The Portland Timbers earned a valuable win over a resurgent Real Salt Lake, with El Maestro Diego Valeri being the hero, after scoring the game winner in the 16’minute.
The Rose City squad, sporting a negative streak with back to back losses, with a win in this match not only would restored their confidence but as well be within striking distance of the red line.
However, for manager Giovanni Savarese, sorting a difficult dilemma, before this match, he had the majority of his most important players of his defensive core, out with injuries, that included Larry’s Mabiala and Julio Cascante.
With both players sidelined, the Rose City team was a bit vulnerable in center-back.
Before last night game the Timbers in its eighteen, not even a single defensive player was in the bench, with only midfielders and its back up goalie Kendall McIntosh, exposing this team limitations.
As the only probable defenders with Renzo Zambrano and Eryk Williamson.
Real Salt Lake, so far, under interim manager Freddy Juarez, the Claret and Cobalt is playing a good football that before this match, were situated in second place and considered under the circumstances as the overall favorites.
However, one thing that nobody foresaw was the way the Portland Timbers defensive game step up and and being able to disable the RSL attack, starring Claude Dielna, Bill Tuiloma, Jorge Villafaña and Jorge Moreira in delivering a top notch game.
As the match progressed in the first half, the Portland Timbers, when the opportunity arise these took matters seriously, when Andres Flores netted an important assist.
Somehow the RSL defense left a void open for El Maestro to do what he does best, score goals and with a shoot out of reach of Nick Rimando, and that’s how the Timbers scored the first and only goal of the game.
In the 16′ minute the Timbers making their efforts count and taking advantage of the opportunity these had sealed the deal with a nice executed defensive game that survived some of RLS surge in its attack.
I mean a surge when the visitors clearly almost scored the game tying and lead off goals but stopped by goalkeeper Steve Clark raising to the occasion and making a whooping six saves.
Teamwork was present in Portland’s win over Real Salt Lake, but here and there some individualism’s were present and these are to be corrected for the sake of the team remaining schedule not so easy.
Goals
Diego Valeri 16′ PTFC
Highlights
El Maestro Diego Valeri is back
Steve Clark amazing six saves to preserve the Timbers win
Happy Birthday to Andres Flores being the game hero with his assist for goal
Hail to the defensive backfield of Jorge Moreira, Bill Tuiloma, Claude Dielna, Jorge Villafaña
Diego Chara pristine game both offensively and defensibly
In four matches the Timbers have sweep RSL
Renzo Zambrano not so smart move to get red carded
Brian Fernandez needs to stop blaming his teammates after his discussion with Diego Valeri
Man of the Match
Diego Valeri and Andres Flores
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
