San Diego wins the top of West in memorable inaugural MLS season

It was a busy day in Portland, the “No Kings March” that had gathered earlier a 40,000 strong march in Downton Portland, and the evening brought the MLS Season finale for the first ever visit of MLS expansion franchise, San Diego FC. The festivities started with the display of a tifo in support of immigrants, “Without Them, there is no US”, in reference at the majority of non-US players in the current Timbers squad, and as a larger metaphor for immigrant rights.

Mexican National Team fans were disappointed to see their star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano not make the trip to Portland. Even missing their top gun, San Diego set the pace from the beginning of the match as it was expected. The visitors owned the ball, registering 70% of the possession, Portland tried to contain and hurt them in transition, a classic in modern football, possession vs. contention and counter attack.

San Diego looked very effective, not just in their tiki-taka style of play, they were most impressive at how they worked when they lost the ball. The way the midfield were able to exercise pressure in space, surround the ball with attacking players turning defensive halves in an instant, drowning the opposition before they could start pushing up. Portland does have fast players known to be able to hurt in the counter, but the Timbers found themselves unable to get the ball to a place where those runs could be effective

San Diego was with every minute feeling more comfortable in their play, with Danish playmaker Anders Dreyer, running the game midfield forward. It was him who would find his team mate from the other side of the Skagerrak (the straight that separates the Norway from Denmark), and Norwegian winger Amahi Pellegrino, running the left wing in free of mark, opened the score in minute 26. Portland didn’t seem to find a way to escape San Diego’s drag net, but were able to hold the score just one goal down till half time.

The second half was a Portland nightmare, starting with quick goal in 47. This time it was Pellegrino who served Dreyer. It was a cold plunge for the reaction aspirations of the home side, in a moment that the rain was also getting heavier. And like the saying goes, “when it rains, it pours”, Dreyer again, would strike with a wonderful chip over Timbers keeper James Pantemis two minutes later in 49, the match was now 3-0 for San Diego.

Portland had serious problems pushing forward, with more pride than order, they managed to generate their most clear opportunities of the match in this second half. Brazilian left wing Anthony missed a shot one on one with keeper Carlos Dos Santos left side of the attack, Dos Santos later saved a header won in the center of the box by Paraguayan midfielder Matías Rojas. The Timbers’ own Norwegian winger, Kristoffer Velde was very active pushing forward, but unlucky when attempting to turn it into real danger.

Apparently, it was set that it was going to be a Norwegian to score the last goal, and indeed it was, Amahi Pellegrino, earning a brace for San Diego, settled the final 4-0 in the 63rd minute. The rest of the match looked like an exhibition where San Diego showed of their remarkable ability to play at first touch at times, drawing the Timbers pressure to it’s own box, and goal keeper Carlos Dos Santos actively participated of this wicked rondo. That excess of confidence almost cost them an own goal in a risky pass back to the keeper.

The fans were anxious but supportive until the very last whistle, but they made their frustration known to the team as they walked back to the tunnel. Timbers historic defensive half, Diego Chará, was seen making the team stay to look to the eye of the fans in what usually is their post match salute, also to observe as defender Finn Surman, received the trophy as the Timbers Supporters player of the season. Surman was rested this weekend, after his international compromise with the New Zealand national team, and didn’t suit up for the match.

Emotions in the heat of the moment, and the relentless rain, had started to send fans home way ahead of the fourth referee stoppage time indications, and the San Diego fans were increasingly louder as Vancouver was falling at home vs Dallas FC. This result left the Southern Californians equal 63 points in the table with Vancouver, but with one more victory (19), effectively crowning them top of the West in their inaugural season. A dream season.

Portland weaknesses were badly exposed, the team has been struggling in these last strides of the regular season. They look like they are having trouble absorbing the new signings to their system. They are also showing poor confidence and consistency. But my open question is, was Saturday’s game against San Diego, the performance to really draw conclusions from? Portland have been dropping points at home, winning just 1 out of 4 of the last games, and that is just since August, giving away two draws, and last weekend loss.

Where does a bad performance end, and when does a great oppositions’ performance start? The answer is usually relative and often subjective. It was one of the popular post match conversation at the pub, “Is it Portland that bad, or is San Diego that good?” The answer usually would be a bit of both in some levels, but the crowning of the visitors at the top of the table and the continuous struggling in form by an otherwise decent and balanced squad like Portland, makes me think that the answer might be close to the second.

Portland’s loss made them fall from 7th place and the direct ticket to the playoffs down to 8th, and setting them for wild card battle against Real Sant Lake. The winner is to play San Diego FC in a three game showdown in the first round of playoffs. The wildcard game between Portland and Sant Lake City will be this Wednesday, October 22 at 7:30 PM at their home stadium Providence Park.

After the disappointment, Phil Neville was stressing on Monday’s press conference, that the team needed to try to learn as much as possible from Saturday’s debacle, but ultimately, hit the reset, and put all minds together for a “do or die” match vs Salt Lake. Experience is going to be a big factor in Neville’s opinion, and he signaled the possibility that Diego Chará might be in the starting 11, “Wednesday Night is the night for stability, Wednesday night is a night for Diego Chará”.

Photos by Diego G Diaz