By Niall McCusker

For the second game running the Timbers found themselves trailing, perhaps somewhat undeservedly, by two goals at the end of the first half. They launched another spirited comeback attempt, but despite scoring quite early in the second, could not find an equalizer.

This was a much more exciting match than the tepid encounter that passed as a derby at Centurylink Field back in April when the Sounders squeezed out a 1-0 win in a game in which neither side seemed particularly interested in attacking. Whatever the incoming tactical intentions of the teams on this occasion they were rendered redundant after Martins scored on 6 minutes setting up an open and cleanly contested game.

The visitors responded well to the early concession, coming close with a series of set-pieces and forcing Frei into a smart save on a one vs. one duel with Melano. But as in the recent Houston game they were hit with a sucker-punch right before half time when Martins got a touch on a long ball and crashed-into/was-crashed-into-by Kwarasey immediately afterward earning a penalty which was nicely converted by Evans. (edit that sequence according to your preferred shade of green)

In the aftermath Caleb Porter called out the officiating of Corkonian Alan Kelly for Seattle’s goals, but in private might well be having a word with his players about why Martins showed more desire to win the ball on both occasions. In a way maybe the Timbers scored too early in the second half, they seemed to lose their sense of urgency until about ten minutes from the end, a crisp volley from Melano that went just wide was the best of limited chances to equalize.

There were signs of an re-emerging chemistry in the Timbers offense, but to capitalize on that their defense will need to find its stingy streak again.

Here are the individual ratings:

Adam Larsen Kwarasey 5.5: He had no chance with the first goal were his defense operated in a manner that would have best accompanied by Laurel and Hardy music. For the second he might have considered himself to have been standing still when bowled over by Martins, but he came out, hesitated and didn’t get to the ball first – bad things tend to happen to keepers in those circumstances. At this point in the season he knows Borchers and Ridgewell are not the quickest on the turn, a better starting position and commitment to win the ball first would have spared wannabe referees everywhere from poring over the minutiae of Law 12 for the next few days.

In March the keeper told MLS “When you come off your line like I do a lot, then the chemistry or the connection has to be perfect because sometimes it can cause situations, maybe some silly situations”.

Indeed.

Alvas Powell 6: On the first goal when they freeze the action as the pass is sent long to Valdez the striker’s magnificently styled head is leaning forward between the two center backs, offside by a coiffed hair surely? No, not if your right back is 2-yards behind the line his center-backs are holding – come on Alvas we discussed this a few weeks ago. He had a chance to recover later in the play, but allowed Martins to muscle him off the ball too easily.

At the start of the second half he found room in the Seattle box to get on the end of a Diego Valeri pass but his fist touch took him too wide when he should have been able to get a shot off. But after that Powell did contribute nicely to Portland’s attack, a good run to earn the corner they scored from and a nice cross to Melano for his volley wide.

Liam Ridgewell 5.5: Just like a proper East-End villain, crimes might occur in Portland’s defensive area, but Ridgewell is never close enough to the scene to be found guilty. Maybe he should be a little closer to the action, getting stuck in? He also picked up a yellow for a silly foul that for the second time in a few months will see him miss a vital game. If he is going to do time at least earn it in appropriate London style.

Nat Borchers 5.5: The defender might not have thanked Jewsbury for the back pass into fairly tight quarters, but he should still have been able to clear it. Instead he tried to shift it onto his right foot, but the touch was long allowing Valdez to slide in and start the chaos that led to the opening goal. Borchers tracked along as Martins played pinball with Fochive and Powell, but failed to get in one of his characteristic blocks when the shot finally came.

He did cover well on an errant Ridgewell touch in the first half and effectively tracked some of Valdez and Roldan’s runs in the second half, but the damage had been done.

Jorge Villafana (off in 83′) 5.5: A quiet game for the left-back as Seattle generally attacked the other side, his crossing was not up to it’s usual standard. If Melano continues to start on the left it will be interesting to see how that effects Villafana’s role. He may not get to make as many runs forward and his flank might get opened up a little forcing him to play more defense – is that his best game?

George Fochive (off in 78′) 6.5: Coming into this game the area of most concern to the visiting side was the defensive midfield slots normally manned by Chara and Johnson, but Fochive and Jewsbury filled the gap manfully. He didn’t win every tackle, but he went into every tackle expecting to win it – similarly not every pass found it’s target but he kept going and was by no mean overawed by the occasion. As Portland pushed on at the end Fochive swung in a couple of excellent crosses to Melano then Adi, perhaps not quite the game management of a Johnson at this point, but a promising performance in a tough environment.

Jack Jewsbury 7.5: The only knock on Jewsbury in this game is that he should have had more than one goal! The header he sent wide on nine minutes was actually easier than the near post one he got on target shortly afterwards, Valeri has been hitting those corners all year and it seems this is the first one that was dangerous. The veteran displayed his usual good, smooth passing and though he got some criticism for the back-pass to Borchers he wasn’t to know if he was under pressure at the time and played it the way he was facing – nice and simple and typically Jewsbury (OK maybe he could have put it onto Borchers’ right foot so he could clear it directly).

Even at the end he was still pushing for the equalizer, his shot blocked by Marshall at the edge of the six.

Darlington Nagbe 6.5: A bright start from Nagbe and at last some meaningful passes were exchanged between him and Valeri. He also took a few lay-offs from Adi and swung a cross to Melano – finally some cohesion in Portland’s attack. Nagbe faded either side of halftime but came back into the game later with Fisher the latest in a string of left backs to earn a caution for fouling Nagbe as he holds the ball (some might say holds it too long). However, Portland never seem to manage to isolate and target defenders who pick up the yellows.

Diego Valeri 8: Is he back? Well he’s sort of back but not really. Is he back, but like properly, for real? Whisper no longer. Yes he is back!

The Troesma (copyright @dhondiego) delivered his best performance of the season so far, he continued the hard work he has been doing of late, but the control, touch and ability to find space looked more consistent and the mix of short and long passing was there. Oh and yes, the free-kick and corner delivery, which often get bashed around here, was first rate. Now if he could just get those direct free-kicks over the wall.

Lucas Melano (off in 83′) 7: He will have wanted to do better with his one on one with Frei, but he drew a decent stop from the keeper and the move looked like one that Portland will see dividends from before this season is out. A direct ball to Adi, flicked to Valeri and the first time pass through the defense onto a run Melano had started from deep even before Adi received the ball. As Jurgen Klopp might put it – I liked everything about that, apart from the result.

The expensive youngster had some nice runs down the left wing, offering himself as a secondary outlet to Adi, which Ridgewell spotted well at times. He also cut in with direct runs to goal that started so deep they were hard to track, though in fairness to the experienced Mears he did his best. There seems to be a good mixture of talent there, a header wide from Fochive’s cross, then a nicely hit volley from Powell’s ten minutes later. Re-formulating team chemistry by integrating mid-season buys quickly is a key attribute of the best MLS teams – good signs are there, but the next few games will be very telling.

Fanendo Adi 7.5: After some feisty early encounters there seems to be a mutual respect between Adi and Chad Marshall, they knock the stuffing out of each other all game and both seem to heartily enjoy it. The Nigerian might well also secretly enjoy these games were the Timbers concede an early goal as it forces the rest of the team to come and join him in trying to score instead of hoofing it at him from 60-70 yards. In this game the quality of his lay-offs was excellent, both Nagbe and Valeri got close enough to prosper and there seemed to be a nice strategy of the big man coming deep to pull Marshall with him, leaving room for Melano to run behind.

In the midst of his hard work for the midfielders he still found time to make his own runs into the box, Frei cut out a few dangerous crosses destined for his feet.

Substitutes:

Dairon Asprilla (on in 78′) 5: Strangely the Timbers subs didn’t really get too much into the offensive side of the game, but Asprilla made a couple of great runs back on defense to cover for Powell who was starting to feel the pace.

Rodney Wallace (on in 83′): (not on long enough for rating) He got on the end of one great long ball from Valeri and produced a decent cross

Maxi Urruti (on in 83′): He never really got into the game, not on long enough for rating.