The Portland Timbers, determined to set their own fate in the race to the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, knew they were going to need points in their final three games of the regular season.
So head coach Caleb Porter set out to achieve that with some tactical changes in their crucial Western Conference showdown Wednesday night with Real Salt Lake, and it paid off with a 1-0 win that vaulted them into playoff position while conversely dealing a serious blow to RSL’s own postseason hopes.
On the road at Rio Tinto Stadium and facing a team whose playoff hopes hinged on an even more dire do-or-die scenario, Porter all but threw the kitchen sink at RSL, trotting out just one defensive midfielder and five forward/wingers in a 4-3-3 formation. It was a stark departure from Porter’s normal 4-2-3-1, forced partially out of necessity due to injuries to midfielders Will Johnson and Jack Jewsbury.
“Sometimes you get it right,” Porter said in his postgame comments. “I think we got it right, the system we started with, the plan. But you only get it right if the players execute and if they perform, so the players deserve all the credit.”
It may have only paid off with the lone goal, the Timbers’ average on the season, but Porter said he was happy with how they controlled the game early and were compact defensively after finding the back of the net via a Fanendo Adi penalty kick in the 54th minute. With Diego Chara alone in front of the backline, Portland outshot RSL 15-7 (5-2 shots on goal).
And goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey only had to make two saves, although both were exceptional efforts.
“It’s a crucial game for us,” Kwarasey said. “We knew had to win to keep it alive, and we had to be at our best today to win the game. … I really trust the guys in front of me and all around me. Today was amazing, we all fight and bleed and sweat for this team, so it’s such a great feeling.”
- #StatMan Three: Porter tied for fewest losses in first 100 games in MLS history
The game’s pivotal moment evolved from Portland’s decisive attack, with Adi playing a ball to unlock speedy forward Lucas Melano behind RSL’s backline. Big center back Jamison Olave was left with nothing to do but drag Melano to the ground at the edge of the penalty box, and after a brief discussion among the referees, the PK was awarded and Olave was sent off.
“We came out aggressive,” Porter said. “We didn’t just come out to sit back and let them come at us; we came out to attack. Obviously our lineup, our game plan reflected that. We pressed up the pitch and had a lot of the ball and were rewarded in the second half with the goal.”
Portland, now tied for fifth on points with Seattle Sounders FC, hold a three-point advantage over the San Jose Earthquakes pending their Friday night matchup with FC Dallas. And the Timbers, who have a game in hand over San Jose, face a tough road test in their next match Sunday at LA Galaxy before closing out the season at home against the Colorado Rapids. But there’s no doubt that Wednesday night signified a big first step.
“We took care of business today, and it took a little bit of pressure off us,” Kwarasey said.
Dan Itel covers the Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
