Strong attacking play isn’t enough as defensive lapses continue to haunt Portland in their third straight defeat.
Let’s be absolutely frank, the Portland Timbers defense is atrocious. Eleven goals were conceded in four games. That’s 2.7 goals a game that the Timbers defense has gifted their opponents. Yes, I say gifted, because some of the goals Portland has conceded are presents unwrapped by opposing attacks like it’s Christmas morning.
Saturday night’s 3-2 loss to the Houston Dynamo was the third consecutive defeat for the Timbers. Since winning against the Columbus Crew 3-2 on opening day, Portland has lost 2-0 away to the Colorado Rapids, 4-1 at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps, and 3-2 away to the Houston Dynamo.
If you’re counting at home, that’s three straight losses to Western Conference opponents. Those three games were six-point matches and all ended in defeat. Yes, only four MLS regular-season games have been played, leaving 30 matches in the campaign. Yet, the more defeats to direct rivals Portland pile up, the harder it will be for Phil Neville and company to claw their way into the playoffs.
Once again, let’s be absolutely frank: with the talent at Neville’s disposal, the Portland Timbers should not be this bad. Fortunately, St. Louis City is terrible, and the team from the Gateway to the West is keeping Portland off the bottom of the Western Conference for now.
Bright start and a halftime lead
Portland’s trip to Houston may have ended in defeat, sure, but there were bright spots. Kristoffer Velde had his penalty saved by Dynamo shot-stopper Jonathan Bond. But Gage Guerra was quickest to react and smashed a shot off the post and into the goal to give Portland a 1-0 lead on the stroke of halftime. It was Guerra’s first goal of the season. The American continues to play well for the Timbers.
Before the goal, Portland had played well, especially in attack. The Timbers dominated the first half with 58% possession, seven shots with five on target, and two big chances created. Bond made four saves in the first half, keeping the Dynamo in the game. Portland went into the break with an xG of 1.29 compared to Houston’s 0.45. But xG means nothing in the final score.
If Portland fans had decided to turn off the game and head to their favorite local bar for a generic locally produced IPA, expecting a win, they would have been surprised by the final scoreline. Houston Dynamo manager Ben Olsen turned things around during halftime. It was a night-and-day difference from the first-half performance.
Defensive lapses let Houston back in
By the 62nd minute, Houston were level. Portland’s defense failed to clear its lines. Houston recycled the ball through Mateusz Bogusz, who crossed from the right side of the penalty area, finding the head of Guilherme. Brandon Bye, who had an awful night at the office, gave Guilherme enough space to get a header down to the ground, which skipped past James Pantemis. The score was now 1-1.
Houston had their tails up, and it would take just 15 more minutes for them to score again. The goal was incredibly preventable. Houston was allowed to pass the ball around the penalty area without a Portland player applying pressure.
Houston left-back Andrade collected a pass around 25 yards from goal, drove into space, and let go of what should have been a harmless shot from 20 yards. That harmless shot eluded every Portland defender’s leg that could have stopped it before skipping past Pantemis at the far post. The goalkeeper should have done better. Pantemis’s look after the net stopped moving was one of disbelief. How could he get beaten from there?
Portland fights back
To Portland’s credit, they fought back after going 2-1 down. A long throw into the box from Jimmer Foyer was flicked on into a crowd. Guerra’s wild swing at the ball was missed, but the ball fell to Finn Surman, who tapped it to Velde. The Norwegian rifled home a shot from just inside the box to make it 2-2.
You could be forgiven for being exhausted after the fourth goal went into the back of the net. Yet, this game was far from over. Indeed, Portland needed Pantemis to keep the game at 2-2. Jack McGlynn nearly won it for Houston in the 86th minute when he smashed a 30-yard free-kick at goal—Pantemis dove to his left to parry the ball behind.
Pantemis had to make three saves in the second half to keep Portland in the game. How much pressure was Portland’s defense under? The defense made 20 clearances in the second period, as the team kept just 46% possession.
Remember when I said xG means nothing in the final score? In the second half, Portland had an xG of 1.08 to Houston’s 0.75. The Dynamo scored what would be three low-value goals, all in the second period.
Stoppage time chaos
While you drank your locally-brewed Portland IPA, while wearing your flannel shirt, you might have thought, “This game can’t get any crazier.” Well, you were wrong.
Referee Rubiel Vazquez decided nine minutes of stoppage time were needed. But Vazquez didn’t stop there. Once the nine minutes were up, he added a further eight minutes. This was partly due to Houston’s Nick Markanich being sent off in the fourth minute of stoppage time for a kick to Pantemis’s head. Pantemis was left on the floor bleeding like Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13.
Even with the sending off and medical attention to Pantemis, Vazquez’s decision to keep playing, and play some more, was ridiculous. Still, Portland had chances to win the game. With 102 minutes played, Bond made a falling save to prevent a Portland goal. Seconds later, Dynamo player Agustin Resch cleared the rebound off the line. Portland would rue its inability to score.
Then, with 105 minutes on the clock, McGlynn played a hopeful, nothing ball high into the Houston night. It came down out of the sky and looked like it would be dealt with ease by Bye. Yet, for some unknown reason, Bye decided to Superman dive onto the ground, as if he was jumping onto a Slip’n’Slide on a hot Houston night.
Bogusz stayed on his feet, gathered the ball as Bye picked himself off the ground, cut it with the outside of his right foot, and shot past Pantemis into the far corner. Again, Pantemis probably should have done better, but his defenders didn’t help him. In total, there were 17 minutes of stoppage time, which felt a bit excessive, if you ask me.
Where do the Timbers go from here?
So, where do the Portland Timbers go from here? Well, the training ground would be good. The defense was abysmal once again for Portland. Bye was guilty of two goals. Kamal Miller was also poor on the night. Not having starting center-back Alex Bonetig is a problem, but not an excuse.
For the fourth straight game, Portland looked strong in the future. Yet, it was the rearguard that let them down. The Timbers have conceded two or more goals in each game. It makes you wonder what Neville and his staff are working on in training.
The good news for Portland is that MLS week 5 sees the team return home to face the LA Galaxy. The Galaxy is currently on a two-game losing streak, having lost to the Colorado Rapids and Sporting KC.
Portland is unbeaten in its last three matches against the Galaxy. However, given the Timbers’ lackluster defensive performances this season, it will be difficult for them to make it four matches unbeaten against the Galaxy.
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