Timbs v RSL
A historical USA soccer team in the home side and a past MLS champ in the visitors.
Unforced error by Portland, as a pass to the center circle is not run after and the passer is frustrated by it at 3’. Into the RSL area and headed out for a corner at 4’. Just wide of the frame at about 10 yards as a redirected corner goes high for Portland. RSL ‘keeper out of the arc to play with his feet. Well beyond the area and through it to the RSL net minder. In their defensive third, RSL plays to the feet of Portland, they take it right back. Dacosta into the area and a costly foul as the defender is pushed into the ball. The Ref of the Year for last season in the center, he was the 4th for NYCFC v Sounders. Mora has it in the area, few steps lets go and it is blocked. Portland into the area, RSL handcuffed at first but partially clear it out. RSL getting forward and Olatunji gets a shot off, defended out for a deep throw, Yedlin to the edge of the 6, headed out and back to RSL. Into the area and the GK steps up to take it out of the air. RSL tackles it out of play for a Portland corner at 15’. Headed out beyond the area now Chara for Mora and it is too long as it deflected out. To the far corner was he looking for an Olympico? Off Gozo but offside on Mora. A ball from the top of the area into it is to the other team by RSL, but they recover it and pass it around well beyond the goal now. RSL not happy with a call on a throw in and GOZO kicks the ball away, game management now done well withholding the card. Luna has his arm go up on Durkin and he gets a talking to, shaking his head, his hand hit the guy. RSL press and win a deep throw. Looking for Luna it is lost, a late call and caution to Calsiska of RSL. Seconds later another hard foul by the cautioned player. No idea why the Portland players are blocking Luna from the ref. A goal is the result of the poor foul at 24’ Mora gets one for the home team. Headed on goal from the DFK, he follows it and sends it home. Gozo lays it off and the shot is wide, that has to be on frame, not well into the stands. RSL first corner at 33’ as the GK gets the ball off the post as 2 forwards attacked it and slid over the byline. RSL are swarming with the ball, Ojeda into the area Diogo goes over the net with a difficult shot as he was in the air for a ball at waist height. Mora with a goal again at 35’, again he followed the ball and the second effort paid off. In from the wing his header saved, the rebounded 2nd ball not. RSL now has a 3% chance to win. Luna with a piece of skill as he rolls the ball and beats his mark to lay it off in the area. RSL into the area but outnumbered and it is lost, Velde and Gozo having words. RSL corner at 39’ short and into the area and RSL is glad they got Glad as he pulls one back. The short corner back again to the top of the area as he was going away, Justin sent it in. Things like this are what make the win % useless with that goal just 10% win but 30% tie. One goal gets you but 7% more chance to win. It was just noted that in MLS anyway, that the Timbers never had a hat trick, they did in the NASL, John Bain in 1978 facing the Caribou. Luna on the corner, he goes to the center of the area it is punched out a bit, now a poor pass and players battle for the ball. Three minutes to go. Glad stops a shot on goal. Luna has a pass from Gozo sent to space he was not going to and expresses himself. A pair of mistouches and the center overrules the AR on a throw in.
RSL into the area partially cleared into the area and back out they take it to midfield to lose it on the wing due to Ojeda not being able to reel the ball in. Now RSL has an 8.3% to win. RSL into the area, a ball in sent out for a corner by Chara. Out of the area to Glad his blast gets to his team, a trio are off. Diogo with a distant blast that is well wide. Twice on head balls, Portland pushes, the 2nd is called and crowd groans. RSL edge of the area, now in Ojeda from Gozo and it is lost, recovered and in the area Luna lays it off, the shot blocked and Portland have it deep in their end. A clearing ball taken away RSL in their backfield being pressured cough it up in the neutral zone. From the edge of the area, Dacosta gets the ‘keeper to full extension for the save. Gozo reaches out to get it across the 6 and not sent home. Chara victimized by a moving pick, no call. Luna to Gozo, he feeds Yedlin and his shot is blocked, RSL holds now back to their GK just below the circle. Too many passes in tight space for RSL, they are getting it nowhere. Into the area great save, rebound to the netminder just if front of Luna and medical being called in. Gozo out Cruz on Agada on. Portland holding it near midfield. Mora plays it on to not a soul. Cruz for Agada it is stopped, a shot from Diogo from beyond the area at the GK. Luna passes to his offside teammate in the area. DaCosta has his effort played over the endline for a corner at 71’. Fans holding phones, photographers using their short lenses. RSL go endline, win a corner. It is taken to the edge of the 6. Luna flicks it on a bicycle goes off the bar. Bera takes a caution as it comes out. Terrible pass picked off by RSL, a very far shot taken with space in front, get close than the 35 or so yards. Timbers foul at about 30 yards, maybe a shot coming? GK calling for a 3 man wall. A whistle before the shot that goes in, Cruz on the end is pushing in on the wall, he cannot be within a few yards of the wall, it gets referred to as a rule, nope, law. Paredes on and Lassiter for Portland as Barea is in for RSL Ojeda out for RSL. Antony out as is Surman for Portland. Velde takes a hard foul from Yedlin and he gets carded. There are ten minutes left. A poor back pass to the GK has Portland scramble for the ball then play it out of touch. Chara for Mora now Velde and a great save keeps RSL in the game. Portland corner at 82’. It goes to the side of the area and bounces around, Lasitter to Miller 3-1 on a headed ball. So well taken sent down as it should beating the GK. Luna carded as one of his players goes down. Ortiz and Kelsy in for Portland Mora out as is DaCosta. Luna with a blast corner at 87’. He takes the corner to the penalty area and a foul as it comes out. Mosquera in as Katrans is cautioned Russel in for Yedlin. DFK RSL at 89’ from about 40 yards over the top back out, sent in again. Fernandez, the ex Red Bull is in for Portland. Fully 7’ of added time. Luna across and the shot sails way off the mark. Another ball into the 6 for RSL with not a player to get it. Mosquera is checked hockey style to the ground no call. Again toward the 6 but it is whistled down as two heads clash in the area, Fernadez is one of them he is up. Both are back on now. Cruz gets on the end of cross sends it goal ward, the GK lays down on it. Kelsey called for the foul with half a minute to go but it will go more due to the head injuries. Neville grabs the lens of a camera? A good call on a high kick. Neville back to the camera. Game over 3-1.