POSTGAME: A Great Season Ends Too Soon

As the refs blew the final whistle on the Timber's season a heavy silence fell over the 14,283 fans in attendance at PGE Park on Sunday. Some fans quickly shuffled out in disappointment, but many decided to hang around in the stands for a bit longer. They stuck around and watched as the Timbers hung their heads in heartbreak, some players dropping to the ground instantly, the final whistle like a sharp blow to the gut. They watched the players console each other, literally picking each other up from off the field. They watched the Timbers begrudgingly congratulate the winning team for a job well done, the players wandering around the field with dazed and saddened expressions. And then the crowd erupted. They applauded and cheered and gave a standing ovation. They broke out into song. Some had tears in their eyes. The fans were telling the Timbers that they had nothing to feel ashamed about; showing their appreciation for all the team's efforts and accomplishments. And as the players walked by the Timber's army for one last time this year, returning their fan's admiration with heavy faces, it became painfully obvious that nobody in the stadium wanted this special season to end.

"What the hell do I do with myself now?" said Paul Sepp, die-hard Timber's fan and true aficionado of finely made, blue-ribbon winning beer.

"I'll force myself into a drunken hibernation and wake up in April." Elliott Porter babbled, fighting through tears.

"I need to shoot somebody or punch another human being in the face," commented one greenly-clad fan, possibly influenced by the emotional trauma of defeat as well as the pitchers of beer that surrounded him.

The result might not have been ideal, but the game on Sunday was certainly an exciting one. Every fan in attendance should have left PGE feeling like they go their money's worth and then some. Portland and Vancouver battled to a thrilling 3-3 draw, but the Timbers will now watch from home as the Whitecaps will move on to meet Montreal in the USL finals. Dropping the first game 2-1 in Vancouver, the Timbers find themselves as losers in this 2-game aggregate goal format, the overall final score 5-4 in the Whitecaps favor.

A fast-paced and thrilling match, the Timbers poured it on late, getting many close scoring chances, but failing to find the series equalizer. The end of the match was sadly plagued by controversial calls, specifically, on a couple of hand-ball calls. One, a no call on the Whitecaps 3rd goal during the scramble in front of the Timber's box. And two, the hand-ball called on Suzuki, when the correct call should have been a foul or hand-ball on the Vancouver player, either decision resulting in a PK kick for the Timbers.

However, the loss can't be blamed on the officiating. The Whitecaps played a solid match and they're playing some great soccer right now. It's why they've pulled off two upset in the playoffs as the #7 seed and are headed to the finals to defend their championship. Momentum is very important heading into the postseason. And unfortunately, the Whitecaps were building confidence, playing well in their final 10 games, as the Timbers were still struggling to regain their form after the infamous unbeaten streak.

Also, the Timber's defense didn't get it done. Haber wasn't even touched as he slipped by Timber defenders into the box for the Whitecaps first score. For a team that's only allowed 10 goals all year at PGE, it was tough to see them giving up easy scores. Steve Cronin didn't have his best game. A few times during the match he was caught out of position, the "no call" on the Whitecaps 3rd goal would not an even be an issue if he doesn't misjudge the incoming corner kick. Cronin also found himself stuck behind the player-wall on the Caps 2nd score, which apparently blocked his view as Nash blasted a shot past him into the top-right corner.

"This one is going to stay with me for a long time," Cronin said after the match.

Effort has been an issue for this team in their last handful of games, some questioning their intensity and focus as they headed into the postseason. However, for their last match, the Timbers would outwork the Caps, setting the tone with their aggressive play, and even earning a few early yellow cards to send a statement. The chances were there - they outshot Vancouver 15-10 and at times seemed like they were ready to break the match open. In the end, the Whitecap's size and efficiency was just too much to overcome, the Timbers coming up a goal short. Vancouver got everything the Timbers had to give and the team truly left their hearts out on the field. It was a gutty and inspired performance, a showing of team unity, not just for the growing beards on their faces, but from the way they held each other up and fought together. Now that's something that should stay with the fans for a long, long time.

- BOXSCORE -

- Photo credit goes to Brent Wojahn over at Oregonlive.com - check out his gallery it's amazing.

One last drop...

What are your thoughts? How do you feel about the the way the Timber's season ended? Bitter? Frustrated? Hopeful? We'll all have some time to sort through our feelings now that the offseason is upon us. And it's shaping up to be a very interesting winter. Who will be playing for the Timbers next season and for that matter, where will the Timbers be playing in 2010? How will Merrit Paulson and the team's management begin to build a foundation and shape this team as it makes preparations for the MLS in 2011? Check in with Dropping Timber, we'll dig through the shit.