Before Friday's match, Philadelphia coach Peter Nowak said the cozy confines of Jeld-Wen Field force teams into playing "pinball" in Portland. OK, well, if that's the case, the Timbers showed they indeed play with balls of steel by holding on for a 1-0 victory over the Union to stay perfect at home in MLS play and leap into a tie for second in the Western Conference.
Think these guys might've had something to do with it?
More after the jump, including thoughts on a huge (mental) victory for Portland, coach John Spencer's full post-game presser and EXTRA TIME links to read before you start focusing hatred northward.
I was a tad surprised last week when Spencer called out his team's mental composure and labeled it "soft" after the Timbers got into a bad habit of giving up early (and late) goals in bunches. It's always a bold move for a coach to challenge a team's character via the media, and I thought particularly for a team that's just stating to jell, it was a tactic that could blow up on the first-year head coach.
Wrong. Based on what Portland's shown in its last two MLS matches, Spencer's challenge was heard loud and clear, and his Timbers are showing some serious grit against seriously good clubs. Yes, they have the home (sellout) crowd at their back, and that's tremendously important for momentum, inspiration and the like, but gripping tightly to 1-0 leads and not letting go (Not. Letting. Go.) says more about a team's character than jumping out to a 3-0 lead ever will. Clean sheets are the currency of tough teams, and Portland's team is looking tougher by the week.
The Timbers were physical and aggressive and didn't let the Union's kick-back style lull them to sleep (though it might have had that effect on fans tuning in for "Soccer Night in America"). They stood on-point until the final whistle (10 shots in the second half!), withstood Philly's late surge and showed they won't hesitate to throw down inside the goal if you collide with the keeper.
Spencer told the media he's "absolutely delighted" with the win, and I'm sure he feels similarly about his team's mental toughness. They're a long way from soft as they prepare for next week's Cascadia Cup clash with Seattle, and as the coach says in the video below, "We realize what a good team we're becoming."
Think the Sounders do, too?
EXTRA TIME! Links for those who keep their sheets clean.
• Portland beat Philly "at its own game," says The O's Geoffrey C. Arnold.
• Nobody's taking away Futty's first goal this time, according to The Trib's Stephen Alexander,
who also has a feature on Jeff High and Oregon State star Danny Mwanga and a gamer.
• Doug Binder of MLSsoccer.com notes coach Spencer is glad to give a nod (and wave a flag) to the home crowd.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jonathan Tannenwald says Portland was "buoyed by the electric atmosphere."
while Philly Soccer News says the Union's home field "might have met its match" in terms of decibel levels coming from the crowd.
• Dropping Timber found *statistical analysis* that shows Futty's the top-performing Portland player.
• SoccerCityUSA's Allison Andrews offers some action shots last night, including Spencer waving the flag in front of Timbers Army.
• The Timbers are looking "increasingly comfortable" but Seattle will still be "a stiff test," according to Mao of The Offside.
• Portland used patience and some season-best possession to "crack the vaunted Philadelphia Union defense," says Ryan Gates of Stumptown Footy.
• A interesting read on Jake Gleeson's decision to stay in Portland from the NZ Herald's Michael Brown.
• Some first impressions of "Soccer Night in America" from The Brotherly Game's Ben Feldman.
• And speaking of television broadcasts, how 'bout some highlights?
