You know things are bad when the Timbers look to a home scoreless draw against Columbus for moral victories. But, in light of the club’s tepid start to 2012, such are the times.

Coming off a week where the team was publicly questioned in just about every possible regard, the Timbers were looking to set things back on course with three points. But for some poor finishing touches, they probably would have. As it is, however, the Timbers will have to be satisfied with moral victories rather than a real one.

The match opened up with some pretty riveting end-to-end action. In the 10^th minute, Darlington Nagbe seemed to be through on goal after a mistake by Crew center back Eric Gehrig, but Gehrig recovered nicely to harass Nagbe enough to give Andy Gruenebaum a chance to get the ball off Nagbe’s foot.

Ten minutes later, Rodney Wallace nearly put the Timbers on the board after taking a crack from 30 yards out on the left wing, but Gruenebaum dove to tap the ball just wide of the far post.

Columbus would take their turn on goal in the 27^th minute, as Mike Chabala and Jack Jewsbury cleared Milovan Mirosevic’s shot off the line, and Diego Chara similarly cleared Josh Williams’ effort to tap in the ensuing corner.

Whereas the first half hour was played in the respective attacking thirds, the remainder of the first half largely settled into the midfield, with Gruenebaum’s clearance of a dangerous-looking Franck Songo’o free kick in the 39^th minute being the only time either side truly threatened to break the deadlock.

In the second half the traffic would move largely in the Timbers direction, but despite a bevy of chances Portland couldn’t find the winner.

In the 58^th minute, Kris Boyd tried to bend a free kick from 20 yards out inside the near post, by the ball flew just wide of the target.

The Crew’s lone legitimate chance of the half came in the 66^th minute, when Troy Perkins tapped Williams’ header off of a corner kick just over the bar.

Portland’s best opportunity came just a minute later, when Songo’o sent a beautiful cross from the right wing toward the far post, but Boyd’s clear header flashed wide.

Boyd looked to redeem himself in the 82^nd minute, as his nodded ball angled toward the far post and an onrushing Hanyer Mosquera, but Gruenebaum snagged it before Mosco could facilitate the ball’s nestling into the side netting.

A minute later, Darlington Nagbe looked to have a go from distance after one of his signature runs on the ball, but the sure-handed Gruenebaum again extinguished the threat in the face of three Timbers waiting to put away any rebound.

Portland looked to have one final chance to snag a deserved winner in the 3^rd minute of stoppage time, but Jewsbury’s cross was just a little bit too high for Boyd, whose header again sailed wide of the far post.

There were certainly encouraging signs coming from the Timbers, but for all the chances they couldn’t find the net. Maybe it was just a spell of bad luck on Saturday, but the fact remains that the Timbers’ offense hasn’t scored in its last 337 minutes of soccer.

Match Observations

• John Spencer would hate me for saying this, but the Timbers really miss Kalif Alhassan. Kalif is really the only guy for Portland who is not only dynamic on the ball, but creative in setting others up. Boyd, obviously, is a true poacher. Nagbe’s strength is his magnificent ability to make runs on the ball. Diego Chara really isn’t a true attacking center midfielder, as his final third distribution is by far the weakest aspect of his game. Franck Songo’o thus far has looked more dangerous on the ball than in setting other up – although that could be more a matter of lack of playing time than anything else. The point is, there is nobody in the Timbers attack that has shown the ideas Kalif has. Portland could use a few more ideas right about now.
• I thought Spenny’s tactical changes worked pretty well on Saturday, and wouldn’t mind seeing something like that team again. Obviously, despite the lack of hard production, the Timbers were doing a much better job of creating chances than they have in the past several weeks.
• Opponents’ strategy against the Timbers has been to attack Portland’s right flank. It will be interesting to see if that changes one—maybe I should say “if”—the Timbers are able to fix the right back situation.
• The Timbers have yet to score in the south goal in MLS regular season play this year.
• In my opinion, the “Goals” song needs to become a permanent fixture. Loved it.

Timbers Grades

Troy Perkins, 6 Probably should have done better on both efforts that were cleared off the line, but was otherwise solid. His save on Williams in the second half was one of his better saves of the year.

Mike Chabala, 5 Decent outing for Chabala. Had some squirrely clearances and passes—including a giveaway that led to the Crew’s two efforts that were cleared off the line—but it was otherwise a pretty quiet day on the Timbers left flank.

Hanyer Mosquera, 7 Mosco has one of the most hilariously ironic nicknames ever. There is absolutely nothing in his play that resembles a mosquito. The guy is just a monster. He is developing into a rock solid central defender, and could become downright scary if he keeps improving at the rate he has over the past six weeks or so.

Futty, 6 Had a lights out first half, where he got to every ball that came anywhere near him. Wasn’t as influential in the second half, although he didn’t need to be. Spenny’s decision to bring him on in favor of Brunner is a little bit of a head scratcher considering Brunner has been fine, but Futty acquitted his coach well on Saturday.

Jack Jewsbury, 5.5 Was solid, if unspectacular, at right back. After the last several weeks that’s a welcome development. I don’t think Jack is going to be the answer there long term, but he may just be effective enough duct tape to give Gavin Wilkinson and Spencer time to figure something out.[1]

Rodney Wallace, 6 Rodney had a nice outing on the left wing, and combined with Mike Chabala pretty well going forward. I just don’t think Rod has the quality that the Timbers’ other options on the wings have, however, so I would be a little bit surprised to see him still there once the injury situation gets ironed out a bit.

Lovel Palmer, 5 Defensively he has been fine as a central midfielder; much, much better than he was at right back. I still think Lovel is too wasteful with the ball, however, to be a solution here long term.

Diego Chara, 7 This is the Diego we got used to seeing at the end of 2011. Was better launching the attack than he has been in the last few weeks, and is resuming the masterful job he does controlling the midfield. Even his fouls are good. If Diego can play like this on a regular basis, there will be much better things for Portland ahead.

Franck Songo’o, 5.5 A little bit of a tale of two halves for Franck. Looked uncomfortable at the start, but got better and better as the game went along. It’s important to keep in mind that before arriving in Portland, Franck hadn’t played much competitive soccer in quite some time. I am very interested to see what he looks like come July and August. He needs playing time to make it happen, though, so I welcome his inclusion in the XI and hope it keeps up.

Darlington Nagbe, 6.5 Another good outing for Darlington at the withdrawn striker spot. He’s much better utilized there, and the Timbers attack on the whole was a lot more width when he is at striker and somebody who doesn’t mind playing wide is on the wing.

Kris Boyd, 3.5 Could he use better service? Yes. But he had three pretty good opportunities—his two headers and the free kick—and only put one on frame.[2] Boyd’s rating will depend mightily on whether he scores or not. He had chances to on Saturday and didn’t. So, his rating suffers accordingly.

Eric Alexander, 4.5 Was pretty anonymous in his fifteen minute stint. Apparently he is in the doghouse for some reason, and he didn’t do anything on Saturday to change that.

Mike Fucito, 5 I like how active he is. Based on his short shift, he looks to be exactly as advertised—a high-work rate, scrappy striker. That said, did he even touch the ball?

Preseason Prediction: Timbers 1, Crew 1. Jewsbury, Dilly Duka.

Actual Result: Timbers 0, Crew 0.

Onward, Rose City!