Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
On his overall thoughts on the game…
“Always disappointing not to get three points. We had some really good chances. Obviously first half we hit the post, second half we had two counters. Darren Mattocks on a breakaway and Luca [Lucas Melano] in on a breakaway and Ned [Grabavoy] had the one late at the top of the box. Disappointed that none of those four fell, but it’s a good point on the road. It keeps us moving at six games unbeaten. The goal was to take the crowd out of the game. Limit their chances which we did. Jake [Gleeson] had a few saves, but they didn’t get a ton of looks. I don’t think the game went the way they wanted it to and that is a credit to our guys and how we played. We put ourselves in a position to win the game, we got the chances, but the finishing was only thing missing today. We finish one of those three or four chances and we get out of here with three points. We’ve gotten 12 points in the last six games, averaging two points per game. We’re continuing to get points and will keep grinding. We had two key guys out also. One of our best chance creators in Diego Valeri, our captain and key defender Liam Ridgewell, so for us to come on the road and play as positionally organized and as emotionally intelligent as we did is a real credit to the guys performance and their execution."
On how you build on tonight’s performance…
“We felt in this game with the hype and the big crowd we knew Colorado would want to play with energy. I thought we managed the game really well. The tempo slowing it down. We played with a low block and still pressed. We pressed in the middle third and I think we gave them a lot of problems in terms of breaking us down. They had a little bit of the ball but they were never really able to get much going.”
On taking on the New York Red Bulls…
“We take every game as it comes and every opponent is different. One of the things that I’m proud of on our team is that we are very tactically flexible, we do different things in different games. At home we play more up tempo and we open up more in the attack and look to dictate the game and create more chances. Today we felt playing with a slower tempo and using the counter attack would work. We have to look at New York and see what we think the best plan will be for that game. We have to look and see what our personnel is like as well and how to manage injuries like we have the entire year. This game is no different. They are a good team New York. They are in a bit of a rut right now. They will be very motivated for sure. I think we will be as well and I look forward to another great game.”
Portland Timbers defender Zarek Valentin
Overall thoughts…
“I thought overall we had the clear chances on the day, and I think we put ourselves in a great spot to get three points. We defended well, and on a different day we get a goal or two on the break. I think we executed very well and if we continue to play with this confidence and in this way I think we can be a very dangerous team to go up against.”
On the importance of the result…
“Obviously their results and their place in the standings speaks for itself. We don’t have to talk too much about that. It’s not an easy place to play obviously. You can talk about the altitude or whatever it might be but at the end of the day it comes down to us executing our plan. And if we do that [against any team], we are going to be a tough team to beat.”
Portland Timbers defender Alvas Powell…
On this overall thoughts on the game…
“It was a great response from the team to come on the road and get a point, a good game for us.”
On the unbeaten streak and the confidence for the group…
“I think it’s a good thing. We have more road games so I think we have to build on that. We had a solid game tonight and we have to build on that heading into New York.”
Notes:
- With the draw, Portland extended its unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3) in MLS play.
- The Timbers are just the second team along with the Philadelphia Union to earn a point on the road against the Rapids this season and the only team to shut out Colorado at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season.
- Portland improved to 6-5-3 all-time against the Rapids and are unbeaten in its last five games against Colorado (3-0-2), including its last three games (1-0-2) at Dick’s Sporting Good Park.
- The Timbers are now 5-1-3 all-time against Colorado under head coach Caleb Porter.
- The match marked the eighth time in club history that Portland has played on Independence Day. In four away matches on July 4, Portland is unbeaten (1-0-3).
- Defender Nat Borchers made his 335th career regular-season MLS start, which currently ranks fifth all-time in MLS history.
- Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson finished the match with four saves, bringing his season total to 55, which ranks fifth in the league this season.
- Midfielder Diego Chara wore the captain’s armband for the Timbers for the second time in his career in the match.
- Midfielder Ben Zemanski notched his 80th start in MLS since joining the league in 2010.
