction and put the Rapids up a goal.
Things looked grim, but giving up the first goal wasn’t new for the Timbers. It happened against Philly and Chicago, and each time La Gata bailed the team out. But, just two minutes later Portland found themselves in a very similar situation: Andrew Webber on the line, preparing to stop a penalty kick.
Vicente Sanchez blew past the defense and found himself alone against a quickly closing Andrew Webber. Webber dove to catch the ball and instead caught Sanchez’s foot and brought the attacking player down. A yellow card was issued and Deshorn Brown stepped up to take the penalty. Webber saved the shot, but Brown blasted the rebound into goal and put the Rapids up 2-0 in the 75th minute.
Colorado midfielder Jose Mari earned a yellow card in the 84th minute. Six minutes later in the 90th he received his second, leaving both teams with ten men. Portland wasn’t able to build any attack in the final 15’ + 7’ and the Timbers left Colorado with nothing.
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