One thing’s for sure with the Timbers this season: They play at times like they really have it figured out. On a hot and humid Saturday night at Columbus Crew stadium, the Portland Timbers held position for the majority of the game before losing on a ping-ponging ball in the box that deflected off defender Futty Danso’s chest.
After last week’s road losing streak ended in Chicago with a formation change to a more unconventional 4-1-4-1, Coach John Spencer had his boys playing a more even ball possession game last night in the first half. With no real chances for the Crew on goal, Portland took it’s time feeling out the defense and backup goal keeper Andy Gruenbaum. In the first 20 minutes, the Timbers own James Marcelin and newly acquired Lovel Palmer took shots well outside the penalty box that tested the defense.
As they did two weeks ago at home against Seattle, Portland came out of the locker rooms at half switching to a more defensive-minded formation of a 4-5-1 to help protect the 1 point on the road, but as with the game against the Sounders this formation did not lead to as many chances in the forward third of the field for the team and the Crew definitely showed a renewed push in the last 25 minutes of the game. The defining moment of the game came in the 79th minute when Tom Heinemann’s shot from 10 yards out bounced off the left post and was smartly directed in (blindly it seemed) by midfielder Eddie Gavin in a crowded goal.
Game Notes: Timbers captain Jack Jewsbury will miss the team’s fourth and final exhibition game Tuesday night against Argentinean side Independiente because of his participation as the team’s lone representative in the MLS All-star game at Red Bull Arena.
Portland acquired two players from the Houston Dynamo in midfielder Lovel Palmer and Defender Mike Chabala for midfielder Adam Moffat and an international roster spot.
The Timbers also sent forward Ryan Pore on loan to the NASL’s Montreal Impact.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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