Portland Timbers “earned” their spot in the playoffs

The Portland Timbers have, in coach Phil Neville’s words, “earned the right to say we are in the playoffs,” after a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake during Wednesday night’s wildcard match. Providence Park was not to capacity on such short notice, but the Timbers Army was ready with streamers and consistent loud enthusiasm flowing from the north end. 

When speaking with reporters after the match Phil said, “The way we came out in the first half was sensational, Da Costa in particular. He came out and played like he was an All Star, like he did three or four months ago. I thought Diego Chara played like a man possessed and we thought after Saturday’s game…we needed experience. And with Chara and with Pepe Mora, I think those players really delivered.”

And delivered they did! Chara took command of the midfield and played like a captain leading from the front of a charge. His lead by example worked and the rest of the team followed his charge, securing their first corner kick in just 4 minutes. 

Kristoffer Velde’s set piece work has been a gift to the Timbers, and he took every corner kick for Portland in the match. David Ayala made contact but set the ball high over the center of goal. 

A call in the 9th minute was most likely the reason Phil Neville slipped in the comment, “I think if we had a referee of any kind of quality, we would have won the game pretty easily,” when reflecting on the match. Velde and Jimer Fory worked the ball down the left touch line then sent a cross in for Antony, who made a parallel run towards the center of goal.

Anthony was called for a foul on Alexandros Katranis in what head referee, Guido Gonzales Jr, called a “push,” inside the box when he went to collect the cross. Replay showed that Antony’s back was to Katranis when they connected and that he was most likely the one fouled. 

RSL tried for a goal in the 13th but a fantastic block by Finn Surman led to a throw-in rather than a corner that ended with an easy catch for Portland keeper, James Pantemis. 

The first caution of the night was given to former Timber, Noel Caliskan, for taking down Mora at the midfield. He took down Chara on the following play, earning Portland a free kick and narrowly avoiding a second yellow card. These back-to-back fouls would see Caliskan replaced at the half by fellow midfielder Emeka Eneli.

Velde took service from the near right touchline. Felipe Mora connected with a header that was saved by Rafael Cabral but was able to recover the rebound and sent the ball to the back of the net for the first goal of the night! It was Mora’s first goal since May 3rd this year. 

Victor Olatunji tried to pull one back for Salt Lake in a sharp 28th minute attempt, but there was a little too much on the shot and the ball sailed over the cross bar and making contact with the big screen. 

Velde has his role figured out as he made one cross after another creating multiple chances at goal throughout the match. Unfortunately, he did not get credit for the assist on Mora’s 2nd goal of the night in the 35th minute even though his pass to Mora made the goal possible. Felipe’s first shot in front of the goal was once again blocked by Cabral and again deflected back to Mora for the finish. 

Salt Lake had no plans to give up easily and in the 39th minute they did manage to pull one back with a header by Justin Glad. The ball was placed in the top left corner of the net, just out of James’ reach. This allowed RSL to head into the locker room after 3 minutes of stoppage time with more hope than Portland would have liked.

Diego Chara and Kamal Miller each blocked a shot on goal in the 49th minute to start the action in the 2nd half. Portland would go on to make 4 more saves and hold their breath for 4 missed shots including a post hit in the first 28 minutes back on the pitch. The only shot for Portland during that time was a header by Kamal off a corner kick in the 72nd that was saved by Cabral.

Brayan Vera earned a spot in Guido Gonzales Jr.’s book for a foul against Antony in the 74th minute. Portland was unable to capitalize on the foul and RSL reclaimed the ball resulting in a shot on goal saved by Pantemis. 

There was a contested moment in the 75th when Ayala was called for a handball outside the box. Vera took service for RSL and sent the ball to the back of the net for what would have been the equalizing goal if not for a foul by Rwan Cruz. Cruz shoved part of the Timbers wall to the ground before the goal, and it was therefore recalled and the Timbers given possession. 

The first big substitutions of the match were initiated by Phil Neville in the 78th minute. Ari Lassiter came on for Antony and Christian Paredes replaced Ayala in equal swaps while RSL brought on forward Jesus Barea to replace midfielder Braian Ojeda.

The 3rd but certainly not last yellow card for RSL was awarded in the 79th to DeAndre Yedlin checking Velde hard in the back at the midway touch line. Portland seized the foul opportunity and a ball from Mora to Velde had to be punched away by Cabral resulting in a corner kick for the Timbers. 

Providence Park was loud and on their feet as Velde’s service on the corner landed at the near post and was kicked around until landing at the feet of Ari Lassiter. Lassiter sent a cross to Miller, who was unmarked and had made his way behind RSL’s defense to the left post. Without hesitation, Miller sent the ball flying to the back on the net to put Portland up 3-1 in the 82nd minute. 

The return play saw another yellow card for Salt Lake, this time going to National Team member Diego Luna for descent after Cruze was called for a foul on Jimer Fory. Portland made two substitutions during the pause to bring on Joao Ortiz and Kevin Kelsy for Da Costa and Mora respectively. 

James saved a shot by Luna in the 86th which led to a corner for RSL that they were unable to capitalize on. Alexandros Katranis picked up the team’s 5th and final caution card in the 88th after he repeatedly clipped Mosquera at his heels. Mosquera was able to stay on his feet and still earn the foul.

Omir Fernández came in for Velde in the 90th to give Portland fresh legs for the 7+ minutes of stoppage time. Real Salt Lake threw everything they had into those final minutes with 5 separate attempts at goal. Most were blocked or were easy collections for Pantemis. 

Portland now turns their sight to San Diego for the best of 3 series starting on Saturday in California then back to Portland on November 1st.