Timbers Earn First MLS Home Win For 2019 In Dominating Dynamo 4 to 0

I have no idea what is going on here, but it's ridiculously awesome.

Timbers supporters have been waiting for a night like this at Providence Park in MLS play. LAFC spoiled the party in the Timbers' home opener back on June 1 and they held on for a victory despite a furious Timbers rally, literally and figuratively. While Portland was able to exorcise some of the demons at home in a demonstrative 4 to 0 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy in their USOC 4th round match on June 19, the team made it a priority to rebuild the home fortress atmosphere in league play now that the Providence Park rebuild was complete. This goal would be challenged by a compression of fixtures coming up, but much like the various challenges of 2019 to the Timbers, they've employed a strategy of next player up and right now, it's working. With Brian Fernandez's scoring and relentless play leading the way - Fernandez has scored in every Timbers match he's appeared in since joining the team last month - and some meaningful contributions from 2 of their younger players, Portland showed MLS a lot in posting a dominant 4 to 0 decision over the Houston Dynamo. As much as the leaders of the team and some younger charges inspired the result, this was a complete effort contributed to by every player wearing the Timbers crest.

Much has been made of the Timbers' 12 match road trip to start the 2019 MLS season, necessitated by the construction project to remake Providence Park by adding a newly configured east side in addition to several other dramatic changes in terms of travel miles and road matches. However, the Timbers went into this match having played the least number of fixtures in MLS play at 13, and with the compressed schedule for this year shortening weeks off the calendar, there is catch up in dates coming starting with next week's road trip to Montreal followed by the June 30 date hosting FC Dallas. The Timbers' opponent was also tied for last in matches played at 13, but the Dynamo were also dealing with several key player losses due to international competition. Portland was without Andres Flores and Andy Polo for international call ups and Sebastian Blanco for accumulation suspension, but Houston was missing four of their main attacking players for international play in Darwin Ceren, Romell Quioto, Alberth Elis and Maynor Figueroa. Houston was also making the first stop of a brutal 3 match road swing from Portland to San Jose midweek to New England with their main scorers likely not available for any of the matches, so as much as they could relate to Portland's challenges, they weren't going to be overly sympathetic about their situation.

While Nat Borchers watches, everyone points in a direction.

With Blanco out, Timbers Coach Gio Savarese had to make some decisions about his lineup in this match. Steve Clark has effectively taken over the number one goalkeeper position for now, and he again made his fifth start of the 2019 between the posts. Although Claude Dielna was very good in the USOC match at center back, Savarese chose Julio Cascante to start alongside stalwart defender Larrys Mabiala with the two Jorges as the respective fullbacks - Moreira at right back, Villafana on the left. Savarese also held back Cristhian Paredes, such a vital piece of the USOC win, and gave Renzo Zambrano his second start of the year alongside Diego Chara in the defensive midfield. The replacement for Blanco ended up being Marvin Loria, making his MLS debut alongside Jeremy Ebobisse and Diego Valeri as the attacking midfield. Fernandez again would be the sole striker up top, and considering his production since joining the team on May 6 - he has 4 goals in 3 MLS matches and 3 goals in his 2 USOC appearances - Savarese has to feel comfortable running him out again obviously. Portland would have some intriguing options on the bench with Dielna, Marco Farfan and Modou Jadama for defense, Jeff Attinella for goal, Eryk Williamson for the midfield, and Lucas Melano and Tomas Conechny, a big part of the USOC win earlier in the week, at forward. With the Impact and FC Dallas in the next week, Savarese picked a mix of youth and experience while leaving several good options available for Wednesday.

Wilmer Cabrera, coach of the Dynamo, wasn't going to use any excuses in choosing his charges, although he did curiously choose not to start Mauro Manotas within the eleven. Manotas has made a career scoring against Portland, scoring 7 goals in 7 appearances, but Houston decided to go youthful within their starting group around veterans Marlon Hairston and Boniek Garcia. The team's second leading scorer, midfielder Memo Rodriguez with 5 goals and 2 assists in 12 matches played, was also not listed within the game day eighteen likely due to squad rotation. Houston has been traditionally strong at home with 6 wins and 3 draws in 9 matches in 2019, but on the road, it's a completely different story. The Timbers have a 5 win - 1 draw - 1 loss record in matchups with the Dynamo, but within the framework of the match, it would be interesting to see if the Timbers' young charges could provide enough influence in the match to help their team to victory. Much like the last match, the two sides struggled early to find a tempo and a rhythm: Fernandez just missed in the 12th minute with a low driving left footed shot that Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis pushed away at the last second, while Moreira pulled a shot wide right with some help from Willis in the 18th minute after a strange back and forth sequence where Cascante, playing forward, held the ball in traffic and found an open Moreira. The 38th minute saw the visitors nearly take the lead off a turnover that Hairston collected, and after dribbling for moments, took a shot from the left flank that struck Mabiala then the right post before caroming away for a clearance to Villafana.

Marvin Loria looks like he's having fun out there. And I like seeing that.

Off that deflection, the Timbers were able to finally tally their first goal. Villafana found Valeri at midpitch for the outlet and Diego held it for moments until finding Moreira shooting forward. Valeri put a though ball to the left that Jorge settled and he put a header into the path of an unmarked Loria, and the youngster slammed a shot home past Willis into the right corner of the net for a 1 to 0 lead. It was a wonderful sequence from back and forth wide involving the experience and youth of the Timbers, and the combination was simply fun to watch. Portland would generate 10 total shots in the first half with 55 percent possession, although the biggest issue of the half was the escalating tension between the sides. Center Official Alan Kelly carded Cascante in the 12th minute for a hard foul, and gave Dynamo forward Tomas Martinez a card for a temper tantrum in the 16th minute, but Chara and Dynamo forward Ronaldo Pena were both carded between the 30th and 35th minute in an escalating battle where Chara and B.Garcia were being targeted by each side with some hard contact during play. There were several fouls that Kelly chose to waive off for advantage, but Pena's foul on Chara brought both sides into the center circle to argue for their case. AT the rate things were going, it appeared neither side would keep their sides at eleven, especially when within moments of the second half starting, Dynamo midfielder Matias Vera was booked for dropping Zambrano with a hard challenge. Even the mild-mannered Valeri got cautioned in the 53rd minute when he bumped B.Garcia from behind slightly, and Kelly brandished the cards to do his best to stop the escalating situation.

After Fernandez missed on a turn and shoot play in the 56th minute, Portland would extend their lead via the penalty spot in the 61st minute. Chara was dribbling on the left flank and dropped to Valeri at the top of the box, and he put a pass to the right for Loria with Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley nearby. As Loria arrived to the ball in the box, Beasley executed a slide tackle and took Loria out, and Kelly wasted no time pointing to the spot. The penalty stood up to VAR review and a Dynamo protest, but the kick itself was delayed by several Dynamo arguments with Kelly, and a strange sequence where Kelly kept telling Willis to hold to his goal line, then walking over to hold him there for several moments while Houston players were jumping across the 18 yard line. Order was restored enough for Valeri to take the penalty going left while Willis went right, and the goal started a crazy celebration in the North End. The celebration hadn't settled down enough before the Timbers added their third goal, courtesy of Fernandez in the 63rd minute. With Houston pressed forward, the Timbers cleared the ball courtesy of Zambrano to Valeri on the right, and Diego punched a cross to the left corner for Fernandez, who was on step with the last 2 Dynamo defenders. Brian ran down the ball and put in a great touch to settle it with his left food, and he was able to punch it in the right corner of the goal before any Houston defender could mark him. Much like the 3 goals in 10 minute sequence against the Galaxy, it was a matter of moments where the match went from up for grabs to completely in control for the Timbers.

If you're not jumping, you're not Timbers. Even the players get that.

Portland would add a fourth goal in the 75th minute after Chara and Loria were denying in the 70th minute off a rapid fire shooting sequence. Valeri put the ball into Jeremy on the left flank, and Ebobisse decided to challenge Willis from distance on the left, and he put a shot inside the right post at a very acute angle where Willis and the defense couldn't get to it. While Houston did create some pressure at points in the second half, especially when substitute Juan Cabezas came on, they never really threatened the Timbers goal as Clark was forced into just one official save and a couple of crosses claimed over the match. Unlike the Galaxy match where the Timbers made several late defensive errors to give the Galaxy some chances, the Timbers didn't relent and kept the Dynamo attack bottled up. Houston wasn't able to commit numbers forward either as the Timbers were able to provide an effective counter attack all night with Fernandez as the focal point, and the Dynamo paid dearly for each mistake putting players too far forward. Even when the Timbers went to the bench to bring on Conechny and Williamson late for Loria and Fernandez, the pressure was kept up all match. Portland could have added more to the tally but ended up passing it about to run down the clock late.

Of all the matches in 2019, this result was the most complete on both sides of the ball. While the defense had a few moments where they bent under pressure, they didn't break when it counted and the Timbers' ability to press forward kept Houston from mounting a consistent attack. The Timbers offense didn't miss a beat with the rookie Loria, who earned a log slab for his first MLS goal in addition to earning the penalty for Portland's second goal. With Fernandez's ability to stretch defenses and run down balls from anywhere on the pitch, it's opened up channels for the rest of the offense to find space and shoot. While Parades was very good against the Galaxy, Zambrano has shown quality to hold up in the middle alongside Chara, thus giving the Timbers potential viable options on the occasions that Mr. Chara can't play for whatever reason. But perhaps the biggest development with the Timbers is the show of leadership on the pitch during play. I saw Clark talking with defenders at several points to keep the backline calibrated, while Fernandez and Chara were doing their best to direct play with signals or commands. It just seemed like the Timbers were much more cohesive in their approach, and the players were all synced up much better than in previous matches.

Thank you, Brian, for coming to Portland. You've been simply awesome.

Portland now gets the quick turnaround to travel to Montreal for a June 26th date before returning to play FC Dallas on June 30th to finish this month. The travel doesn't stop as Portland will then travel to New York to play NYCFC on July 7th before heading south to play LAFC in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on July 10th at Banc of California Stadium. The compression doesn't stop as Portland will host Colorado on July 13th followed by Orlando on July 18th before making a trip to Seattle for Cascadia Cup action on July 21st. The Timbers follow that up with hosting the Galaxy on July 27th before making their final road trip for a while to Minnesota and Allianz Field on August 4th before the schedule starts to pay off with 10 home matches in a row from August 10 to September 25. If they advance in U.S. Open Cup play, the semifinals and championship are both scheduled for August, so there might be some travel then, but otherwise, it's sticking close to home for the Timbers once the calendar hits August. But as Savarese is fond of saying, the team is keeping to one match at a time and right now, their focus is on the Impact midweek.

Adi's Swan Song Leads Timbers To Dramatic Win over Dynamo

Fanendo Adi gets his final log slice as a Portland Timber.

Goodbyes are never easy no matter how many times we encounter them, and most of them aren't even close to the storybook variety that gets portrayed in television or movies. It's rare to leave something on your own terms and do so in a truly memorable way, but it does happen from time to time. I watched one of my sports heroes, quarterback John Elway, leave football on his terms after a Super Bowl win in 1998, and on July 29, 2018, I was witness to something incredibly similar in the Portland Timbers' dramatic 2 to 1 win over the Houston Dynamo. Forward Fanendo Adi, currently sitting in second place on the Timbers' list of all time scorers in goals with 53 in 102 matches played, handed in a transfer request earlier in the week. With forward Samuel Armenteros dealing with a back injury during the week and young forwards Jeremy Ebobisse and Foster Langsdorf playing for Timbers 2 down in Los Angeles earlier in the day, the Timbers turned to Adi to fill their game day roster. Word had broken before the kickoff that Adi was being traded to an undisclosed team, which potentially lessened the chance he would see the pitch against the Dynamo. However, Savarese brought him off the bench in the 75th minute, and in something out of a movie script moment, Adi tallied the winning goal in what is likely his last match wearing a Timbers crest. It couldn't have turned out any better for the home side in what turned out to be a very tense and emotional match, but the result did extend the Timbers' unbeaten streak in MLS league play to 14 consecutive.

Emotions on the club have been heightened after an emotionally draining 2 match series with LAFC down in Southern California 2 weeks ago followed by a home draw with the Montreal Impact, but things compounded three days ago when Adi, who has been supplanted in the starting lineup by the emergence of Armenteros, asked to be traded from the Timbers. Adi had made a similar request years ago, but Portland indicated that Adi was under contract and wasn't going to move, but this time, the Timbers issued a statement to indicate they were exploring options for Adi. With Armenteros scoring goals in rapid succession, Adi's playing time had been limited to a start versus Sporting Kansas City on June 9 and substitute appearances against Los Angeles on June 2 and San Jose on July 7 at home. With Fanendo being a designated player with a large contract and the summer transfer window open, Portland had a chance to upgrade their roster while also finding a solid landing spot for Adi, who has been with the Timbers since joining them midseason in 2014 on loan, and he impressed them enough at the time that they purchased his contract as the team's primary scorer. Adi has been one of the most accomplished scorers in his tenure with Portland, but with the emergence of Armenteros and potential of Ebobisse and Langsdorf, the Timbers have been looking at short term and long term options for their club. The team acquired Cristhian Paredes and Andy Polo as building blocks for the now and future, and most recently, midfielder Tomas Conechny was added to the roster, showing the Timbers' resolve to constantly trying to improve their roster.

With Armenteros out due to injury, it was Dairon Asprilla up top at forward.

Moments after the starting lineups were announced against Houston, the news broke that the Timbers had found a trading partner for Adi but due to various absences, Adi would be available to play against the Dynamo and thus be part of the gameday eighteen. Armenteros strained his back during midweek training and ended up on the injury list as questionable, but the options became thinner with seeing the Timbers 2 starting roster against the Los Angeles Galaxy 2 earlier in the day when Ebobisse and Langsdorf were listed among the game day starters there. Savarese decided to tweak his approach by employing a 3 defender - 5 midfielder - 2 forward attack with Jeff Attinella once again in goal. On the three man back line, he used Lawrence Olum, Larrys Mabiala and Julio Cascante while also starting Zarek Valentin and Alvas Powell as full backs; when on defense, Valentin and Powell would track back to help the backline, but otherwise, they would push forward as outlets and support the midfield on offense. For the middle, it was the trio of Diego Chara, Andy Polo and Sebastian Blanco, with Mr. Chara more anchored in his familiar central pivot point and Polo and Blanco flying outside with Powell and Valentin in support. Up top, the duo of Diego Valeri and Dairon Asprilla would get the start, but Adi would be available as a sub if needed. Savarese could also employ Vytas or Bill Tuiloma as defensive replacements, Cristhian Paredes, David Guzman or Andres Flores as midfield subs or Jake Gleeson as the goalkeeper reinforcement.

Houston, meanwhile, was dealing with their own lineup issues after their own schedule compression. The Dynamo had played one of the legs of the Texas Derby in hosting FC Dallas on July 21, and followed it up with hosting the Philadelphia Union midweek at home. The Union pulled off a huge upset by a 3 to 1 tally as they have started to find their way, but in the process during the match, the Dynamo lost 2 players for the Timbers match due to accumulation penalties, midfielder Darwin Ceren and defender Alejandro Fuenmayor, due to cautions. They nearly lost another midfielder, Tomas Martinez who was another key offseason acquisition, due to a red card in the 59th minute in the Union match for a hard foul, but Houston appealed the ruling and the red card was rescinded by the MLS disciplinary committee. The Timbers got another break when Dynamo Coach Wilmer Cabrera held the team's leading scorer, Mauro Manotas, out of the match to keep him fit, but with Martinez now available, Houston was still very dangerous with Alberth Elis, Romell Quioto, and Andrew Wenger all in the lineup. While Ceren wasn't available, Cabrera still had Oscar Boniek Garcia and former MLS Timber Eric Alexander patrolling the middle. Houston has traditionally been very good at home playing in familiar conditions, but they've been consistently inconsistent playing away from home in their history.

Alvas Powell & DaMarcus Beasley battled all night, but Powell held up well.

Fans barely had time to settle in to their seats before the home side went up early. The first few minutes saw both teams struggling to find the final pass, but in the 7th minute, Powell had put a cross heading towards the South Deck on the right intended for a charging Asprilla on the spot. The ball ended up being too high for Asprilla and no Dynamo defender or Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis could collect the pass before Blanco ran to the ball on the left flank of the box. Sebastian briefly settled the ball before slamming it into the upper right corner of goal, and just like that, the Timbers were off and running. However, the Dynamo found room to work, and in the 12th minute, Elis caught Cascante mishandling the ball in the Timbers end and stole it away from the centerback with the Timbers defense slight in numbers. Elis ran up the right flank to draw the defenders, and then dropped a pass to a wide open Quioto on the right post for an easy tap in goal, and suddenly whatever momentum the Timbers earned from their first goal was effectively neutralized. The rest of the half saw the two sides execute the back and forth strategy like a chess match, although the Timbers had the best chances in the 20th and 22nd minutes courtesy of Asprilla. Dairon took a Blanco chip pass off a Powell cross into space on the right in the 20th minute, forcing Willis into a quick reaction one hand save on the shot, and 2 minutes later, Asprilla put a bicycle kick shot off a deflection of a Valeri cross right at Willis, and the rebound caromed to Olum, who was forward on a set piece. The Timbers center back was able to get his head to the ball, but the shot was right to Willis for an easy catch.

Houston was playing a very physical style of play, and Center Official Nima Saghafi was very busy in calling fouls with 20 infractions total between the two teams, charging 13 fouls to the visitors. Saghafi also issued 5 cautions in the first 45, giving Powell and Blanco cards for fouls while Asprilla earned a card for dissent. Houston was only cautioned twice for infractions on defender Jared Watts for a foul and Elis for dissent, but the whistles and constant fouls were playing havoc on the match tempo. Savarese didn't make any adjustments to his team at the break, especially considering Portland had the more consistent chances on frame, but with Houston still hanging about on the scoreboard, it was important for the Timbers to come out firing in the second half to earn a goal. To his credit, Cabrera didn't have much firepower off the bench scoring wise, but the Dynamo appeared to be satisfied with drawing the points at the break. Houston tried to sneak in a goal as the second half started when Elis received the kickoff, slipped by the defense and challenged Attinella with a low angle shot that the Timbers keepers pushed away from the goal.

Sebastian Blanco tallied his 6th goal of 2018 off an Alvas Powell cross. 

Unfortunately for Houston, Elis' effort would be their only official shot on goal in the final 45 minutes as the Timbers turned up the pressure on Willis. Valeri and Blanco combined on a lovely give and go in the 53rd minute off a throw from Powell, but Willis was able to break off his line to stop the threat. Blanco and Valeri had several blocked shot over the next 15 minutes until Mabiala headed the second of 2 consecutive corner kicks on frame, but Willis was able to catch the ball. It was at this point where Savarese made his first substitution, and ironically enough, it would be Adi getting the call to replace Asprilla in the 75th minute. Fanendo received a massive cheer during the lineup announcements before the match started, but the reaction was huge when he entered as now most everyone in the stadium knew about Adi's trade. Five minutes later, as if it had been scripted, the Timbers got their second goal in dramatic fashion. Blanco drove down the left flank off a pass from Valentin after Blanco gave the Timbers defender a pass at the top of the box. With Dynamo defender Leonardo giving chase to Blanco to the touch line, Blanco held the ball in play as the defender slid out of play, and he put a cross to the right intended for Valeri.

Diego bumped the ball to the middle where Polo tried to take a shot, but it was scuffed into the middle where Adi was standing without a mark, and he quickly chipped it past Willis to tally his 54th career goal in MLS play, and his 3rd goal for 2018. The celebration went over to the corner near the Timbers Army, and every Timbers player went to Adi to help him celebrate the goal. It was revealed after the match that the Timbers' players knew a trade involving Adi was imminent, and so everyone, including Savarese, were indicating that Adi would score in his final Providence Park appearance as a Timber. While Polo just missed a few minutes later on a shot, the time finally wound down and the Timbers could embrace the victory. The result extended their unbeaten streak to 14 matches, but that accomplishment paled in comparison to giving Adi a proper sendoff. Fanendo received his final log slab after the kickoff, and then he proceeded to head to the capo stand to celebrate and hug several Timbers fans after the result. It was a touching and emotional farewell for a player who was a key component of the 2015 MLS Cup side, and has been one of the more accomplished scorers in MLS over the past few years. It was days later when the team finally revealed Adi's destination, as Fanendo was traded to FC Cincinnati, who is joining MLS in 2019, for general allocation money, and targeted allocation money for 2018 and 2019. Portland will also receive a share of funds should Adi be traded outside MLS before the end of the 2020 season, while the move frees up a roster spot and Designated Player slot. Rumors persist that if Portland wants to keep Armenteros, they will likely need to use the designated player rule to do it, so this move opens up that possibility.

The midfield was much more composed with this guy about.

For my credit, Fanendo Adi was not only one of the best scorers I've seen over the past few years, but he has also been extremely cordial and giving of his time to the media. I also appreciate his perspective during various interviews, because he produced several thought provoking and meaningful quotes. I appreciate everything that he has done for the Timbers in his five seasons here, and I wish him the best in his new chapter helping FC Cincinnati in their inaugural season next year. However, I don't want to wish him too much luck when he eventually faces the Timbers. As much as it was sad that this would be the last time Adi would be running about on the Providence Park pitch in Timbers colors, I viewed the post game more as a celebration of all that Fanendo has accomplished in his time here. Portland now turns their attention to the aforementioned Union, who visit the Park on August 4 in the third of the Timbers' four match home stand. Portland also remains undefeated at Providence Park with 6 wins and 3 draws in 9 matches played, which is 1 of 4 unbeaten sides currently in league play (NYCFC, FC Dallas and LAFC being the other three teams).

Timbers can't overcome circumstances as 2017 season closes in loss to Dynamo

Dairon Asprilla was a one man wrecking crew versus Houston

It's one of the cruel realities of the playoffs in any sport that a single loss in many cases ends a team's season. While I had great hopes for the Portland Timbers and their continued quest to add another MLS Cup to their trophy case after securing the first spot in the Western Conference, I had to face the reality in driving to Providence Park for their leg 2 match with the Houston Dynamo that their season could very much end in a matter of 2 hours. It's an absolute bittersweet fact to try and absorb while remaining in belief beyond reason mode, especially considering how entirely resourceful and scrappy the team has been all year. Despite several huge injuries, a disjointed schedule with plenty of breaks, players being called away for international duty, and some outright struggling at times, Portland achieved quite a bit in 2017 - their first Cascadia Cup since 2012, a Western Conference title as top seed, and an MVP candidacy for their all-world playmaker, Diego Valeri. After the sides played to a scoreless draw in leg 1 in Houston on October 30, the Timbers could still feel some confidence going into leg 2 coming home despite the issues that cropped up in the first match. Unfortunately, they couldn't outlast several other complications that arose before and during leg 2 - the biggest being Houston scoring late in the first half to then add an insurance goal late in play - and their season was ended by the Dynamo in an emotionally draining 2 to 1 loss.

Due to the compressed state of fixtures, leg 1 took place at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on what apparently passes for grass and neither team could put anything past either goalkeeper as the sides played to a scoreless draw. The result gave some advantages to the Dynamo in not conceding any away goals, which is vital as away goals is the first tiebreaker in 2 leg series if the teams ended up drawn on goals after 120 minutes. Portland took away other costs from the match, however, as Diego Chara, Larrys Mabiala and Darlington Nagbe all had to leave the match due to injury - and this was after the Timbers were already down David Guzman (hamstring injury), Sebastian Blanco (second degree burns) and Fanendo Adi (still injured). While there was hope that Mabiala and Nagbe might be available for leg 2, Chara sustained a broken bone in his foot that required surgery, so Timbers Coach Caleb Porter knew he would be a man down at least. As I sat down in the park to get ready to cover the match, more injury news was being circulated as Roy Miller and Ben Zemanski were also injured and not available. Miller ruptured an Achilles during training on November 4, the same injury that felled Gbenga Arokoyo to start 2017, while Zemanski strained a meniscus that may require a procedure. As if healthy bodies were at a premium to begin with, Porter was having to dig very deep to field a strong side.

I feel bad for Roy Miller & how his season ended.

The news for Porter was improved somewhat when it was revealed that Guzman and Nagbe would indeed be available for leg 2, but Guzman's fitness and sharpness weren't at premium. With Jeff Attinella in goal, Porter put Lawrence Olum at centerback alongside Liam Ridgewell with Vytas and Alvas Powell flanking to each side. Amobi Okugo, who hadn't appeared for the Timbers since June 25 against Seattle, would get the call pairing with Guzman as defensive midfielders. Nagbe would team up with Valeri and Dairon Asprilla as the attacking midfielders with Darren Mattocks up top as striker. Considering the laundry list of injuries, the lineup certainly had a mix of talent, experience and resourcefulness - but if the Timbers needed to add something from the bench, that would be pushing things a bit. Blanco was listed among the subs for limited duty, but otherwise, the bench consisted of part-time starters (goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, defender Zarek Valentin), key subs for a change of pace (forward Jeremy Ebobisse) and talented youngsters with unknown return potential (midfielder Jack Barmby, defender Marco Farfan, midfielder Bill Tuiloma). Obviously having Blanco available in any capacity was a huge win, but if the Timbers needed to change the pace or make a move, there would be serious questions about any of the choices.

Porter was faced with that very query 11 minutes into the match when Mattocks and Dynamo midfielder Juan Cabezas collided going for a ball in the air, and Darren took the worst of the unintentional contact. While Cabezas was able to continue after getting a quick examination, Portland decided not to risk Mattocks' health based on their concussion protocol review and they were forced to sub on Ebobisse immediately. While the move seemed initially to spring some life into the Timbers' attack, Houston spent most of the first half packing the backline while shadowing Valeri and bracketing Nagbe. Dynamo Coach Wilmer Cabrera's plan seemed to be tailored to force anybody else on the Timbers to attack Houston while trying to minimize the influence of Portland's two best playmakers. While Asprilla and Valeri had great chances between the 23rd and 27th minute on goal - Asprilla's header was caught by Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis at the very last second, it wasn't until Asprilla started threatening the goal after the 30th minute when it appeared the Timbers were gaining their footing. In the 39th minute, Valeri pushed a ball out wide to Vytas on the left, and the cross came back to Asprilla in the box as Dynamo defender Dylan Remick temporarily lost his footing. The gap was just enough for Dairon to punch the ball past Willis to put the home side up 1 to 0, and it appeared the home side could breathe for a minute.

Diego Valeri was Mr. Everything for the Timbers in 2017. How does he follow that?

The good feelings were rather short lived as Houston put the Timbers under pressure right after the subsequent kickoff as Attinella left his line in the 40th to smother a loose ball. The Dynamo then put consecutive corner kicks together, and on the second one, Dynamo defender Jalil Anibaba took the corner from Tomas Martinez and dropped the ball to an open Remick on the right flank. Remick took a quick left footed shot that it appeared Attinella had measured, but the ball trailed off further to the left and got past the Timbers keeper to equalize the score at 1. The collective gasp in the crowd was foretelling, but they were nearly brought out of their seats in first half stoppage when Okugo took a bicycle kick off a corner and he nearly converted the shot as it spun wide left. The whistle blew moments later, but the situation was very evident - based on the away goals tiebreaker for 2 leg playoff series, Portland was going to need to score again to advance since the Dynamo had their away goal. It was apparent the Timbers didn't want to use Blanco unless absolutely necessary, but their hand was forced by the circumstances. Unbeknownst to the media onsite, Blanco received a lidocaine injection at halftime to numb his foot after he suffered second degree burns before leg 1 in a kitchen accident. While making this move would push Portland forward, it would also open them up to counters if they weren't careful, so this was a key tactical point within the match.

Blanco entered in the 55th minute for Okugo, which pushed Nagbe to more of a central role after Valeri and Guzman nearly missed on other efforts, but upon his inclusion, the Timbers would get just 3 official shots down the stretch. The most dangerous chances for Portland were in the 59th minute when Vytas and Asprilla put forth a great run and the Timbers defender nearly found Ebobisse at the spot, but Willis was able to get to the ball first. The other chance was off a long pass to Ebobisse in the 88th minute where he had tangled with Dynamo defender Phillipe Senderos just outside the box. Ebobisse went down hard and was called for the foul, but replays showed that Senderos not only pulled down the Timbers defender, but he was the last defender which could have made for a DOGSO review. Center Official Ismail Elfath instead tagged the Timbers striker with the foul, but by this point, Houston had already added a second when substitute Mauro Manotas caught the defense napping and put a distance shot into goal in front of the Timbers Amry in the 79th minute. After 8 minutes of stoppage and several other runs and moves, the final whistle blew and the Timbers were bounced from the postseason.

Who were we playing again? I didn't see any bule out there.

Houston had their own player issues going into the match as DaMarcus Beasley and Leonardo, two of their key defenders, were both unavailable due to injury, but they also lost starting goalkeeper Tyler Deric to suspension after leg 1 when Deric was arrested on domestic abuse charges midweek. Cabrera brought on Remick and shifted Machado inside, while putting Willis in goal; Willis actually had comparable numbers to Deric during the regular season, but Deric had effectively taken the job in July and held it until now. However, the player issues for Houston paled in comparison to the absences for the Timbers in terms of options. While Portland held up gamely and fought through the various challenges, the team could never truly find their rhythm on the afternoon with all the differing parts. Asprilla was very active and driving the Houston defense crazy with various channel runs, but Ebobisse was struggling to find space among the stout Dynamo defenders. With Blanco at half capacity at best, Guzman still not 100 percent and Valeri and Nagbe drawing massive attention wherever they went, it was a choppy, uneven effort for most of the match.

Many will throw criticisms at Elfath and his officiating crew, who effectively let the sides play and didn't throw out any cards until later in the match. By that point, the various infringement tactics for the Dynamo were in full swing, and fans saw the full version of Dynamo strikers Alex, Alberth Elis and Erick Torres. While extremely dynamic and talented players, they are also in the true mold of persistently annoying players - exaggerating contact at any point, talking to the officials nearly non stop, and generally annoying defenders wherever they go. Upon recollection, I can't fault Elfath in terms of individual calls outside of the Ebobisse/Senderos decision, I was very upset that he chose not to control the antics more. Willis was also at the edge of time wasting in terms of goal kicks and restarts, but Elfath chose again to ignore the pattern until he finally carded Dynamo substitute Oscar Garcia late in second half stoppage for not taking a throw after several seconds after the whistle blew. I get it, dramatics and tactics take a premium during the playoffs, but for me, many of the actions we saw would have warranted discussions or cautions in the regular season, yet they were ignored due to the stage. But I'm not here to blame the officials, because really it's not their fault that the Timbers lost this match.

Get well, Diego. We need you to return healthy and strong.

Even with the litany of absences, the Timbers put together 59 percent possession, 12 total shots and 4 shots on target. At points, the team was able to move from box to box well, but once they got to the final third, they lacked the creativeness and ingenuity to break down the Dynamo defense. Houston certainly did their part with some great swarming defense, but I could count on numerous occasions where a Timbers player passed instead of taking an open shot, or continued their run to see if they could find a better option only to lose the ball. Once Houston got their away goal, they were able to play back and absorb pressure and defend, only countering when they really had an open chance to run. It was a very tactical sound plan executed to perfection, and I honestly wouldn't look past Houston in the next few rounds of the playoffs because they certainly aren't an easy out. After the result, MLS has the Dynamo battling the Seattle Sounders, the defending MLS Cup Champions, out West while Toronto FC, the most prolific offense in MLS this season, battling the plucky Columbus Crew in the East. Since the ownership issues with Columbus came out just before the playoffs, all the Crew have done is bounce out Atlanta United in the knockout round on penalties before outlasting New York City FC in their 2 leg series.

There were some other strange parts about the match - a street preacher with a megaphone was yelling about before the kickoff, the weather had a threat of snow for several days before the match date, and the Timbers Army were chanting "F**k Seattle" before the match to antagonize the Dynamo - but the end theme here was that the Timbers weren't able to fight enough to get pasat every challenge. Houston, to their credit, executed their plan to perfection and they were able to prolong their season. Portland now gets to ask the question - what now? There are certainly huge pieces and talent here in the Rose City and this group put together a run to win the Western Conference regular season championship and their first Cascadia Cup title since 2012. The team also put forth a 60 goal season behind an MVP effort from the Maestro, but he wasn't completely alone in contributing to the attack. In the next entry, I want to take a look at the various questions and put forth my thoughts on where they might go, but to say the season been memorable is a huge understatement. The Timbers never make being a fan easy, but the end results are usually worth the hassle - and I cannot wait to see what this group can do in 2018.

Prediction Thread Week 21 - Portland Timbers v. Houston Dynamo

I will always remember the Houston match from this year.

It's funny how a signature win can change the complexion and attitude of a team much less their fan base, but the victory in Vancouver has certainly altered some perceptions about the Portland Timbers and their fortunes for the remainder of the 2017 season. Not only did the Timbers break their winless streak, but the fans got an extended look at forward Jeremy Ebobisse. Granted, the young striker has been playing some for Timbers 2 as well as work with the USMNT U-20 side playing in the U-20 World Cup in Korea, but this was his first extended play for the First team. The youngster put on quite a show scoring a goal and tallying an assist on Sebastian Blanco's second half goal, and his performance gave him honorable mention for MLS Team of the Week for Week 20/21. With all the attention from this performance, how does the rookie follow that one up? Perhaps the bigger question is when might we see him again in the lineup now that Fanendo Adi is back from suspension.

It is these and many questions that the Timbers will need to answer now that the Gold Cup is finally done (the USMNT with Darlington Nagbe and former Timber Jorge Villafana defeated a surprise Jamaica side by a 2 to 1 tally) and Portland will finally see some of their stars return for league play. Nagbe, Darren Mattocks and Alvas Powell all played in the July 26 finale, so the likelihood of seeing any of them for extended time versus the Dynamo is minimal, but defensive midfielder David Guzman rejoined the Timbers after Costa Rica was eliminated by the Americans on July 22. Considering Diego Chara's health after recovering from an injury only to have a groin strain versus the Whitecaps, it's beneficial that Guzman is back and ready to go in the middle. Larrys Mabiala has been solid in his first two matches as a Timber after his contract was cleared during the Summer Transfer window, so we are likely to see more of him and Roy Miller at the center back role until Liam Ridgewell is able to return. At this point, Ridgewell, Amobi Okugo, Chance Myers and Gbenga Arokoyo are the only players officially out for Houston due to significant injuries, but Chara, Vytas and Jack Barmby are dealing with various knocks that could affect their availability.

The last time these teams met was back on March 18 when the Timbers stormed back with 3 second half goals to post an impressive 4 to 2 victory at Providence Park. The unbalanced schedule only has these teams meeting 2 times in 2017, and the history at BBVA Compass Stadium hasn't been too kind to the team from the Rose City. In 5 matches in Houston, the Dynamo have never lost to the Timbers, but Portland has managed to draw twice there; in 2017, the Dynamo have yet to lose at home in their 10 home matches, posting an 8 win, 2 draw record going into this match. With temperatures expected to be near 100 degrees around match time and a Timbers side trying to build upon an impressive road win, do the Timbers have any chance in this one? Our fearless group of prognosticators give their thoughts about what might happen:

Green and almost gold heron

Rick: Timbers 1, Dynamo 2

Portland head to Houston having taken only 2 points from their previous 5 visits and meet a team unbeaten at home this season (W8 D 2 L0) in temperatures that will be in the high 90s.

Gold Cup and suspended players will be available although Nagbe, Mattocks and Powell took part in the Jamaica-USA Gold Cup Final, won by the United States on Wednesday evening. Given players' availability it's doubtful that Caleb Porter will stick with the team that won in Vancouver last Sunday: one of their best performances of the season.

Hi, I'm another cat that lives with Kip & Jen

Moya: Houston will win

Our black girl cat wanted to join the predictive collective, and was very happy to have her photo taken. However, when asked about the winner of the match - specifically the Timbers - she looked away, meowed really loudly and ran away to her cat bed. We couldn't get a score out of her, but maybe she knows something we don't.

All the bags in the house are mine. Until Spot finds them.

Lucy: Timbers 2, Dynamo 2

Lucy was rather excited about the predictions, and was very enthusiastic about the match thinking both sides will get goals. But with 2 excited meows for Houston and Portland, she is thinking the teams will share points instead of one side getting a victory. Even upon being asked several times, she remained steadfast in her prediction and who are we to argue?

I like the Timbers, but not this weekend versus Houston

Spot: Timbers 0, Dynamo 4

The queen of the snarfy looks was at it again with some angry and distant looks on her face during the interview. She did perk up a bit when talking about Houston, and Spot was quick to say there would be goals for the home side. But for the visitors, it's a big fat goose egg for this match.

GB often supervises Kip when he's working from home

GB: Timbers 3, Dynamo 3

The grey boy has been itching for a chance to regain his mojo with predicting, but he started out his interview incredibly sleepy. Once he perked up, however, it was a non stop amount of noise about goals. However, much like Lucy, he meowed the same number of times for Portland as he did Houston, so another cat is calling for a draw.

Tortie and a scarf. What a perfect combination.

Tortie: Timbers 9, Dynamo 6

With all the conservative predictions going against their usual pattern, leave it to the little girl to stick with her plan of picking lots and lots of goals. More eeps and oops for the visitors as always, so the tortoise shelled ninja is expecting both goalkeepers to be facing a lot of shots. But the road side is going to score more per her, thus keeping fans of #TeamTortie happy for this week.

Kip finds cats everywhere.

Kip: Timbers 2, Dynamo 1

After the gut check win over Vancouver, I am beginning to think there is nothing this Timbers team can't do. And then I'm reminded that the Dynamo haven't lost at home all year in 2017 and they haven't lost to the Timbers in Texas since Portland joined MLS. Despite some predicted awful conditions at game time, I am thinking the new reinforcements will very much aid the Timbers and they finally break the streak in Texas.

Mark's back with his little canine friend

Mark: Timbers 2, Dynamo 1

Picking games in the MLS is difficult however generally the home team wins half the time. So there is a pattern. A draw 25 percent of the time and the road team wins the other 25 percent. This is how 538 lists the odds: Portland 24%, Houston 51%, Draw 25 %.

That being said, predicting the Timbers there is rhyme, reason, pattern or algorithm for that, so I will do my prediction in rhyme. I did a ton of analysis; however, we are talking the Portland Timbers. I am not showing my work, but I will share this work:

Here deep in Texas an oil city

With plenty of nasty humidity

There they sit pretty in third

To many that may seem absurd

Timbers won’t take any pity.

I know it defies convention

To giving a win on the road a mention

You thought that was back filler

The unheralded Roy Miller

Certainly has our attenion

Rock solid Dynamo at home

Score early and set the tone

Valarie equals before half

Blanco with one on his behalf

We are now in third place alone

See you all next week with more predictions and cool pictures of cats.