Portland Timbers bows 2 to 1 against Seattle Sounders at home: 5 takeaway

The Timbers lobbied the Sounders throughout the second half and nearly found the equalizer late in the game, but Portland was already in a hole too deep to go out. After conceding a goal early in the first period, the Timbers returned to the field for the second half and immediately allowed Seattle to strengthen their lead with a goal in the 47th minute. This is the second time in a row that the Timbers have allowed an opponent to find a goal just after halftime. Atlanta United scored in the 46th minute of Sunday's game at Providence Park before beating the Timbers 2-0. As Giovanni Savarese, the woodworking coach, said after the match on Friday, these concessions are less about tactics than about mentality. In the last two games, the Timbers were clearly not ready to play in the second half. It cost them both trips. At home, the Timbers should be able to dictate the match. Instead, they faced mental failures and a lack of urgency and concentration in the key moments of their last two games. It must change quickly if the Timbers want to start winning home wins.

The Sounders scored just four shots on Friday night, but managed to take a two-goal lead in the 47th minute, behind goals from Cristian Roldan and Raul Ruidiaz. With better defensive performance, the Timbers may have avoided both goals. Timbers defender Zarek Valentin had a tough run Friday night as he tried to silence Jordan Morris. Morris scored both goals by beating Valentin in a 1v1 situation before sending a dead center into the box. The first goal was a bit capricious as the two Timbers defenders, Jorge Villafana and Ruidiaz, found themselves facing the goals of the Timbers defenders before landing at the feet of Roldan. The Timbers could have been better in both these moments.

But Portland will face challenges if it hopes to make improvements in defense. Timber's center, Julio Cascante, was injured in the 79th minute on Friday and had to leave the field on a stretcher. The Timbers coach, Giovanni Savarese, said after the match that Cascante was still under evaluation and that he was hoping that his injury would be minor. But it did not look like a minor injury and the Timbers could be in trouble if Cascante was away for a long time. The back of Timbers center, Larrys Mabiala, is also hamstring injured and it is unclear when he will be able to return to the field. If Cascante and Mabiala are not available, Claude Dielna, who has had difficulties this season, could go into the lineup, and the Timbers would not have many options, if that is it. so be it, behind the center. It could be devastating for Portland in defense.

After appearing a little slow and struggling in the first period, the Timbers put pressure on the Sounders for most of the second half and had the opportunity to come back from a two-goal deficit and have at least a tie. Cristhian Paredes opened the lead in the 59th minute. Sebastian Blanco led a Diego Valeri center on the net in stoppage time. Brian Fernandez put a ball in the net in the 81st minute, but was called offside. If the Timbers had done better in any of those moments, they could go away with at least one draw. However, despite the fact that the Sounders exceeded 20-11 (6-4 squared) in the game, Portland did not take advantage of his opportunities and managed to score one goal at a time. The club's only goal came on a shot that was deflected into the net by Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz. The Timbers have enough talent to be a deadly offensive team in MLS and the club has shown it at a significant number of outings this year, but Portland has struggled to attack in the last two games. Portland was out at home by Atlanta last Sunday before falling to Seattle on Friday.

Timbers must find a way to pose a constant threat in the attack. A big part of this is to make sure that Fernandez, who only fired one shot on Friday, can score every game. While Fernandez has excelled in MLS as a center forward, it may be time for the Timbers to test the Argentine striker in a wide position and bring Jeremy Ebobisse back to ninth place. Even if Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese decides that moving Fernandez is not the answer, he needs to make adjustments to make sure he gets more from his attack next week against Real Salt Lake.

The Timbers Army, along with fans of the Seattle Sounders, made a statement Friday while they were protesting the MLS's ban on the use of signs and political demonstrations during games. The League's new supporter code prohibits the "Iron Front" symbol, an emblem with three downward pointing arrows, which was first used by an anti-Nazi paramilitary organization in Germany in the 1930s. Fans say that the Iron Front symbol is not political because it represents an opposition to fascism and oppression, which are human rights issues. MLS is concerned that this symbol has been adopted by the antifa movement, a loose affiliation of activists whose demonstrations against fascism and racism have sometimes turned violent.

But the MLS has had to face a strong reaction in recent months from some fans for its decision to ban the Iron Front symbol. Army Timbers and Sounders fans took their protest to a higher level Friday by deciding not to post tifos or to participate in songs and songs organized during the first 33 minutes of Friday's game. The event had an impact. The usually tumultuous atmosphere of Providence Park was visibly lessened.

When the league drafted the new policy, the Timbers fought for supporters to be banned from wearing Iron Front symbol clothing or to display other signs espousing anti-fascist, anti-racist messages. or pro-immigrants. But that was not enough for many supporters and supporters of the league who pushed the ban. Although the majority of Providence Park fans did not actively participate in Friday's protest, those who made themselves heard were heard through their silence. Friday's event was covered by national media, including ESPN and Sports Illustrated. The league has not yet made any changes to its policy, but what the Timbers army and the Sounders fans have shown Friday is that the problem will not go away.