Teammates rush to celebrate Ross Smith's 1st goal of the season. The Timbers are starting to put things together. Sloppy possession, costly defensive lapses, an inability to finish plays - all things that plagued Portland in the 1st half of the season, were thankfully nowhere to be seen on Saturday evening. In front of over 12,000 fans at PGE Park, the Timbers played some of their best soccer of the year, outworking their opponents as usual, but this time around capitalizing on their opportunities, scoring twice in the 2nd half and pulling out a 2-0 victory. Portland (6-5-5, 23 pts) is now unbeaten in their last 4 league games and tied for 4th place in the overall league standings, 9 points behind first place Austin. A great way to kick off the 2nd half of the season.
"The 2nd half of the season, we knew we'd have to get on a roll and start to push on and catch up," Said defender Ross Smith. "So we knew we needed a good start in front of the home crowd tonight."
"The first half of the season wasn't exactly what we wanted and what we expected," Said midfielder Tony McManus. "But to start the 2nd half of the season this way, it's awesome for our confidence, and awesome in terms of building momentum. "
When asked about the importance of tonight's victory in terms of the team's psyche, Coach Gavin Wilkinson responded with enthusiasm, "It's massive. We talked about it before this game, to start the 2nd of the season well. We started the beginning of the season very well, winning those 3 games and we need those 3 games again, maybe even a bit more. So it's tremendous."
Added Wilkinson, "(In the league standings) we have 23 points, our target is a minimum of 40, so that's good news."
Heading into the match there was also payback on the team's mind. The Timbers had traveled to South Beach earlier in the season, out playing the Blues for 90 minutes, only to give up a late goal and lose 1-0. Did this create any extra incentive?
"When you go down there, and you feel like you were the better team and they walk away with the points, you definitely feel a little frustrated and angry about that," Said McManus. "So yeah, we wanted a little retribution today."
The Timbers found their revenge tonight. Overall, an exciting game with a lot of back-and-forth play, the Timbers outshot Miami 7-5, but the match remained scoreless heading into halftime. However, it wouldn't take long for Portland to break the deadlock. In the 48th minute, after a Miami foul, midfielder Alex Nimo's ensuing free kick soared into the box and over the crowd of players, eventually landing at the feet of defender Ross Smith, who rushed though and blasted the ball far post for the score. As PGE Park erupted, Smith sprinted across the field, his teammates swarming him in celebration.
"I've been dreaming about (this). I've never been apart of a club where its such a big thing, such a big crowd and such fantastic support," Said Smith, grinning from ear-to-ear. "I've never scored in front of a crowd like this."
Added Smith, "That penalty against Seattle has been haunting me and hopefully this will put to rest some of those demons."
The Timbers continued the attack and applied pressure for most of the 2nd half, at one point leading Miami in shots 15-7, however the Blues would fight back, taking control of a late 10 minute stretch of the match and putting a flurry of shots on goal. Memories of past defensive breakdowns began to simmer in the mind's of fans, but the Timbers remained resilient. Despite the Blues earning 8 corner kicks and eventually catching up on shots (only losing 15-17 overall), the Timbers were able to rally together and avoid any last-minute heartaches. In the 90th minute, midfielder and the Timber's leading scorer Ryan Pore, was able to streak his way past two Miami defenders before scoring his 10th goal of the season and putting the game out of reach.
"It's a good win," Said Cronin. "Something we can really build on."
"We put our shots on target," Said McManus. "We made the goalie actually have to make a save, and when you put shots on target and make the goalie react, then the ball is definitely in your court."
"We could have been a little bit better at holding on to the ball and getting more players into the attack," Said Wilkinson, cautious perhaps of overconfidence. "But we did well, the players outworked them."
Portland's defense was able to hold another opponent scoreless (only 10 goals given up all year), but they certainly needed a little help from Steve Cronin. Cronin was heroic in front of the net, making 7 saves on the night, including a handful of impressive goal-saving stops. It's his 4th consecutive shutout in league play and his 7th shutout of the season.
"Steve Cronin came up massive for us and I think he's an absolute brilliant keeper," Said Smith. "He made some fantastic saves and got us out of danger quite a bit."
"(Cronin) was fantastic," Said Coach Wilkinson. "What you need sometimes when you're struggling to put the ball in the net is for someone to come up big and he came up huge for us. So to me, man of the match tonight."
When asked about his performance, Cronin was eager to pass credit to his teammates.
"The guys in front of me did a great job." Said Cronin. "The back four (did well), we won a lot of plays in the midfield, and when everybody is working hard and putting good pressure on the ball, it helps everybody else behind them."
Said Cronin when asked about his seven shutouts this year: "Its not just a credit to myself, its a credit to the rest of the team and especially the back four."
Certainly, the entire team deserves praise for the momentum they've built heading into the last 15 games of the season. After many lineup changes and working to find the right chemistry, the Timbers are seemingly headed in the right direction. What's been the major difference?
"It's just a mentality," Said Cronin. "In and around the box we're giving nothing away, we're taking our chances, and we're willing to scrap it out, do the dirty work and all those little things."
"Tonight, we just grinded them down. We just had to keep on pushing and we knew it would come, I think that's been the story of late, our chances are there, but haven't put them away." Said Smith. "And just that belief is important, and I think we're starting to have that belief again."
"We're just trying to start the 2nd half of the season right, and we've been on a good little run, putting together good games, good performances, and getting results in the last month or so, and we just want to keep that going." Added keeper Steve Cronin.
The Timbers get little time to rest as the team plays an exhibition match tomorrow evening at PGE Park against Atlas, one of the oldest professional clubs in Mexico. Then next Saturday on July 17th, the team will play at Merlo Field against one of the premiere soccer team's in the world, the EPL's Manchester City, a rare and special opportunity Although the matches are only friendlies, both games will present a chance to test the team's merits against top competition and it'll be important that the team continues to play well and carry momentum back into league play. After Manchester City, the Timbers will play 6 of their next 7 matches on the road.
"Any game we go into we want to win. It doesn't matter who the opponent is or what kind of game it is," Said McManus. "We want to go into the game and try to get something out of it after."
"We're just continuing to fight for each other," Said Cronin, "And that's what's most important."
== Box Score ==
* Photo provided by Allison Andrews @ Timber Mill
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