Portland Timbers Quotes
Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
On the match:
“I thought we were outstanding today and we deserved more out of the game. I thought Seattle was fortunate, but that happens in football. They feel good, they get the points, we feel bad, we don’t, but I thought we deserved more out of the game.”
On if taking control from the start was the plan:
“Our plan was to come in and go toe-to-toe with them. I thought we did that and were far and away the better team. I thought the official was very poor. I’ll stick with the theme of coaches complaining this week. The reality is I call a spade a spade and the official was very poor today.”
On how the penalty affected the match:
“Obviously they go up 2-0. I thought the first [goal] was a bit unfortunate as well. There may have been a couple fouls in there. We have to do better and clear the ball as well. That was the first time they really smelled our goal. They had nothing. I can’t even remember one time during the game when they broke us down. They couldn’t create much on us and they get out of this game with three points off of a poor first goal and then a PK.”
On what positives to take away from this match:
“We need to continue this positive play. We have seven games to go and our next three of four are at home. If we take care of business at home, we’re going to be in a good spot. We can’t get frustrated. There were some things that happened in this game that we felt hard done by, but we need to continue our positive play. If you look at the second half versus Houston and both halves tonight, if we play like that, nine out of 10 times we’re going to win. I’m really pleased. This game can be cruel, but I’ve learned over time, it comes back around. It’ll come back around in our favor here in the next seven games and even out. They come out on the winning end. Don’t know if we deserved to lose, don’t know if they deserved to win, but that happens in football. You move on from it.”
On the overall performance:
“I thought our entire team was very good. On both sides of the ball. You hold a team like Seattle, with the talent that they have, to six shots and maybe one or two on goal – you have to be organized and be up for it. I thought we were up for it, we battled right from the start. We had a couple chances early and we were the ones pushing and the first time they’re in the box, it’s in the back of the net. Then it’s the PK, but our response in the second half was outstanding. We pulled a goal back to go 2-1 and were in position. They’re hanging on. Listen, we leave a bit of a marker I think, even though we didn’t get the result. We leave a marker for the next seven games. If we continue this, we’re going to get points. Sometimes short term you feel a little bit hard done, but it’ll even out.”
On if he has any concerns about his team finishing:
“No. If you get chances, you’re going to score goals. I think there will be a few guys that are disappointed about that finishing touch, but if you keep getting chances, you’re going to score goals. I’ve seen that. It doesn’t matter who is in those situations, you’re eventually going to find goals. It’s a bit unfortunate. I thought we should’ve leveled it at 1-1 with the breakaway. The game is different if we find that goal. Then we missed a couple clear ones to go 2-2 so I thought we at least deserved a point under the situation and circumstances of this match.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Jack Jewsbury
On today’s game:
“It was frustrating and obviously it was not the result we wanted but it was the performance we were looking for. We wanted to come here and not just sit back and defend but attack and I think we showed that throughout the whole game. It was maybe 20 shots to six at their place so we are happy with the performance, but obviously let ourselves down for a few moments. I haven’t seen the PK and maybe it was a little questionable and maybe looked a little soft. We can look back at the tape and there are obviously some things we can still work on and get better at going into the KC game.”
On how the team is feeling:
“I think everyone in this locker room knows we played well today. If it was the other way around maybe we would want to erase it but when you play well and things just don’t go your way then it is easy to pick yourself up for the next game.”
On if the team is worried about the finishing:
“No. Not at all. I think we’ve got very capable people on the front four and five that are going to continue to create chances. If we were not creating chances then I think we would be worrying about things but when you go on the road in a tough place to play in a rivalry game and create as many chances as we did tonight then we are not worried about it at all. Yes, we would love to finish a few more of them and get out of here with three points.”
On their current position in the standings:
“I mean we know what is at stake and where the line is. We also know we have four of our last seven at home. If we take care of business there we should be fine.”
Portland Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey
On defending Brad Evans’ penalty kick:
“I spoke with the scout and he told me that normally those that take penalties shoot certain ways. We had not looked at Evans’ penalties, but we knew his last penalty had gone to the goalkeeper’s left so that is why I went there.”
On if he agreed with the PK call:
“It was definitely not a penalty. The way I see it, I’m coming out and I’m standing and I’m stopping and he [Obafemi Martins] is kicking the ball and the ball comes over his head and he is kicking the ball and he is jumping over me and falls down. From his reaction and everything you can tell, he didn’t feel he was fouled. I think he was surprised he got a penalty on that. I can’t stand anywhere else on that play, so I’m disappointed he called a penalty on that play because two-nil down is hard to come back against. It kind of destroys a little bit of the game.”
On the first goal:
“We had multiple chance to clear the ball and we should have just cleared the ball and don’t let them get a chance to finish. We just have to learn from that.”
Portland Timbers defender Nat Borchers
On the significance of this game:
“I think that it was a good game for the fans and the playoffs. Every game from here on out is the most important game of the season. Is it bigger than any other games? It was the biggest one of our season thus far and then this next game versus KC at home is going to be the biggest one.”
On how they compared to Seattle tonight:
“I wouldn’t say we almost outplayed them, we definitely outplayed them tonight. Any casual supporter of soccer would agree with that statement. We also played as a team.”
Match Referee Alan Kelly (questions via pool reporter Tim Booth of the Associated Press)
What was the infraction that led to the penalty kick awarded to Seattle?
“Careless challenge by Portland GK Kwarasey on Seattle’s Martins.”
Why was Portland goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey not shown a red card for the foul?
“Martins’ touch pushed the ball at relative speed towards the end line. I believe that Martins did not have full control of the ball, thus in my opinion not making it [an] obvious goal-scoring opportunity in accordance with the law.”
Seattle Sounders FC Quotes
Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid
Opening statement:
“We can talk about a lot of things. The most important thing is that we got three points. Sometimes you’ve got to find you way into a rhythm and [regain] confidence through hard work, and today was hard work, I don’t think it was beauty. The first goal was a great effort put in by Nelson Valdez and others scraping out the ball, and Obafemi Martins jumps out and scores the goal. On the second goal, we felt we could behind them. Oba makes a hard run and sacrifices himself and draws the penalty kick. Outside of that, their play was probably better than ours at times – I am not going to say the other way around. Sometimes when you go through what we’ve been through – injuries and all that – you’re looking for the three points, you’re looking for your team to work hard and battle…It’s the first time Marco Pappa has played with that group, so there’s obviously misunderstandings. It’s the first time Erik Friberg has played with Pappa, so there’s a lot of things we are trying to work through, as well. What’s important for us – as we continue to work through all of those things – to continue to fight and battle as a team and get three points whenever they’re there.”
On Stefan Frei’s performance:
“Stefan – as I said last year and this year – I thought he improved consistently last year and through the end of the year I thought he was one of the best goalkeepers in the league and I still think Stefan is one of the best goalkeepers in the league. I don’t think he gets mentioned in the same breath as some of the guys and I think that’s a shame. I know he had the MLS Save of the Week last week and that save he made on Lucas Melano in the first half was very critical. On a ball that Tyrone Mears misread and didn’t react quickly enough, all of a sudden Melano is on a breakaway and Stef makes a great decision and snuffs it. I think he is one of the top goalkeepers in the league.”
On the foul that led to the penalty kick:
“The goalkeeper knocked [Martins] over… I haven’t seen a replay on it. I asked the fourth official why it wasn’t a yellow or a red, and I was told his communication device wasn’t working, so that was the end of that conversation…I haven’t seen the replay, but I have seen red cards given for that same play. I think that’s one of the areas where this is still a lot of inconsistency with the refereeing. Some guys will call the penalty and give a yellow; some guys will call the penalty and give a red. Some guys won’t give anything. It’s very inconsistent.”
Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei
On the importance of the game:
“Big three points for us at home and especially against the big rivals. So, especially with games – there’s not too many left so the thing is that all of the teams we’re playing in the future, they’re all tough, tough opponents. Today was no different but really a big three points for us.”
On the defense:
“They put a lot of pressure on us, especially in the second half. First half I had to make a couple saves but I think second half I was more the one watching and our defenders were doing the hard work and the dirty work so that was more nerve-racking for me in the second half because they put so much pressure on us, trying to put crosses on the ground behind our defense, but Chad [Marshall] and also Román [Torres] had a couple really big interceptions for us and then I think you also see at the very end with the last free kick, it’s do or die. We had a talk about attacking as 11 and defending as 11 and I think it was Nelson [Valdez] that comes up with the big deflection on the free kick so it’s just knowing that there’s only so many games left so we’re going to have to bring it for 90 minutes-plus and it’s really nice to see Nelson there at the end, a striker coming through defensively.”
Notes:
- Sunday’s match marked the 92nd all-time meeting between the Pacific Northwest rivals across all competitions since 1975.
- The match was the fourth time Portland and Seattle have faced off during the 2015 season across all competitions. Portland earned a 2-2-0 record against Sounders FC in all competitions in 2015, including a 3-1 win after extra time in the fourth round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and a 4-1 league win.
- Portland’s 20 total shots in Sunday’s match marked the first time Seattle has conceded 20 shots at home since entering MLS in 2009, eclipsing the previous high of 19 (Columbus Crew SC; Aug. 27, 2011).
- Portland has registered 20-plus shots twice against Seattle this season (24 on June 28; 20 on Aug. 30).
- Portland’s 20 total shots marked the fourth time this season the club has attempted 20 or more shots in a match.
- The Timbers registered a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks on Sunday.
- Midfielder Diego Valeri registered an assist in a third straight game for Portland on Sunday and moved into a tie for fifth place on the all-time Timbers career scoring list with 79 points (23g, 33a) with NASL Timbers midfielder Willie Anderson.
- Valeri, who played his 80th career match for Portland on Sunday, is just the eighth player ever to score 20 or more goals and contribute 30 or more assists in the first 80 games of their MLS career and the second active MLS player to reach the mark, joining LA’s Robbie Keane. Former MLS players to achieve the mark include Preki, Jaime Moreno, Eric Wynalda, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Amado Guevara and fellow Argentine Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
- Since his MLS debut in 2013, Valeri has registered the most assists (33) in the league.
- Valeri’s assist marks the fourth time in his MLS career that he has tallied an assist in three or more consecutive games.
- Midfielder Jack Jewsbury scored his 13th career goal for the Timbers on Sunday and his third goal of the season. It is the fifth time in Jewsbury's career that he has scored three of more goals in a season.
- Jewsbury made his 325th career MLS appearance on Sunday.
- Jewsbury became the 12th MLS Timbers player to score a goal in a regular-season match against Sounders FC.
- Midfielder George Fochive made his sixth career start on Sunday, playing 78 minutes.
- Over the last 15 games, Portland has registered an 8-4-3 record (27pts), which ranks as one of the best in the league over that span.
