The question ahead of Timbers US Open Cup matches is always the same: will the team make it a priority?
With league play set to resume this weekend with the Timbers on the road at Real Salt Lake, and with CONCACAF Champions League on the horizon, further questions abound about whether the depth and fitness of the Portland team can withstand a crowded summer schedule.
“Know your history: Care like we do.” The Timbers Army pre-match tifo referenced, subtly, the team’s loss to Cal FC in a 2012 USOC match. Photo: Jeff Wong.
Some of those questions were answered with Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over MLS Western Conference opponents the San Jose Earthquakes.
In the USOC fourth round’s only all-MLS match up, the Timbers chose to balance their starting eleven with a mix of younger, perhaps less experienced players and seasoned veterans.
“I thought everything went exactly the way we’d hoped,” Portland coach Caleb Porter said post-match. “We played nine guys 25 years old or younger, started seven. That’s a real positive that we can play a lot of young guys, mix them in with some experienced guys…and get the job done. That gives us a lot of hope for the future.”
His shirt may say Innocent, but… Photo: Jeff Wong
Portland’s two goals were scored by two of those younger players: the 34th minute goal came from Dairon Asprilla, 24, and the 40th minute goal came off a stunning freekick from Jack McInerney, 23.
“I think we knew what to expect,” Jack Jewsbury said after the game. “I think everybody tonight, when their number was called, put in a great shift.”
Jack McInerney’s freekick goal put the Timbers up by two goals before the half. Photo: Mark Hoffman
“Every year’s different, every team’s different,” Porter said. “We made a decision four or five games ago that we need to be a team…that’s on the front foot more. Our pressure has been much better the last five or six games, our possession has been much better. I think we’ve become a little more multi-faceted this year than we were last year.”
Portland will now wait for the results of this round’s other matches and the draw to follow. And they’ll be ready for whatever comes next.
Scoring Summary:
POR: Asprilla (McInerney), 34
POR: McInerney, 40
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Peay (Caution), 71
SJ: Jahn (Caution), 83
SJ: Stewart (Caution), 88
Lineups & Stats:
POR: GK Gleeson, D Peay, D Okugo, D Ridgwell ©, D Valentin, M Jewsbury, M Zemanski, M Asprilla, M Valeri (Mattocks, 72), M Barmby (Grabavoy, 62), F McInerney (Brett, 86)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hamilton, D Klute, D Powell, F Adi
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Asprilla, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Asprilla, 3); FOULS: 7 (Peay, 3); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 0; SAVES: 0
SJ: GK Meredith, D Sarkodie, D Bernardez (Wynne, 61), D Silva, D Cato, M Alashe, M Thompson, M Salinas, F Innocent (Perez Garcia, 69), F Barrett (Stewart, 78), F Jahn
Substitutes Not Used: GK Bingham, GK Tarbell, D Goodson, F Amarikwa
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Three players tied, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 0; FOULS: 16 (Alashe, 3); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 5
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistant Referees: Joshua Haimes, Michael Kampmeinert
4th Official: JJ Blodgett
San Jose Earthquakes
Portland
