Counter Point
Portland Timbers finished their first undefeated month in the Major League Soccer era with a 1-1 draw against Cascadia rivals Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night. Having picked up at least one point in each of the four games in May, Portland has climbed from last place in the Western Conference to seventh. Kris Boyd scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season and the Timbers played an overtly offensive style for the first time this season. Yet all is not rosy as a three week break from league play commences. Just three goals were scored in the Timbers’ favor during the month, one of them coming through a Chicago own-goal. In fact, Portland scored only six goals in April and May combined, including two own-goals.
MLS Kits Weekly – Week 12
Wednesday May 23:
Red Bull New York 1
Chivas USA 1
Seattle Sounders 0
Columbus Crew 2
LA Galaxy 2
San Jose Earthquakes 3
Saturday May 26:
Houston Dynamo 2
LA Galaxy 1
Toronto FC 1
Philadelphia Union 0
Columbus Crew 2
Chicago Fire 1
DC United 3
New England Revolution 2
Colorado Rapids 3
Montreal Impact 2
Portland Timbers 1
Vancouver Whitecaps 1
Chivas USA 1
Seattle Sounders 1
Sunday May 27:
Sporting Kansas City 2
San Jose Earthquakes 1
MLS Kits Weekly – Week 11
Tuesday May 15:
Houston Dynamo 0
Portland Timbers 0
Wednesday May 16:
DC United 2
Colorado Rapids 0
Saturday May 19:
Vancouver Whitecaps 2
Seattle Sounders 2
Montreal Impact 1
Red Bull New York 2
DC United 3
Toronto FC 1
New England Revolution 2
Houston Dynamo 2
FC Dallas 1
Philadelphia Union 1
Colorado Rapids 2
Sporting Kansas City 2
San Jose Earthquakes 1
Columbus Crew 1
Chivas USA 1
LA Galaxy 0
Sunday May 20:
Portland Timbers 2
Chicago Fire 1
US Open Cup – Timbers U23 1 – PSA Elite 3
PSA Elite made the trip north to Portland and emerged with a 3-1 win over the Portland Timbers Under 23s in the First Round of the US Open Cup on Tuesday night. Two goals from Davis Paul sandwiched Christian Ramirez’s tally to separate the two sides on the final score line in an evenly played match.
The visitors escaped two terrific first half chances from the home standing U23s as goalkeeper Trevor Whiddon brilliantly saved a Steven Evans shot in the second minute and the crossbar kept out a Mark Sherrod header in the 27th.
While the Timbers were active and enthusiastic offensively, their chances were just slightly off. Evans’ shot wide of the right post in the 44th minute was emblematic of the night for the home side. Roberto Farfan flicked a ball in the box back to Evans, whose shot had Whiddon well beaten, but so too the post.
The visitors nearly opened scoring in the 13th minute when Brent Whitfield poked in a rebound after Spencer Richey could not hold Paul’s shot. But Whitfield was ruled offside and PSA had to wait until the 24th minute for the game’s first goal. A long throw-in from Joseph Sophia reached the six-yard box where Paul headed past Richey for a 1-0 lead. In the 39th minute, Ramirez lifted the ball off the turf, from Jonathan Prieto’s pass, and fired in PSA Elite’s second goal, easily beating Richey to the top left corner.
Portland pulled a goal back in the 56th minute when Eric Miller claimed a deflection and scooted into the box, firing at the near post past Whiddon. That goal delighted the home crowd and changed the pace of the game. PSA sat in defensively, only emerging on counter attacks through Whitfield and later substitute Andrew Riemer. “When you’re forced to play a young team, you certainly want to take the opportunities when they come and not force the ball,” said PSA manager Gary Berry. Indeed, the visitors were patient as they weathered a late onslaught from the Timbers.
The Timbers’ best chance at an equalizer came in the 75th minute when Whiddon was called upon again, this time denying Sherrod at the near post. A minute later, shots from Cameron Vickers and Evans were denied by deflections as Portland filled the box with just a quarter hour to play.
Yet Paul’s influence on the game for PSA was complete when he fired in the game’s final goal. The bending, one-time shot to the top left corner came from just inside the box and put the game finally out of reach for the visitors.
Said Berry afterward, “The Timbers were super excited to be in the Open Cup and the Portland fans were right behind them. It was tough to come here and play on their turf, and they really had us on our toes.”
PSA Elite advance to play Carolina RailHawks in Cary, North Carolina next Tuesday May 22.
MLS Kits Weekly – Week 10
Wednesday May 9:
Red Bull New York 1
Houston Dynamo 0
FC Dallas 0
Seattle Sounders 2
Chicago Fire 0
Real Salt Lake 0
Saturday May 12:
Montreal Impact 1
Los Angeles Galaxy 1
New England Revolution 4
Vancouver Whitecaps 1
Chicago Fire 2
Sporting Kansas City 1
Seattle Sounders 0
Real Salt Lake 1
Sunday May 13:
Philadelphia Union 2
Red Bull New York 3
MLS Kits Weekly – Week 9
Wednesday May 2:
New England Revolution 2
Colorado Rapids 1
Seattle Sounders 2
LA Galaxy 0
San Jose Earthquakes 5
DC United 2
Friday May 4:
Chivas USA 1
Chicago Fire 2
Saturday May 5:
Toronto FC 0
DC United 2
Seattle Sounders 1
Philadelphia Union 0
Vancouver Whitecaps 2
San Jose Earthquakes 1
LA Galaxy 0
Red Bull New York 1
Sporting Kansas City 0
Montreal Impact 2
Real Salt Lake 2
New England Revolution 1
Portland Timbers 0
Columbus Crew 0
Sunday May 6:
FC Dallas 0
Colorado Rapids 2
MLS Kits Weekly – Week 8
Wednesday April 25:
FC Dallas 1
Real Salt Lake 1
Saturday April 28:
Montreal Impact 2
Portland Timbers 0
Red Bull New York 1
New England Revolution 0
Philadelphia Union 1
San Jose Earthquakes 2
Columbus Crew 0
Vancouver Whitecaps 1
Chicago Fire 1
Seattle Sounders 2
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