Quotes: Portland Timbers at Chivas USA
Portland Timbers Quotes
Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
Thoughts on the match:
“I thought in the first half we were a bit casual, for whatever reason. We worked hard all week to prepare for a team that’s much better than their record. We stressed that all week, and we certainly stressed it before the game. I think in some way, for whatever reason, we didn’t play, not everybody, but a few guys, with the urgency, the sharpness, the focus, the hunger that they needed to. We gave up a goal, dug ourselves a hole, and now you make it a lot tougher.
“Typically that first goal does determine what happens from that point, and now we’re chasing the game and it’s not as easy; we’re on the road. I really liked our response in the second half; we came out in the second half the way I wanted them to come out to start the game, and they know it; they’re going to correct it, we’re going to correct it, because at this point, if we don’t correct it, we’re going to be looking back and regretting these points that we let slip away.”
On the team’s mentality:
“There was a bit of casualness at times out of our play. They’re professionals and they understand that part of being a professional is showing up with the right mentality. Listen, if they don’t, we’re going to continue to be at the end of games feeling like we’re feeling right now. We’re happy with the second half. Obviously we wish we would have found the second goal to win the game, but we’re going to build off that second half, because that’s the way we need to be starting games. The way we started that second half, six minutes in to get the goal, that’s the way we need to be starting games because if we do that, now we’re ahead in the game and the result is probably different.”
Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts
Thoughts on the match:
“The end of the game went well, but we started the game a little bit slow and sluggish and we fell behind, and once you fall behind, it’s going to be difficult. Fortunately we pulled a goal and we were able to come out with a point.”
On Portland’s next game:
“Every game is important for us because we want to get into the playoffs and we’re in the last spot and we want to keep it that way. We want to push our way up and get away from the bottom.”
Timbers midfielder Will Johnson
Thoughts on the match:
“It was a slow start. We shot ourselves in the foot with that first half. We just started making mistakes and then compounding on those mistakes and then we started getting a little bit nervous and it eventually lead to the goal, so obviously that’s unacceptable. We’re disappointed in the start and it costs us points.”
On the team’s turnaround in the second half:
“The response in the second half, you’re fighting for your life and we had chances to win the game, even in the first half we had chances to tie it up. We have to be a little more clinical in and around the box – attacking, set pieces. We just don’t seem to have that hunger in front of goal right now, and if you’re going to make mistakes at the back and give up goals, you’re going to lose points.”
Chivas USA Quotes
Chivas USA head coach José Luis Real
Thoughts on the match:
“In my opinion, it has been a game of more quality. Perhaps we have played other games with a lot of effort, or only with effort, and that has just been enough to have tied some games. But today, I think the two teams had a game of quality, it was a game of great effort. It was the most complete game and I’m happy because, despite that we didn’t win, we played a rival who is one of the strongest and I feel happy, not satisfied, because we had the opportunity to win it, but we need to recognize we had a great team in front of us.”
On the importance of having a consistent lineup:
“One of the most important difficulties to solve in our team is exactly the many changes [we face] game by game. At the beginning, [it was the] yellow or red cards, and next the arrival of a few players and maybe some injuries, too. Now we have the complete team, but we need to know each player in the game. I’m happy because usually all the players are having a good game. Another important thing is that our team is the youngest team. Today, [it was the] first time for [Carlo] Chueca and Fondy. Bryan had to go back to defend, [Mario] De Luna was injured, Marky Delgado yesterday was injured, many different situations, but fortunately all the players are in good [shape] to solve in each game.”
Chivas USA midfielder Bryan de la Fuente
Thoughts on the match:
“I think the team showed a lot of quality. We had the ball, we defended good and we played with heart. Every player went for every ball 100 percent, every ball in the air, every 50-50. That shows that the team is getting better. It shows that we have gotten better. Even if we don’t make the playoffs, it shows that we’re not far from [Portland]. If people look at us we’re not the Chivas that everyone thinks. We’re the Chivas that competes 90 minutes and gets results now. It shows how the team is now, how the team got better little by little. The games that are left we’re going to try to win them and show that it’s not the same Chivas.”
On his performance:
“I’m happy for the goal. It’s something that every player wants to do. I’m happy that first I’m doing something for the team and then for myself. Unfortunately we got a tie. The team played good. We’re kind of disappointed, but at the same time the team worked hard for the result.”
Notes:
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Combined with other results around the league, the Timbers kept pace in a tight playoff race in the Western Conference with the draw against Chivas USA. Portland sits in fifth place, six points back of first place, with games in hand over second-place Real Salt Lake and third-place Colorado Rapids.
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With the draw, the Timbers set a new MLS club record for points earned in a single season with 43, surpassing the club’s points total (42) during its inaugural MLS campaign in 2011. The Timbers have six regular-season matches remaining in 2013.
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The Timbers captured their first road points in the all-time MLS series against Chivas USA, having lost in both of the previous meetings at the StubHub Center since 2011. It was the first draw played between to two clubs in seven meetings.
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Midfielder Diego Valeri, working his way back from an adductor strain suffered Aug. 30 at Real Salt Lake, scored in a second straight match for the Timbers, tallying his seventh goal of the season. He has factored in 11 of Portland’s last 16 goals (3g, 8a).
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Valeri’s goal in the 50th minute marked the Timbers’ 30th goal this season scored in the second half. The club’s second-half scoring output ranks second-most in MLS and the Timbers are just the second club this season to score 30 or more second-half goals.
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Valeri’s strike was also the club’s 12th goal scored this season in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, which leads MLS.
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Portland’s second-half strike was the club’s 18th goal scored on the road this season, fourth-most in the league. The Timbers scored 20 combined goals on the road through their first two MLS campaigns.
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The Timbers own the second-best winning percentage (.375) in the league when allowing the first goal of the match.
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Six of the Timbers’ 12 shots against Chivas USA came from inside the penalty area.
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Midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Diego Chara both made their 80th MLS starts for the Timbers, joining midfielder Jack Jewsbury as the only Timbers MLS players with 80 or more league starts for the club.
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Nagbe made his 42nd consecutive start for the Timbers, dating back to the 2012 season.
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Chara is the only member of the Timbers to have started all seven matches of the all-time MLS series against Chivas USA.
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Acquired Monday in a trade with Toronto FC, forward Maximiliano Urruti made his Timbers debut Saturday, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute.
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Forward Jose Valencia made his second career MLS start on Saturday against Chivas USA.
- Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts returned to the Starting XI for Portland, returning earlier in the week from his call-up with the Jamaica National Team for recent World Cup qualifiers. Ricketts’ next start will be the 130th of his MLS career.
