Following Wednesday night’s game against the LA Galaxy, the Portland Timbers will certainly be hoping that what happens in Carson, California stays in Carson, California.
Going into the game on a four match winning streak in MLS and five matches in all competitions, the Timbers were on a high and appeared to have righted the ship following a slow start to the season.
It took all of 45 (maybe as few as 13) for all those good feelings to go away. I wrote earlier this week about this week being a big test for the Timbers (Major Tests Await Portland Timbers This Week), and the Timbers did not appear ready for the first of these tests.
Whether the Timbers weren’t mentally ready for the game, were feeling overconfident heading in on a winning streak, or just ran into the buzzsaw that the LA Galaxy, at their best, have been for years in MLS now, a 5-0 loss is never a good thing. If one ignored the score, the result wouldn’t be so bad. Teams expect to lose some games on the road in MLS, and losing at the defending champions is nothing to be ashamed of. Losing by five though? That may be something to be ashamed of.
That said, the Timbers have an even bigger game coming up, as they face rival Seattle Sounders on Sunday night. Here’s three keys for Portland if they’re going to get back on track against their Cascadia rivals.
1. Don’t get beat down the wings
The Galaxy abused the Portland wing players on Wednesday. The Galaxy’s first goal came when Dan Gargan overlapped down the right, beating Rodney Wallace, and put in a cross which was finished by Sebastian Lletget, who Alvas Powell failed to mark as he came across the box. The third goal came from Galaxy left-back Robbie Rogers, who ran unmarked into the box. Most of the chances the Galaxy created came from wide positions.
Between injuries and suspensions, the Sounders will not be as dangerous from any position as they usually are, but the Timbers must be better defensively on the wings. They’ve been solid down the middle this season, and while Jorge Villafaña and Powell have been playing well, they’re still liable to have a defensive lapse now and then, which need to be eliminated.
2. Stay Composed
The Timbers will already be missing a key player for this matchup, after Liam Ridgewell’s ill advised interaction with Alan Gordon earned him a red card after the game was already out of hand. In their U.S. Open Cup matchup, the Timbers were able to stay composed as the Sounders collapsed mentally, helping the Timbers escape with the win and 11 men on the field.
Such composure will likely be needed again Sunday. After recent results and given their injury and suspension situation, the Sounders will be desperate for a win, and if they can get Portland off their game mentally it may give Seattle the best chance at a result. Plays like Ridgewell’s on Wednesday, which can only be called irresponsible, and put the team in a tough position heading into a huge game, need to be avoided.
3. Bounce Back Quickly
If the Timbers can get a win Sunday against Seattle, then the loss to the Galaxy will look like just a blip on the radar, an unfortunate slip against a team in form. If they can do that, they’ll remain on track for a playoff spot and perhaps even to be in the race for the Western Conference title. A win would put them within a point of the Sounders, who currently top the conference.
However, anything but a win, and the entire last month starts to look a lot different. A loss, or even a draw, against this current Sounders team, (which just lost to the Philadelphia Union!) changes the outlook on the Timbers winning streak. After all, one could look at the Timbers wins against DC United, New England, and Houston, all missing key players, and conclude that the Timbers only won because they were playing undermanned squads.
If the Timbers can win Sunday, all will be right in Portland. A loss though, and the doubts will resurface quickly.
