PORTLAND, Ore. -- Everything seemed to be going from bad to worse for the Portland Timbers on Saturday night against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Already missing six players due to injury, the Timbers saw two more key players go down during the game: starting goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey and striker Darren Mattocks.
The circumstances suggested that the Timbers, playing in their third match in seven days, should be in trouble. But they dug deep, routing San Jose in a resounding 3-1 win.
“This was a gut check time and the guys responded like they always do,” coach Caleb Porter said after the match. “We had guys dropping off like flies and they kept fighting, kept grinding.”
Tonight's win follows a rough 3-1 loss to FC Dallas just three days ago where afterward Porter said he wouldn’t let the team’s injury woes serve as an excuse. After that game, defender Alvas Powell needed wrist surgery, adding one more injury.
The rash of sidelined players meant some newer Timbers, depth pieces and offseason acquisitions, were asked to step up on Saturday. The group of guys on the field didn’t quite look like the one that won MLS Cup last year, but Porter said he thought Saturday showed real progress with his new group.
“I counted and there were only five players on the field to start the game from the championship game,” Porter said. “This is a new team and this a is a new year.
“We have new guys that are wearing the uniform. New guys that are feeling the positive pressure that you get at home. New guys that are bleeding on the uniform. It takes time for guys to get comfortable in this locker room and comfortable grinding for this club.”
