—by Chris Rifer
So there it was. In the most important game of the season that didn’t feature the Timbers, Portland’s we’re-not-dead-yet run toward the playoffs ended with a Dane Richards 8th minute goal. Those hoping for a little brotherly love out the Sons of Ben were treated to a pretty surprising showing of indifference by a side with the opportunity to capture the top spot in the East.
Getting to this point, however, has been a rollercoaster of a week. The euphoria of the Houston pregame was met with a sobering sucker punch off of Andre Hainault’s head. Just as the Timbers seemed to be establishing a little bit of control, the match and the season turned after the twist of Sal Zizzo’s knee.
And yet, just as all seemed lost in the wake of the devastation on Friday, Saturday’s results lent Portland yet another lifeline. It was a lifeline that the Timbers seemed poised to grab after Rodney Wallace – Rodney Wallace of all people – found Kenny Cooper in the box for the opener against D.C. For 50 minutes the Timbers preserved the lead, looking to go to Salt Lake with their destiny in their own hands. But Dwayne De Rosario had other plans. To be fair, it was a quality goal from a really quality player. A goal that, realistically, only a half dozen players in this league could score. And so the Timbers, after bobbing and weaving through a wild finish in D.C., would look to the Union tonight for one final lifeline. It wouldn’t come.
It’s been a really emotional six days. Hope, frustration, fury and ultimately despair have haunted the North End for the past week. And while right now it’s empty and unfulfilling, the reality is that this inaugural MLS season has been nothing short of a huge success.
Yes, there have been a lot of results that have escaped the Timbers. There were a lot of points that Portland probably should have collected that they left on the field. There was the concession at the death against Colorado. Wallace’s handball against New York. The collapse against Seattle. And lest we forget, the disgusting display against TFC. To be honest, there were more, too. No doubt, if some of those go the other way the travel team is organizing another away day and the tifo team is preparing for the playoffs.
Then again, there were also the wins over FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake. Talent-wise, probably shouldn’t have taken those. There was also the draw at Seattle. The Sounders were stacked, at home, and on national TV. And they got run off their carpet by a less-talented but pluckier Timbers side. Nor should you forget Brunner’s redemptive goal against Columbus or – and how could you – the magical night against Galaxy that breathed new life into a lost summer.
No, the Timbers weren’t perfect. And no, our team, the mighty PTFC, didn’t have a perfect year. But they had a pretty darn good one. They should have been a doormat. They should have been at the bottom of the table. They should have been Vancouver. But the fact that I’m writing the “Timbers just got eliminated from playoff contention” post on October 20th says a lot.
So feel like crap tonight. And probably tomorrow, too. Saturday will be bittersweet as we watch our boys for the final time this year in a match that should have meant so much more. But after all that, take a look around. Replay Perlaza’s Jeld-Wen opener in your head. Think back to Futty’s nod in Seattle. Relive Kenny Cooper’s strike in Vancouver. And then get ready for 2012, because this team is not far from being pretty dang good.
Onward, Rose City!
