—by Chris Rifer

For the second week in a row the Timbers dropped a disappointing loss on the road, this time to the preseason consensus worst team in MLS, Toronto FC. For substantial portions, Portland dominated the run of play, but Toronto’s counterattack proved fatal to the Timbers’ hopes on a frigid afternoon in Toronto.

Like last week, the Timbers conceded an early goal on the left side of their defense, as Javier Martina slotted in a counterattack goal in the 14th minute. Martina trailed the breakaway, but after Steve Purdy snuffed the initial threat from Dwayne De Rosario and Kevin Goldthwaite joined to add ball pressure, De Rosario dropped to Martina in the spot vacated by Goldthwaite to leave keeper Adin Brown helpless.

From there, the Timbers dominated possession for the remainder of the first half and into the second half. Although the game settled firmly into Portland’s attacking half, the Timbers weren’t able to muster a critical mass of quality chances on goal. Despite 16 shots and 9 corner kicks, Toronto keeper Stefan Frei was rarely seriously challenged, as Portland’s efforts were largely hopeful.

The beginning of the second half saw the game open up even further, as substitute goalkeeper Jake Gleeson parried Maicon Santos’ counterattack effort in the 48th minute. Three minutes later, Portland had perhaps its best chance of the game, as Jeremy Hall’s shot from the right side was knocked away by Frei.

The Timbers continued to apply pressure into the 69th minute when Rodney Wallace’s effort off of a nice overlapping run was deflected just wide into the side netting. Frei controlled the ensuing Timbers corner and unleashed a brilliant boot downfield to Martina in stride for the strike just inside the far post.

During the few instances that Toronto created offense from the midfield, Portland’s defense looked substantially more organized than last week in Denver. The right side of the Timbers’ defense looks settled, as Eric Brunner and Steve Purdy again combined to keep all quiet on that front. The left side also looked more composed, as Goldthwaite and Wallace appeared to be communicating much better when they had the opportunity to set up their line.

The damage was done on the counterattack, however. All of Toronto’s four quality chances came on the counter with two producing tallies. The Reds appeared to be content to allow Portland to apply some pressure, and then take advantage of the Timbers’ fullbacks’ aggressiveness in pushing forward. Toronto’s success on the counterattack, not the Timbers’ quantity of possession, was the difference in the game and ultimately the story of the match.

Match Observations

• My initial response to the game was that this was a manifestly unjust result. After some reflection, however, I think the Timbers’ advantage in possession was largely a result of Toronto’s tactics. It was clear that Toronto was fairly content to sit back, absorb any organized offense that Portland offered, and then punch back hard down the Timbers’ left side. This plan is one that the Timbers are going to be vulnerable to until Portland fills a couple holes. The Timbers’ lack of playmaking dynamism, especially in the middle of the field, makes them less than fearsome against an organized defense and Portland’s much-discussed struggles on the left side of the defense creates a vulnerability to counter.
• The Timbers’ offense opened up dramatically after John Spencer flipped Jeremy Hall and Ryan Pore in the midfield. In the very early going Pore again looked 6th-grade-health-class uncomfortable on the right side of the midfield while the Jeremy Wallace combination failed to get much going on the left. When they were flipped, I thought both Hall and Pore looked much more dynamic.
• The Jeremy Wallace story is one that should be watched over the course of the next couple weeks. Presumably, Sal Zizzo will replace Pore in the starting XI sometime before the home opener. When Darlington Nagbe returns from hernia surgery he will likely replace Jeremy Hall on the left side of the midfield. The question then becomes, does Hall shift to left back and replace Rod Wallace? Wallace’s job is probably safe by necessity until then, but barring substantial improvement from him over the next couple weeks, Spenny may decide to look to Wallace’s fellow Terrapin to take over those duties.

Timbers Grades

Adin Brown: 5.5 – Solid outing in goal through the first half. Not much he could have done to stop the goal and made a couple nice plays to stop the intermittent Toronto attacks.

Steve Purdy: 6.5 – Kerrea who? Looked reliable in defense and produced some good chances with runs into the Timbers’ attacking third. Any questions about whether he is an MLS-quality right back have been soundly answered.

Eric Brunner: 6 – Again, can’t really complain about the right side of the defense.

Kevin Goldthwaite: 4.5 – So it was better than Colorado. Still, the help on the ball that led to the first goal was probably gratuitous as Purdy looked to have De Rosario pretty well bottled up.

Rodney Wallace: 4 – For a defender known for his athleticism, Rod straight up got beat to the ball by Martina in the 70th minute and was conspicuously absent from defense leading to the first goal. Still, he made a couple nice runs into the attacking third, although sometimes lacked a little bit of quality on the cross.

Ryan Pore: 5 – Started off looking out of sorts on the right, although did make an interior run to create one opportunity. Looked a bit better on the left, but still wasn’t the dynamic player Timbers fans have seen in the past.

Jack Jewsbury: 5.5 – Had a few nice set pieces and was fairly active around the ball in the midfield. Solid, but somewhat nondescript. I should probably control-C this grade to save time in the future.

Peter Lowry: 4 – Did he even play? Seemed to be completely MIA from the attack, and when he was around the ball he seemed a step late.

Jeremy Hall: 6 – Perhaps the best of the Timbers midfielders today. Was disruptive to the Reds’ defense when he had the opportunity to move down the right side. Had pretty good touch on the ball throughout and seemed to constantly be involved in the attack.

Jorge Perlaza: 4 – Looked out of sorts. His touch wasn’t what it has been in the past, and instead of looking to go at goal he seemed to be releasing to the midfield a lot.

Kenny Cooper: 6 – Didn’t breakthrough, although he did have a couple decent cracks at goal. Was very active up front, giving Toronto’s backline fits most of the day.

Jake Gleeson: 6 – Can’t blame him for an all-around classy 70th minute Reds goal. Made one beautiful save in a 1 v 1 situation with Santos, and had another nice punch out on a corner. The 20-year old looked every bit of an MLS-quality keeper.

Sal Zizzo: 5 – Had a couple nice touches out on the right wing, but didn’t make much of a difference.

Brian Umony: INC – Pretty nondescript duty in place of Perlaza in the final 15 minutes or so.