POSTGAME: The Streak Ends - A Blessing in Disguise?

What an amazing run. The Timbers would lose the season opener to Vancouver; then starting on April 30th, with a 0-0 draw against Carolina at PGE Park, the Timbers would go over 4 months without losing a USL regular season match. In 24 matches, Portland would post a record of 14-0-10, shattering the old unbeaten streak of 15 set by Miami in 2004. Regardless of what happens the rest of the year, the Timbers have etched their way into the history books and made the 2009 season one that will never be forgotten by their fans. Truly, we all witnessed something incredible.

So, the Timbers lost, something we haven't had to say all summer. The Rhinos played a very scrappy and determined game tonight to pull out the 2-1 victory. A very physical and aggressive first half, the game opened with a few player collisions and some heated confrontations. Mcmanus was in the middle of it, nothing surprising there. Things were competitive and chippy between he and former teammate Andrew Gregor, the two exchanging words after some physical play. Danso was also kicked in the head on multiple occasions, sacrificing his body to to defend the box. The effort was there by the defense tonight, unfortunately the ball just didn't bounce our way. You can't win them all.

Portland just couldn't keep possession of the ball and often times found themselves on their heels, running back to defend after a bad or broken up pass. It was a fast paced match, both teams sending long balls in the air, trying to press the action. Portland had their opportunities, earning 6 corners and a couple PK kicks, but again, it just didn't break their way. Rochester was a little sharper and more efficient. They ended up outshooting Portland 13-11, but the telling statistic is that Cronin had to make 5 saves, compared to Vallow's 1. Although the action was back-and-forth, the Rhinos had the more serious threats and better shots on target. Errol Mcfarlane was a terror, with 5 total attempts, scoring both goals, including the heartbreaking game winner in the 90th minute. It seemed like he and Menyongar were everywhere tonight.

However, there were many positives to take away from this loss. Rodrigo Lopez subbed in during the 2nd half and played quite well. He showed creativity and good instincts, setting guys up in open space with nice passes. Lopez was responsible for the cross into the box that eventually found its way to Pore, who blasted in the equalizer. I fully expect him to contribute the rest of the year. Also, Portland showed some real grit and resiliency, not giving up and fighting through some rugged play to bring the game back to even. They've had multiple come from behind victories this season and a few wins they've given up, but I think that never-say-die attitude will serve them well as things tighten up heading into the postseason. The Timbers are still in first place too - 3 points ahead of Carolina with 4 games left to play. Portland's Magic # remains at 6, meaning with two more wins they clinch the Commissioner's Cup. Attendance was also pretty good tonight. 11, 683 fans came out on a Thursday night, opting to miss or DVR the Ducks game instead. A positive sign for a growing fanbase. Just not the best night for local sports.

So how is this loss a blessing in disguise? With the streak over, now the Timbers can focus on finishing the year strong and head into the playoffs with nothing on their minds but a championship. The team will no longer have to carry around the weight of the streak on their shoulders, a burden that was growing with every passing match. If they had entered the postseason still unbeaten, the expectations and attention associated with the streak would simply be extra pressure that this team would have to bare. The loss is out of the way. Atleast the team can relax, perhaps play more freely, and set their sites on the real goal - winning a league title.