When the Canadian Soccer Association announced that goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau and defender Kamal Miller would leave the Portland Timbers to join Les Rouges for the 2024 Copa América, many feared for Portland’s defense. The Timbers had conceded the third most goals in the league at the time, and it seemed their struggles at the backline would continue.
However, their departure has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Other players have stepped up admirably, such as goalkeeper James Pantemis and defender Dario Zuparic. As a result, Portland has kept four clean sheets in their last nine matches and surged to fifth place in the Western Conference.
Pantemis, who spent his entire senior career with CF Montréal before joining the Timbers in January, has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the locker room all season long. Since assuming the starting role, he has been valuable on the pitch, too. The 26-year-old ranks in the 99th percentile in post-shot expected goals per shot on target, the 77th percentile in goals conceded per 90, and the 55th percentile in defensive actions outside of the penalty area among MLS goalkeepers. His distribution has been excellent, too, putting him at the 71st percentile in passes completed.
You can also point to several moments where Pantemis made crucial saves in high-pressure situations, like the pivotal penalty kick save that helped the team secure a 2-0 victory against Austin FC. There will be a legitimate competition for the starting goalkeeper position when Crépeau returns later this month.
Zuparic, on the other hand, has provided the stability and composure that the Timbers desperately needed due to the underperformance of Zac McGraw and other defensive options. Widely recognized as a commanding central defender, the Croatian consistently makes crucial interceptions, clearances, and tackles to thwart opposition attacks night in and night out. His influence has been pivotal in anchoring the defense with authority, and his consistency has been a cornerstone of Portland’s defensive resurgence. The amount of effort he has displayed on the field recently has been remarkable, too.
Similar to Pantemis, the numbers support his impact too. He ranks in the 85th percentile in tackles won and the 93rd percentile in duels won among MLS defenders. Additionally, he stands at 16th place in the league in clearances.
Now that the Timbers have found stability at the backline, the sky’s the limit for this rejuvenated team. They already boast a potent attacking force, including an MVP candidate in Evander and three other players with 15 or more goal contributions in Jonathan Rodríguez, Felipe Mora, and Santiago Moreno. Once Crépeau and Miller return, the team’s overall depth and quality will only strengthen, leaving no reason not to believe that Portland is a title contender this season.
