Portland Timbers Quotes
Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter
Overall thoughts on the game…
“I thought it was a very even game until the first goal. Disappointed in the last 30 minutes for us, I thought we lacked discipline and they caught us on two counterattacks. We knew they were going to be most dangerous in transition. We talked about it at halftime. When we were able to get numbers back they had a tough time breaking us down but in transition they were very good. They scored the first goal which kind of opened the game up and they get the next one a couple of minutes later and our response has to be better. We’re typically a team that’s very disciplined and defensively balanced and I thought we weren’t today in that regard. It’s something we have to look at and correct.”
On what they can take away from the game…
“Obviously we had seven guys out in this game, six nursing knocks and strains so we had a bit of a depleted roster. In terms of the result it didn’t go our way. We’re not making excuses on the result either. We’re a deep enough team to get a result even though we had some guys out. But with the injuries we did look at it as an opportunity to continue to build our depth in several positions. We really haven’t rotated our left back, right back or goalkeeper so we were able to get Taylor Peay in at right back, Jeanderson at left back, and [Andrew] Weber in goal, to get these guys a game. Perhaps it didn’t help us get the result tonight but it’ll help us in the big picture, in the long run that we were able to get some minutes for some guys to see where our depth lies for the final stretch of league play."
Portland Timbers midfielder Jack Jewsbury
Thoughts on the game…
“I thought we were a little slow out of the gates in the first 10 or 15 minutes and they were on top of us for a bit but after that we settled into the game up until the point when they got the first goal. For whatever reason, we’ve given up a goal right after and for them to get two, in the 69th, 71st, something like that, that’s tough to get back from on the road. That gave them a lot of confidence. So up to that point, I thought we played fairly well, we’re keeping the ball, creating some chances. But kudos to them for making the most of their chances and now we have to turn around and look to Vancouver next week and pick ourselves up.”
On if they can take anything from the game…
“Yeah there’s obviously some things. I think on the road, maybe, we started throwing numbers. Maybe trying to get three points and get the win and get out of here with a good road victory and at the end of the day maybe we have to be a little bit more conservative because when we did get forward that’s when they countered us and that’s when they’re dangerous, in that aspect. We have to look at the film and I think you can take things from every game whether you win, lose or draw and we’ll do that and get ready for next weekend.”
Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson
General thoughts on the game…
“Yeah, it was a good solid game until they got the first goal and obviously they got momentum, got the second one straight away. We’re disappointed in the way that the first goal especially was conceded but credit to them. They made plays in the last important quarter of the game and we didn’t.”
On what they can take from this game…
“You just move on. There’s going to be a lot of tough, tough games down the stretch and we need to perform better and not make mistakes that we did [tonight].”
On some guys getting their first start of the season…
“Yeah, it was fine. We lost as a team. I don’t think any of the blame goes on any of the individuals who stepped in today. Hopefully the guys back in Portland got a little bit healthier so we can make a final push with our best players.”
Portland Timbers forward Fanendo Adi
Thoughts on the game…
“We were punished on our mistakes, of course we have to give them that, and I think the guys, the Philadelphia guys, played pretty well tonight; they sucked back and waited for us to come forward and they took opportunity of that so you must say they had a good game. Of course, conceding three goals in a couple of minutes is not good for us but it’s just something we need to go back and work on. I think Philadelphia played well and deserved the win.”
Philadelphia Union Quotes
Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin
Opening remarks…
“I thought it was our most complete performance of the year. The game plan was to press in the first 15 minutes and our guys did that. Unlucky not to get a goal. We had two or three chances early and you start to worry when you hit the cross bar a couple times and the goalkeeper makes a few saves. You think maybe it’s one of those tough nights where it’s not going to go in. Then we scored what I thought were three really good goals. That’s a very good Portland team. In their last seven games I think they have five or six wins so again, they’re a top team in West. I thought that with the travel cross-country we were able to high press. I think our fitness was good and we were able to maintain it as opposed to being in five or 10 minute spurts. We faded a little bit at the end of the first half. As good teams will, they started to pin us in and they had some restarts. We made some good plays defensively.”
Philadelphia Union midfielder Cristián Maidana (through a translator)
On his on-field relationship with Vincent Noguiera…
“Vince is a very good player and we understand each other very well and we get along well too so it’s very natural on the field. It’s not just for ourselves it’s better for our team so they can all benefit as well.
On playing better against Argentinians like Diego Valeri and Federico Higuain…
“When I play against Argentinians I really try and do better and it brings out extra effort in me and I like that challenge. I definitely agree with Jim [Curtin] that it does bring out a different level in me.”
Philadelphia midfielder Vincent Nogueira
On his feelings about scoring two goals…
“Surprised, because it’s not my primary job. I mean I don’t mind scoring but the most important thing for me tonight is keeping the ball. I know everybody is talking about the two goals but it’s my best game so far for this reason and not my two goals."
Notes:
- Saturday’s loss marked Portland’s first-ever loss against the Union all-time.
- The Timbers are 2-1-3 overall against Philadelphia in MLS regular-season play.
- Despite the loss, the Timbers have won six of their last eight regular-season matches since May 27. Dating farther back, Portland has won seven of its last 11 regular-season games.
- Goalkeeper Andrew Weber made his first regular-season start for the Timbers during the 2015 season on Saturday, as did defenders Jeanderson and Taylor Peay.
- The starts for Jeanderson and Peay marked their first career MLS starts for Portland.
- While the Timbers were without seven regulars for Saturday’s game, the team has now had 21 different players earn a start during the 2015 MLS regular-season schedule.
- Jeanderson is the first Brazilian player to start for the Timbers in the 40-year history of the club.
- Both midfielder Gastón Fernández and forward Fanendo Adi had MLS career highs in completed passes with 39 and 24, respectively.
- Defender Nat Borchers made the 305th appearance of his MLS career on Saturday.
- Portland is 6-4-4 overall on the road against teams from the Eastern Conference since 2013, including a mark of 2-2-0 this season.
