by Niall McCusker

Having been out-possessed in their first three games Portland controlled the ball in this Cascadian derby but could not convert that into goals. After going behind to an early Nicolas Mezquida free-kick, they enjoyed the freedom of the wings as Vancouver looked to keep the middle tight. Nothing in the Timbers greater than forty crosses forced the Whitecaps to re-evaluate their defensive strategy, as only about five were remotely dangerous.

Porter started two strikers in a 442 system, but it looked like that formation will need a little work before being used again as the two forwards rarely connected. The Timbers looked more dangerous in the last half hour with Asprilla injecting energy off the bench.

Vancouver’s defense finally cracked with ten minutes to go, Adi scrambled one in from the edge of the six-yard box and he and Asprilla had excellent chances to win it for Portland. But it was Welsh veteran Robbie Earnshaw who got the winner in the stoppage time for the home side.

Here are the individual ratings:

Adam Larsen Kwarasey 6: at first look it seemed he was in position to make the save on the first goal. But it was a good free-kick, dipping quickly into the bottom corner – though if all the wall jump together they might have got to it.

Let down by his center backs for the second, Earnshaw got through unexpectedly one on one and deserves credit for his cool finish.

While not at fault for either goal, nor has he yet produced the heroics that even last season Ricketts managed on a fairly consistent basis. Touted as an upgrade, he may need to start making the saves he’s not supposed to make.

Alvas Powell 6: This is tough one. Do you reward a young full back for working hard and getting into countless good attacking positions, or do you dwell on the fact that a lot of his service was quite poor once he got there? He might have wanted to use his pace and strength to cut into the box rather than consistently swing long crosses from the touchline.

Defensively he should have been in line with his two center-backs on the second Vancouver goal playing Earnshaw offside, but like everyone else in the stadium he was probably expecting one of his two experienced center backs to actually put a foot out and play the ball. Adekugbe and Mezquida didn’t create a lot danger down his flank, despite Nagbe dropping in centrally from the right wing. Overall I choose to see the positives on this performance, but a long sit-down in the video room looking at attacking choices is in order.

Liam Ridgewell 5.5: He and Borchers marshaled Rivero quite well on Vancouver’s counter-attacks and he got a very nice near post header on a first half Portland corner. But the decent ninety minutes just goes out the window after the stoppage time communication error between he and Borchers that allowed Earnshaw in on goal. The highest paid defender in MLS has to take charge there, call Borchers off and clear the ball.

Nat Borchers 5.5: see above. Vancouver didn’t earn a single corner in this game which tells a story of a defense having a pretty easy time. For veterans, all the more reason to maintain concentration right to the final whistle.

The modern center-back really has an easy job of it – usually only one striker to deal with between the two of them and at least one defensive midfielder patrolling in front. That builds redundancy into the defensive system, which is great. Except when it isn’t – redundancy also requires good communication. No more ‘after you sir’ – ‘no, no please your beard is superior, you have it good sir’ defending needs to be seen from this pairing.

Jorge Villafana 6: he always offered himself as an outlet on the left, seemed to tire a little toward the end as he made a few uncharacteristic errant passes, but Hurtado didn’t achieve much down the right. In Jewsbury’s absence Villafana shared the set-piece duties with Nagbe, putting one short corner nicely onto Ridgewell’s head in the first half. A decent, unremarkable outing.

Darlington Nagbe 7: Nominally starting on the right of the four man midfield he drifted inside a lot and popped up in various dangerous places. His double ‘sombrero’ just before halftime was pretty, but didn’t have any product at the end of it. He was also not immune from the crossing malaise that afflicted all the Timbers, sending 5 or 6 in quite aimlessly.

But in the second half when the Timbers did start to turn the screw Nagbe was much improved, they looked better balanced with Asprilla on the right allowing Darlington to roam even more freely. He fed the wings well, but a few more central runs and long shots like the one in the 70th minute would have varied the point of attack more.

He released Wallace on the left for the Timbers goal, but his drive to ignite the Timbers attack caught up with him at the end as he tired.

George Fochive (off in 75′) 6.5: started the game very well, strong in the air and effective passing. He also showed a few nice attacking moves and had a very good long range shot tipped wide in the 3rd minute. He faded out a little in the second half, but all the action was going down the wings so the central players didn’t get as much chance to show their worth.

Porter viewed Jewsbury as the safer option in midfield after Zemanski’s injury, but Fochive continues to press his case.

Diego Chara 6.5: started with some strong tackles and some smart fouls to break up Vancouver attacks, Carl Robinson was certainly counting his infractions and keeping the 4th official updated. But Chara has an internal clock, which let’s him know exactly when the referee has forgotten about the last foul and he spaces them out enough to usually avoid cards for persistent infringement.

On the attacking side he switched the ball well to open full backs and wingers, but like Fochive could have offered a little more through the middle. But not their fault if that was not the game plan.

Rodney Wallace 7: started well and won a few corners. Yes of course he had his share of errant crosses but he got in two of the best as well. This is were the statistical data gets interesting, the low cross from inside the box that forced Ousted to palm it to Adi’s feet for the goal gets recorded as ‘an unsuccessful cross’, while the later one that Asprilla put over the bar is ‘successful’. I know which one the Timbers thought was successful.

More low, hard crosses from inside the box and the Timbers would have found more joy in this match.

Fanendo Adi 6.5: got his poacher’s goal and many say he should have won it at the end, but I credit Ousted with an excellent save. He had a left footed effort in the first half that he should have done better with, especially with Wallace open behind him.

Adi was too isolated last week, but having the rare privilege of a strike partner would take care of that in this game? Sadly not – he and Urruti seemed to play two entirely separate games, if they passed to each other at all in this match I missed it. Adi came deeper for the ball in the second half linking with Nagbe to some effect. But spent most of the game watching crosses soar over his head like migratory birds.

Maxi Urruti (off in 65′) 5.5: a characteristic quick turn and shot from a Nagbe through ball in the 10th minute was well blocked by Kah, but apart from that he was largely ineffective. Usually two strikers are called a strike partnership, this was more like a strike divorce as Urruti was mainly found out on the wings.

This was maybe tactical to leave the hole behind Adi free for Nagbe, but it seemed a waste of a finisher not to have him in the box more.

Dairon Asprilla (on in 65′) 7: last week we said ‘time to see how he goes as an impact sub rather than a starter’. Well he brought impact, the Timbers looked much better when he came on. As soon as he came in he penetrated to the end-line close to goal and his cut-back was just behind Adi.

His dribble in the middle to go past 2 or 3 Vancouver players was something to behold, that’s the kind of creativity coaches usually try to beat out of players, the halfway line might not have been the best place to try it, but when it comes off you just have to applaud. Dwelling on the ball and being dispossessed was his main issue in the first three games, but everything he tried in this game came off.

Still awaiting his first goal, he rose well to meet Wallace’s cross and headed into the ground across the keeper – text book stuff. Now he just needs to read the new appendix that deals with artificial fields and the higher bounce thereon.

Gaston Fernandez (on in 75′) 6: played quite deep, even chasing down an opponent and winning a ball as soon as he came in. A nice interchange with Nagbe set-up Adi’s last chance. I think he deserves a start and the next two home games against Dallas and Orlando might suit his style.