The talk going into Sunday afternoon was about opportunity for the Timbers. If Portland could steal a win at the Home Depot Center they would stand three points out of playoff position with at least a game in hand on everybody above them.

But you know what they say about the best laid plans.

For a half it looked like the Timbers had used the break to turn a corner.  Portland nearly got off to a disastrous start, however, as in the fourth minute Sean Franklin found Marcelo Sarvas at the mouth of goal, but Troy Perkins deflected his header just over the bar.

Even if the start was shaky, much of the rest of the half was solid.[1] In the seventh minute Kalif Alhassan found Danny Mwanga in the box who flicked onto Kris Boyd. Josh Saunders saved Boyd’s goal-bound effort, however, in the face of some confusion between the referee and linesman over whether Boyd was onside.[2]

Four minutes later Alhassan earned himself a yard of space at the top of the box with a series of stepovers before sneaking a shot that flew just high and wide.

On the other end – in a back and forth opening twenty minutes – former Timber Bryan Jordan sent a cross form the right wing that found Landon Donovan twenty five yards out. Donovan rocketed a ball past Perkins only to be denied by the far post.

From there, however, the Timbers midfield asserted itself. With every Galaxy turnover in the middle, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe or Alhassan found acres of space going forward.

In the 17^th minute Jack Jewsbury earned some space of his own and sent a cross from the right side to the far post, where a misdirected Franck Songo’o header again thwarted a promising attack.

Despite some promising buildup and some shots on frame, however, Portland couldn’t find the net. 25 minutes in, with the Timbers on the break again, Boyd hit a cracker from thirty yards that forced Saunders to dive to save it in the bottom left corner.

As effective as the Timbers’ offense was in the first half in creating chances, they were equally impotent in the second. The Galaxy midfield – which had struggled to two passes together throughout the first half – become dominant. In the 56^th minute, Landon Donovan ran past several Timbers defenders and unleashed a shot at the top of the box that missed just high and wide

The Timbers luck would run out in the 61^st minute, as Todd Dunivant got his head to a David Beckham to slot the winner past a complaining Troy Perkins.

If there was much to write about from there, I would write it. But there wasn’t. Becks played a nice direct free kick that looked like it had gone in, but instead nestled on the outside of the side netting. The Timbers, in one of their poorer halves of soccer this season, created nothing, and the Galaxy were more than comfortable with their one goal lead.

With another opportunity passing Portland by, it is becoming harder and harder to see a way back into the season for the Timbers. A big Cascadia win, however, could change everything.

Match Observations

• First, a brief note about the non-call on the goal. Was Perkins obstructed? Maybe. Could the referee have called it? Yeah. Do you see a relatively modest obstruction like that called with regularity? No. The reality is Troy made a rare mental error in giving up on the play. Nobody to blame but himself.
• To be honest, I’m at a loss to explain how poor the Timbers were in the second half on Sunday, especially in light of a pretty promising first half.
• I thought the Galaxy were pretty poor themselves. The ease with which they gave up the ball in the first half was almost embarrassing. Even in the second half, if the ball wasn’t at the feet of Landon Donovan – who was very good – or David Beckham on a set piece, the Galaxy were pretty harmless. The Galaxy’s ineptitude puts the atrociousness of the Timbers’ performance in perspective.

Timbers Grades

Troy Perkins, 3.5 – As discussed above, Perkins was absolutely culpable on the goal. Otherwise Troy was very good, but the concession was as bad a goal as I can recall Perkins conceding.

Mike Chabala, 3 – Had serious trouble with Bryan Jordan on the left flank. That really about sums it up.

David Horst, 4 – Had an okay day, but what in tarnation was he doing on the concession? I’m pretty sure you don’t want your centerback eight yards out, outside of the far post, matched up against the other team’s fullback when defending a corner.

Hanyer Mosquera, 5.5 – Had a fine day until he punched a high school kid. Hope he can play on Sunday.

Jack Jewsbury, 5.5 – With Kalif floating to the center of the pitch throughout the first half, Jack did a nice job of providing width and sending some good balls into the box. Had a competent day defensively, too.

Franck Songo’o, 5 – Nice first half from Franck, as he looked like the player we thought he might be. Did well to get a head on Jack’s cross, then poorly not to get it on frame. Became anonymous in the second half before coming off.

Diego Chara, 4.5 – An unusually poor day from Diego defensively. Was effective as a distributor, but I saw him beat defensively on Sunday more than any game I can remember.

Darlington Nagbe, 3.5 – Shoot the dang ball, Darlington. Nagbe has become one of the most frustrating players on the team. So much talent that you have to keep him on the field, but he’s turned into the Dribble Monster. Not ideal from your attacking center mid.

Kalif Alhassan, 4.5 – Had a decent first half finding space. Then, like the rest of his midfield colleagues, performed a wicked disappearing act in the second half.

Danny Mwanga, 4 – Unreasonable to expect much more than Mwanga gave us on Sunday, but he looked a little lost in the offense. He gets a couple week honeymoon.

Kris Boyd, 6 – Great stuff from Boyd in the first half. His holdup play was fantastic, and had two efforts that easily could have been goal-worthy. Can’t really blame him for the poor second half, as his midfield left him on an island.

Sal Zizzo, 5 – Failed to make much of an impact. Not his fault, though, by the 65^th minute things were pretty far gone.[3]

Mike Fucito, 5 – A little surprised to see him come on for Boyd – although fitness likely explains that. As we know, he brings great energy every time out, but so far hasn’t contributed a whole lot more than that.

Eric Alexander, 5 – Like his fellow substitutes, couldn’t keep the Titanic afloat.

Preseason Prediction: Galaxy 2, Timbers 1. Eric Alexander.

Actual Result: Galaxy 1, Timbers 0.

Onward, Rose City!